Plants for the Classroom

• Polina Mann
• Posted 1/3/22
• 0 comments

Got a new classroom to decorate? Want to freshen up the atmosphere in your room? Invest in some plants! They are inexpensive, make any room look great, and add more oxygen to your space! Here are some ideas on where to look for plants, pots, soil, and what kind of plants are low maintenance and do not require much care.

Where Can I Find Plants for My Classroom?

As for where to get plants, I have collected plants through plant cuttings (which I propagate in water at home) from friends or Buy Nothing Groups. Buy Nothing Groups are Facebook groups that give away free stuff in your area. It is a great way to give away and receive free stuff. I have gotten free plant cuttings and plants through this group. Check to see if there is one in your neighborhood. Another great avenue for this is Home Depot or Walmart, where they often have discounted plants in their Garden Center.

Now I know what you are thinking…I don’t have time to take care of plants! Not to worry, many of my plants just require water, and I choose simple plants that do not require much maintenance.

Perfect Classroom Plants

Additionally, any succulent plant will work as they do not require a lot of water and are very low maintenance. Hint: If you choose to keep cacti, I would recommend reminding students to keep their hands off!

Classroom Jobs

Having plants in the classroom is a valuable tool for teaching responsibility. You can assign students to water them, changing the student every week to give everyone a chance to do this job.

Taking care of plants is especially great for young students as they learn about and acquire classroom responsibilities. My classroom currently has about 11 live and two fake plants, adding a green, healthy and cozy feeling to the room!

Placement, Pots, Soil and Water

I have been able to get cheap pots at the Goodwill or use the same pots the plants come in when you buy them. I also highly recommend joining a Buy Nothing Group, where you can often score free pots and soil. I usually buy a big bag for about five dollars at Home Depot, lasting through many plantings and re-plantings.

I look for the sunniest places in my room and ensure my plants are not blocking any of the emergency exit windows. I love using a watering can.  I have also used other containers but always let the water sit for at least 24 hours. This way, the chlorine and other chemicals dissipate from the water, allowing your plants to drink cleaner water.

Reference Guides

It never hurts to have a reference guide for your current hobby. I use this book to help with my plant needs: How to Raise a Plant and Make It Love You Back by Morgan Doane and Erin Harding.

I hope that this short article can help you navigate your plant journey.  Here’s to a greener and happier classroom!

References

Doane, Morgan & Harding, Erin. (2018). How to Raise a Plant and Make It Love You Back. Laurence King Publishing.