House Plants 101 including:

Why You May Be Saying, “ALL MY PLANTS ARE DEAD.” & How to Stop.

I just want to start by telling you: You’re Killin’ it.
Really. Truly.
You’re trying. That is like 75% of the battle.
Now, let’s get to the bottom of how and why you’re killin’ your plants. Is it over or under watering? Your light situation? The pot or the dirt? Or something else like bugs? Once you know what the issue probably is, I have listed the plant types for beginners that would be best for each scenario including:

Over or under watering: The most common reasons plants meet their demise? Over or under watering. Are you a helicopter plant parent that needs to water your plant every day or every other day to feel like you’re doing it right? Do you water them a lot when you do? Or do you forget about watering for weeks or months at a time?

One sign that the plants are being over or under watered is yellowing leaves. Droopy leaves can also mean under watering. Root rot, fungus growing or fungus gnats, or blackening leaves can often be a sign that you are over watering. If the leaves are turning black, it may be time to check the roots and make sure there isn’t significant root rot. Although white fungus on the top of soil, or fungus gnats, usually isn’t detrimental to a plant, it could be a sign of another issue going on.

If your plant is really suffering and you think that there may be root rot or any kind of damage associate with over watering, you can check out the roots by simply taking your plant out of the soil, and looking at the roots! If some of the roots look black or mushy, once you have brushed the dirt off, you can cut that away. If the roots look healthy, give it some fresh soil, and rule out root rot!

In the photos above (From left to right): The Snake plant for the most part was healthy and had healthy roots, however you can see the small piece to the left was damaged (mushy and discolored) and when I took the plant out to check the roots, it wasnt doing nearly as well as the other 2 big chunks. I just removed him, made sure the rest of the roots were okay, and repotted it up. The ZZ plant on the right is an example of a very healthy root system! They like to be pot bound, but this guy wasn’t really growing much, so i just filled up the pot with some fresh soil to give it nutrients and put it back in the same pot!

If water is your issue, some plants I would recommend that are Water Loving Plants and some that are Neglect – Tolerant Plants are listed below.


Cue the Lights: Another reason people have been led to believe that they don’t have a green bone in their body, let alone a whole thumb (which has 2 bones if you were curious), is because they don’t have the right plants for their light situation. So analyze your lighting.. do you have insanely bright direct sun ALL DAY LONG? Or do you have a tiny bit of indirect sun for a couple of hours? Where do you want the plant to live? Right on the window sill or in a corner where it might only get a small amount of natural light? Maybe you want a plant for your desk at work, where it is really only getting that awful florescent light that offices have? You should analyze this before you buy a plant, because it really affects the plant you should choose!

If you live in a space with hardly any light, like a dimly lit apartment, there are also alternatives. You can invest in a grow light, or as an alternative (thats way cheaper) use a bright day light bulb, such as a 100 watt LED daylight bulb (1575 Lumens, at least 5000k) that you can put in a clip lamp or desk lamp. This also helps during the winter months, where your plants may feel the effects of winter and the lack of sunshine.

Below are plants for beginners that are: Sun Loving Plants, Plants for Indirect Bright Light, Low Light Plants & Office Plants (Artificial Light).

The Pot: The pot does go hand in hand with the type of water-er you are, (check out my video on Chinese Evergreen where I false pot it to help with drainage to see details!)  but it also is affected by the type of plant you are getting. Is it going to be indoors or outdoors? Choosing the wrong pot for the scene, can lead to a very quick death for a plant. One rule of thumb, if you are an over water-er, you NEED DRAINAGE HOLES or you need to false pot your plants. You’re plants will die without one of these options. I also would recommend terracotta or clay (something that absorbs moisture). If you don’t want your typical terracotta pot, you can create a completely different look with an easy DIY using tin foil on the exterior of the pot. Check out my tutorial or the video on this DIY.

If you are an underwater-er, you can choose a different material (like a sealed ceramic pot). False potting / drainage is always a good idea no matter what kind of water-er you are, while you are getting started though. Because until you get the hang of it, it is hard to gauge the amount of water your plants need (when you do remember to water them). So go with the safe bet. This also gives you the option of bottom watering, but we can go over that a different time.

