Guides
Care guides, plant by plant
Each guide answers the questions people actually type into Google: how often do I water a snake plant? Why are my pothos leaves turning yellow? Is a monstera toxic to cats? Pick your plant — or a plant you want to own — and get the straight answer plus the “why”.
Snake Plant
Dracaena trifasciata
Snake plants are the most forgiving houseplant there is. Water them only when the soil has gone bone-dry — in winter that can mean once a month.
easy carePothos
Epipremnum aureum
Pothos will happily grow in a dull corner and forgive you for skipping a week of watering. Wait until the top inch dries out, then water thoroughly.
moderate careMonstera Deliciosa
Monstera deliciosa
Monsteras want bright, indirect light and a drink when the top two inches of soil dry out. Give them something to climb and the leaves get huge.
advanced careFiddle Leaf Fig
Ficus lyrata
Fiddle leaf figs need bright, indirect light and a very consistent watering rhythm. They're dramatic — leaf spots and drops are their way of telling you something changed.
beginner careZZ Plant
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
The ZZ plant is basically indestructible. It stores water in its rhizomes, so it can go a month without a drink and still look perfect.
easy careSpider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum
Spider plants are safe for pets, forgiving to beginners, and pump out baby plantlets you can propagate. Water when the top inch dries.
easy careSucculents
Various genera
Succulents store water in their plump leaves. Give them the brightest window you have and water only when the soil is completely dry.
easy carePeace Lily
Spathiphyllum spp.
Peace lilies tell you when they need water by drooping. Keep the soil lightly moist, give them bright-ish indirect light, and they'll reward you with white spathes.
easy careAloe Vera
Aloe barbadensis miller
Aloe vera wants sun and neglect. Water it deeply, then let the soil go fully dry before touching it again — exactly like a succulent.
advanced careCalathea
Goeppertia orbifolia
Calatheas are gorgeous but fussy: they demand consistently moist soil, high-ish humidity, and filtered water if your tap is hard. Pet-safe too.
easy carePhilodendron
Philodendron hederaceum
Philodendrons are the easiest trailing houseplant: give them medium indirect light and water when the top inch of soil dries out. They root in water, climb, and grow fast.
easy careRubber Plant
Ficus elastica
Rubber plants grow into statement trees with just bright, indirect light and a drink when the top two inches dry out. They're forgiving and grow tall.
easy careChinese Money Plant
Pilea peperomioides
The Chinese money plant has perfectly round leaves on thin stems and pops out baby plants you can share. Bright indirect light and a weekly-ish drink keep it happy.
moderate careBoston Fern
Nephrolepis exaltata
Boston ferns want moist soil and humid air — bathrooms and kitchens love them. They'll forgive a missed week only if you don't make a habit of it.
moderate careString of Pearls
Senecio rowleyanus
String of pearls looks delicate but is a succulent at heart: bright light, and water only when the little pearls wrinkle. Perfect for high shelves.
moderate carePhalaenopsis Orchid
Phalaenopsis spp.
Phalaenopsis orchids bloom for months if you give them bright, indirect light and a weekly soak-and-drain. Water when the roots look silvery, not on a rigid schedule.
easy careAir Plant
Tillandsia spp.
Air plants need no soil at all: give them bright, indirect light and a weekly soak-and-dry. They're the most fun, low-maintenance plants on a shelf.
easy careJade Plant
Crassula ovata
Jade plants are easy-money succulents: full sun and a deep drink only when the soil is bone-dry. They live for decades and grow into little trees.
easy careMoney Tree
Pachira aquatica
The braided money tree is a forgiving beginner plant: medium light and a drink when the top inch dries. Its braided trunk and palm-like leaves add instant structure.
easy careBasil
Ocimum basilicum
Basil is the easiest kitchen herb: a sunny windowsill, consistent moisture, and regular pinching. It grows fast and gives you fresh leaves all summer.
easy careMint
Mentha spp.
Mint is a fast, forgiving herb that just needs steady moisture and a container of its own. Pinch it often to keep it bushy and full of flavor.
easy careBarrel Cactus
Echinocactus grusonii
Barrel cacti are desert-hardy and nearly unkillable: full sun, a deep soak a couple of times a month in summer, and almost nothing in winter.
moderate careLavender
Lavandula angustifolia
Lavender wants sun, dry roots, and good air circulation — think Mediterranean hillside, not humid living room. Overwatering is the quickest way to kill it.
easy careMonstera Adansonii
Monstera adansonii
Monstera adansonii is the smaller, trailing cousin of the deliciosa, with the same fenestrated leaves. Bright indirect light and a drink when the top two inches dry.
easy careChristmas Cactus
Schlumbergera truncata
Christmas cacti are pet-safe and reward easy care with a spectacular winter bloom. Water when the top inch dries and give it cool nights in fall to set buds.
easy careRosemary
Salvia rosmarinus
Rosemary thrives on sun, dry soil, and airflow — it's basically a mini Mediterranean shrub for your windowsill. Water it sparingly and it rewards you with fragrant sprigs.
moderate carePrayer Plant
Maranta leuconeura
Prayer plants fold their patterned leaves up each evening like hands in prayer. They want consistently moist soil, humidity, and medium indirect light.
easy careAsparagus Fern
Asparagus setaceus
Asparagus ferns are fluffy, forgiving, and easy — water when the top inch dries. Despite the name it's not a true fern, so it tolerates brighter light and drier air.
easy careEcheveria
Echeveria spp.
