Nothing screams dorm aesthetics like buying a tiny plant and putting it in a hanging macrame planter. But what happens when you want to add more greenery but you don’t have the space? You make space and jam everything together as tightly as you can. Lol maybe that’s not the first step but all jokes aside, there is always room for plants, and I will talk about the tips and tricks to managing space for those tight quarters!
We all know that packing for college comes with the challenge of storage. My freshman year I brought way too much stuff, and now that I’m in my last semester of college, I still have way too much but I’ve improved my organization skills. If there’s ever a time to practice minimalism, practice minimalism in college. However, if you are an overpacker and plant hoarder like me, then I have a few secrets for you.
Plant Hoarder Secret Number 1: Command Hooks
the number one rule of mass plant ownership is smart use of vertical spaces. Command hooks allow you to achieve this. Use caution because they don’t hold more than 5lbs-10lbs so make sure you only have your small boys if you’re going to use this method. I’ve unfortunately injured a handful of plants due to durability issues with command hooks. I have lived on campus for all four years of college because Goucher is a very small school, and they are strict about what you can do regarding decorations and hanging things. If you live off campus in a small apartment or townhouse, take advantage of nails and hooks to hang your plants.
Plant Hoarder Secret Number 2: Horizontal Spaces and Shelves
This is the best method for storing a lot of plants. Even in the smallest spaces you can rearrange your furniture to fit all your plants but it requires a little creativity. My dorm room is roughly >25 square ft with a dresser, desk, twin bed, cubic closet, and I was still able to fit about 50+ plants in my room. I added a small ikea five-tier shelf from home. I added plants on each level as well as the top for maximin storage space. I also have a hutch above my desk which I used for a lot of plants, but I eventually noticed that space wasn’t getting enough light. I found space on top of my dresser to store the green guys. Basically anywhere that has a surface use it to set your plants on because you can fit things in drawers, under your bed, and in the closet space. Avoid using these bare surfaces for junky items like makeup products, clothes, keys, water bottles, etc. prioritizing these flat surfaces for plants and plants only, not only gives your room a cleaner feel, but a more vibrant and aesthetic space since the junk is hidden and the plants are front and center.
Plant Hoarder Secret Number 2: Pot your plants together
When you have a lot of small plants in a lot of cute decorative pots, they can take up a lot of space. In order to bring all your favorite plants with you, try reporting like-plants together into a larger plastic pot. You can always separate them later in time if you decide to. This allows you to bring more plants with you and less trips out the door. Be cautious as to not overcrowd plants together for risk of them becoming root bound. This will require them to be watered more often and make more work for yourself.
Plant Hoarder Secret number 4: Plant Sitters
If you live in a shared space with roommates then you’re in luck. It’s pretty easy to convince your friends to add a plant to liven up their side of the room. Even better, when you offer to share your plant with them you can enjoy the benefit of seeing your beautiful green gal and expanding your plant space rent free. This might seem a little sneaky in regards to finding extra space, so just make sure you have open communication with your roommates. If they don’t want to house a plant for you don’t force it. However if they are cool with it, this can be a really fun way to bond with your roommate and fuel a new plant addiction in them. 😜
Plant Hoarder Secret Number 5: Leave the Hardy Boys Home
Unfortunately there are some plants you won’t be able to bring with you to college or an apartment. Lucky for you, there are many hardy plants out there and chances are you own a few. It is best to leave behind the plants that are drought tolerant and ask your family to check in on them from time to time. Plants like the ZZ, Snake Plant, Pothos, and other darker foliage plants will be your best option.
There you have it! My personal tips for maximizing plant storage in your tight quarters. I hope you learned something new and enjoyed this post. Check out some of my other posts. I appreciate all your love and support 🪴
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