Houseplants aren’t just chic decor—they’re also great for your health, generating fresh oxygen and filtering the air to support your circulatory system. House plants fill your space with green hues, which calm anxiety and lift the spirit. If there’s ever an update to make at home or the office, it’s populating your space with fresh greens.
We’ve picked some modern-favorite houseplants and broken down their care so you can dive into indoor gardening right away!
Beginner Indoor Gardener’s List:
- Tools: A sturdy trowel and gloves will get you started.
- Soil: City compost potting soils are the most ethical, and they’re also very rich in the nutrients your plants need.
- Fertilizer: Pick up a (vegan or city compost) pH-balanced, organic houseplant fertilizer while you’re at it.
- Stones: Is your abode brimming with crystals collected over the years? Whether you’re an avid collector or crystal newbie, remember that rocks and plants are good buddies, and they love to cuddle. Put river rocks or pebbles at the bottom of pots without drainage to create a built-in drainage system. Cluster them on top of the soil, as well, to stabilize plants and encourage soil to stay moist.
- Pots: One of the most exciting aspects of an indoor plant scheme is selecting containers that spark your fancy. Pretty much any container can be converted into a planter pot, although we wouldn’t recommend using anything made of plastic.
The four basic categories of plant care are light, water, soil, and fertilizer. Almost all plants need a little bit of light at the very least, but not all plants like a lot of light. All plants need water, but hardly any like to stand in excess water for fear of “root rot.” Not all plants need soil to grow, but the below plants do, as do most houseplants. All plants need fertilizing, but some need more frequent feedings than others.
String of Pearls Plants
- Light: Bright light with (some) direct sunlight.
- Water: Keep soil lightly moistened but not soggy. Water more in the warmer months.
- Soil: Use cactus potting soil, or use three parts regular potting soil and one part sand.
- Fertilize: about once per month in the warmer months.
Palms
- Light: Place your palm in an area that receives filtered sunlight.
- Water: approximately once per week, or whenever the soil feels dry.
- Soil: Use a lightweight version that doesn’t retain water easily.
- Fertilize: Amend your potting soil to include fertilizer that slowly releases.
Monstera Plants
- Light: Place your Monstera in a lightly shaded area.
- Water: Soil must be kept moist but not soggy or wet.
- Soil: Use a high-pH, well-draining potting soil, mixed with sand at a 1:1 ratio.
- Fertilize: use a complete (containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium) fertilizer two-to-three times per year.
Cacti
- Light: Cacti love to live in sunny, brightly lit areas.
- Water: Lightly mist the plant and soil with water once per week—not too soaking!
- Soil: Cactus-specific potting soil blended with gravel.
- Fertilize each week with a balanced fertilizer at the time of watering.
Fiddles –
- Light: Keep your fiddle leaf fig tree in bright, direct light.
- Water: Check the soil every two to three days, watering when the top of the soil is dry.
- Soil: Fast-draining soil.
- Fertilize every three-to-four weeks.
Snake Plants
- Light: Keep your snake plant(s) in medium, non-direct light.
- Water: every two-to-six weeks, or whenever the soil is completely dry.
- Soil: Succulent and cactus mix blended with potting soil works best.
- Fertilize: with organic houseplant food once per year.