Echeverias are the classic rosette succulents: full sun and a deep drink only when bone-dry. Give them light and they keep their perfect geometric shape.
moderate careEnglish Ivy
Hedera helix
English ivy trails elegantly and tolerates cooler, shadier spots than most. Keep the soil lightly moist and be aware it's toxic if pets nibble it.
easy careYucca
Yucca gigantea
Yucca is a low-maintenance statement plant that thrives on neglect: bright light and a deep watering only when the soil goes bone-dry.
easy careDracaena
Dracaena marginata
Dracaena marginata is a forgiving, low-light-tolerant tree with spiky red-edged leaves. Water when the top inch dries and it grows into a statement piece.
easy careUmbrella Plant
Schefflera actinophylla
Umbrella plants grow into glossy, full houseplants fast. Bright indirect light and a drink when the top inch dries keep them looking lush.
easy careBurro's Tail
Sedum morganianum
Burro's tail is a trailing succulent whose plump, pea-like leaves cascade over the pot. Give it full sun and water only when the soil is bone-dry.
moderate careAnthurium
Anthurium andraeanum
Anthuriums bloom almost nonstop with glossy red spathes when they get bright, indirect light and consistently moist soil. Keep humidity up and they're generous.
easy carePeperomia
Peperomia obtusifolia
Peperomias are compact, low-maintenance plants with thick waxy leaves. Medium light and a drink when the top inch dries out keep them happy for years.
moderate careAreca Palm
Dypsis lutescens
Areca palms bring a tropical, feathery presence to bright rooms and are completely pet-safe. Keep the soil lightly moist and humidity up.
easy careParlor Palm
Chamaedorea elegans
The parlor palm is a graceful, compact palm that thrives in low light and is safe for pets. Water when the top inch dries and it stays lush.
easy careChinese Evergreen
Aglaonema commutatum
Chinese evergreens are nearly unkillable and grow in surprisingly low light. Water when the top inch dries and their silver-speckled leaves thrive.
easy careHoya
Hoya carnosa
Hoyas are resilient wax-leaved vines that bloom with star-shaped flowers. Bright indirect light and letting the soil dry between waterings is all they ask.
easy careArrowhead Plant
Syngonium podophyllum
Arrowhead plants grow fast, change leaf shape as they mature, and forgive missed waterings. Medium light and a drink when the top inch dries keeps them full.
easy careTradescantia
Tradescantia zebrina
Tradescantia's shimmering purple-striped leaves make it one of the fastest, showiest trailers. Bright indirect light and regular drinks keep it glowing.
easy careDumb Cane
Dieffenbachia seguine
Dumb cane gives you huge, variegated leaves with minimal fuss. Medium light and a drink when the top inch dries — but it's seriously toxic to pets.
moderate careCroton
Codiaeum variegatum
Crotons paint the room in red, orange and yellow, but they're divas: they need bright light, steady moisture and humidity, and hate being moved.
easy careKalanchoe
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Kalanchoes are succulents that reward neglect with months of clustered blooms. Direct sun, a deep drink when bone-dry, and they keep flowering.
easy careString of Hearts
Ceropegia woodii
String of hearts drapes delicate silver-marbled heart leaves on trailing vines. Bright indirect light and letting the soil dry between waterings keeps it thriving.
beginner careSnake Plant Moonshine
Dracaena trifasciata 'Moonshine'
Moonshine is the palest, silvery sibling of the classic snake plant — same indestructibility, softer look. Water only when bone-dry.
easy carePonytail Palm
Beaucarnea recurvata
Ponytail palms are quirky living sculptures: a swollen trunk that stores water and a fountain of arching leaves. Bright light and rare waterings.
moderate careRex Begonia
Begonia rex
Rex begonias show off iridescent, spiraled leaves in silver, pink and burgundy. They want bright indirect light, moist-but-not-wet soil and humidity.
moderate careNerve Plant
Fittonia albivenis
Nerve plants have vivid vein patterns that light up low-light shelves. They need consistently moist soil and humidity — and they tell you loudly when thirsty.
advanced careAlocasia
Alocasia amazonica
Alocasias are dramatic statement plants with arrow-shaped leaves and visible veins. They demand bright indirect light, humidity and steady moisture — not for beginners.