The Dirt: Having the right (or wrong) soil for your plant will literally be the difference between life and death in some cases. Yes there are those rare plants that can grow out of concrete, or a puddle of mud, but most plants prefer and thrive in a specific kind of soil. If you are only going to choose one kind of soil ever, and want all of your plants to just suck it up and be fine in that soil, thats cool. But it needs to be the right one. To be clear, if you are going to try to grow a huge array of different plants, I am not saying this is the best course of action, but if you’re just aiming to get some basic house plants, maybe a couple tropicals or succulent types, you can get one type of soil and make it work. It will need to be heavy heavy heavy on the perlite, (the little white balls that some pre-mixed potting soil already has in it) and nutrients.

Most of my house plants are tropical plants, or plants that require well draining soil. I have the DIY mix I use in a seperate post here: Aroid Potting Soil, that I use for majority of my plants, with a few amendments for different ones. But if you don’t want to get to crazy with it while you are starting out, Black Gold’s all purpose potting mix is great, however I would buy a bag of perlite and mix it in. It will help with both aeration and drainage. Especially if you are buying plants like succulents, or tropicals that can’t handle sitting in water.

 


Eeeek! Bugs: The obvious signs of bugs in or on house plants, ending up in damage to the plant or worse? death? Well.. its actually seeing the bugs. Creepy Crawlies crawling on the leaves and UNDER THE LEAVES, in all the crevices’ of the plant. (This is where a lot of critters like to hide! See the photos below.)  on the stem, or on the soil of your house plants. Actually seeing a creepy crawly on your plant is a fail proof sign, that you have bugs. However, Most of the time, the damage that a pest can cause, happens well before you actually see the damn things. So lets talk about the other signs. First, it is important to note, that while some of these, may be signs of bugs, they could also very well be signs of something else, which is why I listed this last, with the exception of things like webs, Sorry Charlie, that’s not the sign of an over watering problem. Webs means bugs.

Leaf damage, yellowing leaves, or change in color or texture, such as drooping, distortion, speckled looking, black or brown spots, etc. can signify different types of bugs, as well as sticky goop, or dusty white speckles on the plant (if you look very closely, its probably not mold. It is probably a Mealy bug.) They look like specks of mold or tiny pieces of cotton.

If you only see bugs or signs of bugs on one plant, the first thing you NEED to do, is isolate the plant! Keep it away from your other plants. You do not want the bugs to spread! Another tip, you should isolate new plants for a couple of weeks, and continue checking for any signs, before putting them near your other plants, in case you accidentally bring home a plant with bugs. It happens. After the infested plant is isolated, find where the suckers are hiding and begin treatment. For most bugs, the first thing I do, is hose them off. Or use rubbing alcohol to get the ones that I can see, and then hose it off. If you’re dealing with a bug that can live in the soil (which is most) I also recommend taking the plant out of the soil, getting most of the old soil off, and hosing off the roots as well, and giving it fresh soil with the insect treatment such as neem oil.

One insect that won’t hurt your plant, but probably your sanity, is the fungus gnat. They are super annoying. Terrible actually. However, they themselves don’t really cause harm, but they can signify something else, such as over watering. There are sticky traps on Amazon that you can use for them. You can also mix some ground cinnamon into the soil, and cover the top layer of soil with sand, to help curb the issue.

For the other pests, the best course of action, is prevention. Clean and check your leaves every time you water. (Using a damp cloth, or towel), isolate new house plants for at least a week, inspecting for insects consistently, before introducing them to the other plants, and isolating plants that you suspect may be having a pest issue, so it cannot spread to others. There are a number of treatments if you do get bugs, some examples include: hosing off your plant with water, Safer Insect Soap, Neem Oil, and even rubbing alcohol for some bugs (such as mealy bugs). However, most treatments do take multiple attempts. Once you determine what the bug is, and treat it, you should re-treat it and continue checking the plant every few days for about a month.

Now, you probably saw at least one of those reasons (if not a few) and thought “oh that makes sense. That is why I am a serial Plant Killer.”

So, we know the issue and we can get into what kind of plants are best for your situation. Admitting you have a problem is half the battle, right?

