We’re “rooting” for you!

If you’re a college student living on campus, there’s a good chance you or your friends may have a plant in their dorm room. Whether it’s due to a love of gardening, a desire to improve the environment or just for the vibes, it’s not unusual that keeping a little green friend alive is part of the typical college student routine.

So, how do you keep a plant alive in a college dorm? And why would you even want to try? I asked some Eastern students about their plants to see how they make it work!

“I have 12 plants on campus,” Sarah Westmoreland said. “There are only two of them that have names; one is a snake plant named flora and one is named Jesus.”

“I only have five plants right now, but I have a few water-propagated stems that all live in a few glass jars together,” Grace Nealy said. “None of my plants have names, unfortunately, I just never got around to naming them.”

“All of the water-propagated plants are pathos, and I recently picked up a $5 planted pathos at Terrain this past weekend,” Nealy continued. “The other two plants were gifts, so I am not sure what they are but they live very well with medium sunlight and little water.”

“I have 26 plants on campus!” Soleil Torres-White said. “They don’t have names, but some of them are snake plants, a ZZ plant, a money tree, aloe plants, and rosemary. I also have a few vases around my room with flowers and Eucalyptus that give me comfort while I study, and they smell so good!”

“I have three plants on campus,” Josh Steen said. “Their names are Vinnie Jr., Jorge, and Frank.”

Depending on the time or skill level you have for your plants, you might want to start off with easier plants or planting with a friend. Nealy suggested starting with water propagation if you’re a first-time plant parent, and Steen suggest other low-maintenance plants.

“Cut a piece of an existing plant off under a node then place it into water to regrow its roots! This will allow for multiple, low-maintenance plants to grow as you don’t need to constantly water them. Eventually, you will have to plant them back into the dirt, but plants can live in just water for quite a while! I also got plant food, which I put into the water propagation and it gives the plants nutrients similar to soil, allowing them to stay in the water for even longer,” Nealy said.

“Growing plants does not take a lot of work if you start small and build your way up,” she continued. “Many garden centers have cheap or discounted plants that are perfect for a dorm, so start there to try it out without breaking the bank.”

“My tip for keeping plants on campus is to get plants that are low maintenance so you can still have plants while being busy or forgetful,” Steen said. “I recommend snake plants, pothos and succulents as starters!”

The plant parents agreed that the most difficult parts of keeping a plant on campus are the sunlight, room temperature, and watering needs over breaks. However, there are still ways to keep plants alive with these limitations.

“One thing that can be difficult is having light mold & bacteria form on the surface of their soil,” Westmoreland said. “I water all my plants once a week with filtered water and feed them with an indoor replant food diluted in water.”

“Most plants are fairly similar as they require the same light and water levels, which I think is helpful for first-time growers,” Nealy said. “I will say, it takes a bit of trial and error when growing plants as they can have dramatic reactions. There have been a few times where I thought I killed one, but some sun and water later and it was fine.”

“Before getting any plants, definitely make sure you have the space and right amount of lighting to keep them alive,” Torres-White said. “Having plants is an easy responsibility because they really only need minimal attention once a day, and watering once or twice a week.”

“If you don’t want to commit or have as much responsibility for a plant, I would recommend a succulent,” she continued. “These, along with plants that have low watering needs, can be super easy to take care of, while also giving off all the great benefits!”

With plenty of options for plants and tips to keep them alive, it may not be as difficult as you think to keep a plant. Our plant parents agreed that all students should try to keep a plant on campus. However, if you’re a brown thumb like me, you might be hesitant.

“I would highly recommend having at least 1-2 plants on campus,” Westmoreland said. “The best part about having my plants on campus is the joy and life they bring into a space and the story they tell.”

“Plants help me to enjoy the slower motions of life,” she continued. “I live a pretty chaotic life when I’m here so having them literally helps to ground me.”

“I decided to keep plants on campus because they brighten the space and taking care of them reminds me to take care of myself,” Steen said. “The best part of having plants on campus is watching them grow and loving on them.”

“I think a lot of students should have plants on campus, especially if they try water propagation first and see the amazing results!” Nealy said. “When I first got my plants they were smaller or only began as a single stem, and now they are thriving. It’s great to see the result of long-term work and care.”

“I decided to keep plants because I love the benefits; my room feels cleaner and more homely rather than just a dorm,” she continued. “Plus, they make great decorations!”

“I strongly believe everyone should have at least one plant in their room,” Torres-White said. “I love keeping plants in my room to make the air quality fresh and clean! Plants almost instantly make the air in your room better and your space much more calming.”

“My favorite part is that I feel like I’m partially living outside, which helps to strengthen my connection to nature,” Torres-White said. “My plants make my room a stress-free environment, while also giving me something to be responsible for. I find myself sleeping a lot better with plants in my room!”

Unsure of where you should start? There are plenty of friends on campus willing to help you keep a plant in your dorm, including our Earthkeepers club, which Torres-White runs! But at the end of the day, whether you’re a first-time plant parent or a seasoned plant veteran, there are many benefits to keeping a plant in your room. We hope to see more greenery in our dorms!

If you’re interested in seeing behind-the-scenes of this article, check out our Reel on Instagram as we travel to the dorm rooms of our plant parents! Thanks again to our friendly students for sharing their space and plants with us!