Plant Care Basics
These are basic care guidelines for common groups of house plants, designed to help you select plants that will match your space and your plant personality. Please keep in mind, some species in each group may have more specific requirements that you’ll want to research.
Alocasia
Light: Medium to bright indirect light (think dappled light on the rainforest floor)
Water: Allow top couple of inches of soil to dry out between waterings, but don’t let soil go entirely dry. Alocasia thrive in high humidity (think rainforest).
Pets: Toxic if ingested
Warning Signs: Brown edges – either it was allowed to get too dry or plant needs higher humidity; try to keep a consistent moisture level.
Calathea
Light: Low, medium or bright indirect light
Water: Keep soil slightly moist, with only the top inch allowed to dry between waterings.
Pets: Pet safe
Warning Signs: Crispy leaf edges are signs they have gotten too dry or want higher humidity.
Ferns
Care requirements can vary among ferns so be sure to research your specific variety.
Light: In general, most ferns are found on the forest floor, so low, medium or bright indirect light.
Water: A good rule of thumb – keep them slightly moist at all times. Consider setting the pot in tray kept filled with a bit of water so they can drink as needed. They love humidity!
Pets: Pet safe
Warning Signs: Curling or crispy leaves indicate they are too dry.
Ficus
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Keep slightly moist in summer months (growing season); water less often fall through spring, allowing the top few inches of soil to dry between waterings.
Pets: Toxic if ingested
Warning Signs: Brown edges indicate the plant needs more frequent waterings.
Hoya
Light: Very bright indirect light, many will enjoy a bit of direct sun each day, especially in the morning.
Water: Water when the soil is mostly dried out. Drought tolerant. Bottom water if soil has become too dry.
Pets: Pet safe
Warning Signs: Wrinkled leaves – thirsty; translucent/yellowing leaves or plant is dropping leaves easily – overwatered; dark spots on leaves – cold/frost damage; not flowering for long periods – needs more light
Monstera
Light: Medium to bright indirect light, some will tolerate direct sun like Monstera deliciosa.
Water: Water when top few inches of soil is dry.
Pets: Toxic if ingested
Warning Signs: Brown edges indicate plant needs more water. Yellow leaves/stems usually indicates overwatering.
Peperomia
Light: Medium to bright indirect light.
Water: Allow soil to mostly dry out between waterings.
Pets: Pet safe
Warning Signs: Stems drooping over indicates plant needs more water.
Pilea
Light: Bright indirect light.
Water: Allow soil to mostly dry out between waterings.
Pets: Pet safe
Warning Signs: Stems drooping over indicates plant needs more water.
Philodendron
Light: Low, medium or bright indirect light, some will tolerate direct sun.
Water: Water when top few inches of soil is dry.
Pets: Toxic if ingested
Warning Signs: Brown edges indicate plant needs more water. Yellow leaves/stems usually indicates overwatering.
Pothos/Scindapsus
One of the easiest low maintenance plants! Great for new plant parents!
Light: Low, medium or bright indirect light. Some can handle a bit of direct sun.
Water: Water when top inch or two of soil is dry. Leaves wilt when left too dry. If you can, sit the pot in a dish/tray with a few inches of water and bottom water very thirsty plants. These plants love humidity but will do ok in lower humidity environments.
Pets: Toxic if ingested
Warning Signs: Limp leaves indicate the plant needs water. Yellowing leaves indicate overwatering.
Succulents
Best kept outdoors or in a sunny window!
Light: With few exceptions, most succulents need very bright, indirect light; some need direct sun like cactus; while the genus Haworthia prefers lower light. When in doubt, provide bright but indirect light in a window sill or on a covered porch/patio.
Water: Water when the soil has completely dried out. They can handle periods of drought and will not tolerate their roots sitting in wet soil.
Pets: Varies by genus so proceed as if Toxic to be safe unless you are certain otherwise.
Warning Signs: Wrinkled leaves = thirsty; translucent stem/leaves or plant is dropping leaves easily = overwatered; dark/burn spots on leaves = too much sun; plant is stretching out = not enough light.