Water Loving Plants
For the over-watering helicopter plant parent that drowns their plants in water but also in love:

Although the plants below don’t love to sit in a puddle, they can be in constantly damp soil and still do great. Another way you can curb your need to water everyday? Try Misting! Palms, Ferns, and Tropical Plants love to be misted, as they are native to a tropical and humid environment. Another way to create humidity, is to try a pebble tray. Using a simple plastic tray or container, that is wider than the base of your pot, fill it with pebbles so your plant is not sitting in water, and put water in the tray, then place your plant(s) on top of the pebbles. Then you can water the tray in between waterings for the plant.

Boston Fern (or any kind of fern, really)

Ferns love humidity. This is a great plant to mist daily, and water pretty often. Make sure your Fern has good drainage and it will thank you for your watering habits. As far as watering, they like to be kept moist but not wet. They also like bright indirect light.

Begonia

Begonia, specifically Polka dot begonia, (as well as the not-begonia, begonia the Cissus Discolor or Rex Begonia Vine) will thrive best when they receive bright, indirect light and water when the top of the soil feels dry. I use filtered water or rain water with mine, and I notice that I tend to water it in smaller amounts, more frequently than some other tropical plants. (Similar to my Alocasia’s) I try to keep the soil moist, but not wet, as soggy roots can lead to root rot but they also don’t like to dry out.  Bonus: Polka Dot Begonia are SUPER easy to propagate and share with your planty friends! You’ll be able to impress them with your green thumb in no time! Check out how to do it on my propagation and care of Polka Dot Begonia post! 

Zebra Plants

The Zebra plant loves bright light, but not straight sun all day. Filtered bright light is best. Don’t let the soil completely dry out ever, and mist frequently! Also fertilize frequently in the spring and summer.

Elephant’s ear

An elephant ear is a tropical plant, with a love of water. Especially when put in a terracotta pot with drainage, you could water this baby a little bit every day, (although you don’t necessarily need to) and it would be happy. Just make sure its not sitting in water. They also like to be in a bright spot.

Palms

Palms are another plant that LOVES to be misted. When I was first starting on my plant journey, I picked up a Majesty palm and almost killed it because I wasn’t watering it enough and I hadn’t yet discovered the power of misting. You can get a cheap spray bottle or a fancy misting bottle to be part of your decor, I linked both below. Make sure there is proper drainage, and the right soil, and then water away!

Nerve Plant (Fittonia)

Nerve Plants are great, because even though they seem moody, they literally droop and look half dead when they are thirsty. After you give them a good drink of water, they perk back up. For someone who loves to water plants, these are great because THEY LOVE WATER, and they can teach you when to water.

BASIL

Basil, although an herb and not a normal plant, loves to be watered. FREQUENTLY. They will start to shrivel if their soil isn’t moist. They also need bright light. They are very easy to propagate in water, in fact they will do much better if you do this, as they like to be pruned. Basil has a lot of roots, so make sure it has space in its pot to continue to grow. If the right conditions are met, you will have a big bushy basil plant in no time. Bonus, you can inexpensively grow it from seeds or from propagating the extras when you guy it from grocery stores.

Neglect Tolerant Plants
For the “crap I forgot the plant needed to be watered…” plant parent: 

 

Snake Plant

Snake Plants or Sansevieria are the best plants for beginners, of course this is only my opinion. There are so many different types, and varieties that fall in this bucket. There are tall, short, skinny, fat, bright green, minty almost white, deep green, patterned, etc. so whatever your style is, you can most likely find a snake plant that will fit your home. Their care is also easy, they can survive in bright direct sun, indirect light and even shade. Their watering is minimal, with only being watered when their soil is dry (hint, stick your finger down into the soil, about an inch or two, to see if it is dry). Typically their only demise comes from freezing temperatures, or too much water. You can propagate them easily, by cutting a leaf and placing it right back in soil, or by separating their pups.

ZZ Plant

Very similarly to the Snake Plant, the ZZ plant or Zamioculcas zamiifolia, tolerates neglect and low light, but also does really well in direct or bright light. One of the only ways to kill it, is by over watering, as it stores extra water already, in the base of the ZZ and in the stems. It is bright and voluminous, and its thick, waxy leaves are very resilient.  There are also other fun varieties, such as the popular and sought after Raven ZZ plant, that although its leaves start out neon green, as they mature, they turn black and are very aesthetically pleasing. Water very sparingly, maybe once every 2 weeks, depending on conditions and less in the winter.

