![\"indoor](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/indoor-plants-for-condos-and-apartments-compressed.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo:\u00a0Nicola Holtkamp\/Flickr<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\nAh, life in the concrete jungle \u2014 where used chewing gum and cigarette butts are a more common sight than butterflies and wildflowers. Indoor plants can certainly help to liven up the d\u00e9cor of a small urban space, but they can also be a bit of a gamble. Will they survive my next business trip? A poorly lit basement apartment? The wrath of my Siamese cat?<\/p>\n
To find out the answers to these pressing plant questions, we turned to John Kouwenberg, the owner and operator of Foliera<\/a>, a tropical plant distributor in Beamsville, Ontario. Together we\u2019ve come up with 6 scenarios and solutions to help you choose an indoor plant that suits your space and lifestyle.<\/span><\/p>\n Opt for succulents, says Kouwenberg. \u201cThey are definitely trending and require very little water, which is a big deal for people who travel. If you water them once a month it\u2019s probably enough.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n Photo: IKEA<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The ponytail palm isn\u2019t actually a palm, but a semi-succulent. \u201cIf it\u2019s 20 to 30 feet away from a window, it still does quite well. Again, it also requires very little water so it\u2019s an easy plant to have,\u201d says Kouwenberg.<\/span><\/p>\n Make like Zach Galifianakis and add some ferns. \u201cThe crispy wave fern is getting all the hype right now as being the best plant in terms of bettering air quality,\u201d insists Kouwenberg. But if you\u2019re not into the prehistoric look, there are many other houseplants that will purify the air \u2014 the more the better!<\/span><\/p>\n Some indoor plants can be moved outside during the warmer months. \u201cIf you\u2019re looking for something a bit heartier, but you want color and longevity, kalanchoes are a great option,\u201d says Kouwenberg. The tropical, succulent flowering plant can handle the heat and is somewhat drought-tolerant. Crotons will also grow indoors and outdoors, adding height and \u201ctons of color in the foliage\u201d to your balcony or terrace.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d say cat grass!\u201d jokes Kouwenberg. While most houseplants are harmless, pets can suffer allergic reactions if they ingest toxic flora. Ferns, orchids, African violets, spider plants and areca palms are some safe options. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOrchids are a good value, they\u2019ll bloom for three to four months,\u201d says Kouwenberg. Another choice is the bromeliad, a tropical plant that produces a wide array of texture and color. An anthurium will also bring a bit of the tropics into your home with vibrant flower spathes. \u201cThey\u2019re pretty tough and can handle a bit of a drought on occasion,\u201d says Kouwenberg. <\/span><\/p>\n Indoor plants can certainly help to liven up the d\u00e9cor of a small urban space, but they can also be a bit of a gamble.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":146752,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2018-07-09T20:14:19Z","apple_news_api_id":"49ece820-aeac-4c68-9f8d-2ef3bbb6e7d2","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2018-07-09T20:14:20Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/ASezoIK6sTGifjS7zu7bn0g","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"middle","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":["https:\/\/u48r14.digitalhub.com\/sections\/09b86915-7d2b-3acd-915b-b215002d01b7"],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11115],"tags":[11113,11112,11157],"coauthors":[8647],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\n1. If you are terrible at keeping indoor plants alive.<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: Emily May\/Flickr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n2.\u00a0If you live in a low-light apartment or condo.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n3.\u00a0If you\u2019re looking to improve air quality.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo:\u00a0Jocelyn Kinghorn\/Flickr<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n4.\u00a0If you want to brighten up a boring balcony.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/strong>Photo:\u00a0Forest and Kim Starr\/Flickr<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n5.\u00a0If you\u2019re a pet owner.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: Maja Dumat\/Flickr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n6.\u00a0If you want to add color to your space.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: ProFlowers.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n