Life within the dorm room can be a rather dreary existence. Even with the presence of a roommate or suitemates, the addition of another life form can drastically improve the atmosphere. Nonetheless, the quest to procure another organism can be hampered by pandemic and dorm regulations. Even with the distribution of the vaccine, it is still best to exercise caution when socializing. In addition, Meier and Lamson Hall have firm regulations on furry companions, leaving students with few choices. An individual can procure a fish, or perhaps, opt for an even lower maintenance companion.
Plants are lovely. Aside from making absolutely any space more aesthetically pleasing, they also provide a vital component of life: oxygen. Dorm rooms, due to limited circulation, are greatly assisted by these little green fellows. In addition, plants are easy enough to keep around. One does not have to feed them, walk them, or clean a litter box. Rather, they just need to be watered and repotted on a semi-regular basis. Their necessities for care are easy to remember, even for the ever-busy college student. Water for nutrition, and enough room to grow.
There are several species of plants that are particularly suited to the low light and low maintenance care that dorm living necessitates. The following recommendations are plants that I have observed that have the capability to thrive in such environments.
Snake plants. These broad-leafed plants are extremely tolerant of living in low light conditions. In addition, they are very easy to care for as their watering schedule can be as sporadic as you please. My roommate owned a snake plant, and it was near indestructible in the face of two forgetful college students. I particularly remember when we both realized the poor thing had not been watered for a couple weeks, but the snake plant gave no indication of its neglect. I can personally attest to the remarkable durability of snake plants.
Ivy plants. I am partial to ivy plants, particularly because they simply look gorgeous on a bookshelf. I have owned several kinds, such as the English ivy and the California fan ivy, and their care is rather straightforward. They are less forgiving than the snake plants, and need to be watered at least a few times a week. However, the key component of owning ivy plants is that they must be transplanted to a new pot rather often. The impressive thing about ivy plants is that they grow at such a rapid rate, and a singular plant can quickly turn into three.
Succulents. The large family of succulents have traditionally been a dorm favorite as they really require little maintenance. Succulents generally need little water, and do not grow at a rate that needs frequent repotting. My personal favorite feature of succulents is their ability to propagate from nearly any cut of the plant. A succulent that has a dying leaf can have it removed, and placed in a semi-sunny area. A new sprout will grow if there is enough nutrition left within the leaf. This method is best done with healthy parts of the succulent, and is useful for individuals that want to increase their plant collection without spending more.
Although plant care can seem to be intimidating to get into, I would recommend that any individual within the dorm should attempt getting a low maintenance plant. The best way to learn, after all, is to have personal experience. Observing changes within the organism, how it reacts to certain amounts of water, light, and space, compromises the great majority of care. I would highly recommend acquiring a plant, as caring for these little green organisms certainly are attainable for any busy college student, no matter how haphazard.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of 日韩AV. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, 日韩AV or the Seventh-day Adventist church.