Indoor plants care
Most houseplants want roughly the same things — bright indirect light, water when the soil dries out, warmth, and an occasional feed. The variations are details. This page covers the principles that apply almost universally; the variety pages cover what is specific to each.
Light
Variable
Water
Variable
Sourcing
Direct from growers
Pet safety
Mildly toxic
Difficulty
Easy
How to care for it
Unbox the plant in a draught-free spot. Check the soil — if it is bone-dry, give it a slow, thorough watering until water runs from the drainage. Place in bright indirect light: a few feet back from a north or east-facing window suits most species. Avoid the path of radiators, air conditioning vents, and direct sun in the first week while the plant settles.
Most indoor plants want to dry out partway between waterings. Stick a finger into the soil — if the top inch is dry, water; if it is still moist, wait. Overwatering kills more houseplants than underwatering. Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser, and rest the feeding in winter. Rotate the pot a quarter turn each week so the plant grows evenly toward the light rather than leaning.
Yellow lower leaves: usually overwatering — let it dry out properly. Brown crispy tips: low humidity or salt build-up — group plants together or mist occasionally. Drooping leaves that perk up after watering: simply thirsty. Drooping leaves that do not recover: root rot from prolonged wet soil. Pests on the underside of leaves: wipe with a damp cloth or treat with insecticidal soap.
Common questions
When the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. There is no universal schedule — it depends on the plant, the pot, the room temperature, and the season. Most plants want less water in winter and more in summer. The finger test beats any calendar.
Most often it is overwatering. The lower leaves yellow first because waterlogged roots cannot deliver nutrients. Let the soil dry out properly between waterings, and check the pot has drainage. If only the oldest leaves yellow occasionally, that is normal — plants shed old foliage.
Most thrive in bright indirect light — a few feet back from a sunny window, or near a north or east-facing window directly. South or west-facing windows can be too intense unless the plant specifically wants direct sun (succulents, cacti, citrus). Plants in low light grow slowly and may stretch toward the source.
A small effect, much smaller than the NASA study often cited suggests. Houseplants do remove some pollutants and add humidity, but you would need many plants per room to notice. The real benefit is psychological — looking at plants reduces stress in studies. Worth having for that alone.
When the roots have filled the pot — you can see them circling at the base or pushing through the drainage holes. Most plants want repotting every two to three years. Spring is the best time; the plant is gearing up to grow and recovers fastest from the disturbance.
Usually one of three things: dry air (especially in heated rooms), build-up of mineral salts in the soil from tap water, or inconsistent watering. Fixes: group plants together to raise humidity, flush the soil occasionally with rainwater or filtered water, and water more evenly.
For tropical species that come from humid environments (calatheas, ferns, anthurium), yes — it helps. For desert plants and many common houseplants, misting does little. Group plants together for a bigger humidity effect; their collective transpiration raises the local humidity more than misting does.
See also