Cacti or Succulents

the myth that cacti don’t need water, is literally a myth. They do eventually need water. They just are a little more forgiving than others, especially after they are established. If your succulent or cacti is in a well draining soil and in a pot with drainage , water once every 1-3 weeks depending on your environment and the planter it is in. When you do water it, water thoroughly and keep it in or near a brightly lit window where it will be happiest.

SO MUCH SUN Plants
For crazy bright always direct, might as well be the desert, sun:

Aloe

Aloe is a succulent, and like other succulents, it needs to be watered very infrequently. Watering once every 2-3 weeks will keep your aloe happy. Make sure to let it dry out completely in between waterings and keep it in a well draining soil and pot with drainage. It also will be happiest in bright bright light!

Elephant Ear

Elephant Ears are great heat tolerant, full sun plants, for Zone 10. If you are not in hot climates, you can move these inside for the winter, in a pot! They like well draining soil, and a lot of water, in order to keep moist, but not wet. Water often in direct sun, and make sure your pot has drainage!

Bromeliads

The vibrant array of Bromeliads that you can usually find, even at big box stores, is astonishing. Bromeliad has thick vibrant leaves, so bugs don’t usually bother with trying to chew on or through them. Bromeliads love sun, and most varieties can handle and abundance of it, however some types of bromeliads cant handle direct sunshine and should be kept somewhere where their exposure is more indirect. They prefer to have moist soil , not wet, and should be kept in fast draining soil. They can also be grown in hanging baskets. They thrive in humid conditions!

Arrowhead Plants

Different varieties of arrowhead plants can tolerate a range of sun from direct sun to bright indirect sun, this white arrowhead plant pictured above, spends all day outside in Florida, soaking up as much sun as possible and does wonderfully. I also have an arrowhead inside on a shelf with my philodendrons, getting medium light, that does great as well. They are easy to maintain, by watering when the soil dries out, and rotating frequently, so it doesn’t grow too lopsided.

Frizzle Sizzle

These fun curley stems and blooms that smell like a bottle of vanilla extract, make for one of the most fun house plants I have. It has such a unique appearance, and will really catch you off guard when it blooms, because sometimes, the rest of the plant will look dead because it is exerting all of its energy into flowering, and you will have a two foot tall bloom coming out. (tip: if you want to avoid the rest of the plant from looking dead, simply snip the bloom as soon as you spot it). I recommend keeping this in a terracotta pot, and water when its dry. Usually I water mine generously once a week. It thrives in extremely bright light!

Birds of Paradise

Warning these can get HUGE. The Bird of Paradise LOVES direct light, and with enough sun and humidity, it can even flower indoors, however most blooms will be seen outside. Another easy to maintain plant, just stick your finger and inch or two into the soil, to feel if it is dry, if it is, water it! You can also mist it to help with humidity if you are growing the plant indoors. Make sure it is in well draining soil and gets A LOT of sun!

Snake Plants

Snake Plants or Sansevieria are the best plants for beginners, of course this is only my opinion. There are so many different types, and varieties that fall in this bucket. Their care is also easy, they can survive in bright direct sun, indirect light and even shade. When neglected, and usually only outside, they can even bloom! However, it is very rare to see a bloom, sometimes people only see them once in a decade, or never, but at most, they will bloom once a year. Their watering is minimal, with only being watered when their soil is dry (hint, stick your finger down into the soil, about an inch or two, to see if it is dry). Typically their only demise comes from freezing temperatures, or too much water.

Indirect Bright Light Plant
A cute plant for the windowsill, (so I can act like I don’t kill everything) plant parent: 

Philodendron Brazil (Heart Shaped Philodendron) or really any type of Philodendron

One of the most common varieties of Philodendron that I have come across is the Heart Leaf (Philodendron Scandens) or Philodendron Brazil . They can be found in big box stores & even grocery stores. This plant thrives in most conditions including artificially lit offices, shaded living rooms & indirectly sunny kitchens, it can trail, hang in a pot or even loves to climb & cling to things when given the opportunity, another trailing variety is the Philodendron Micans which have a beautiful velvety texture and can be deep green or have pops of color. There are a number of other varieties of philodendrons, some crawling varieties such as the Gloriosum, which prefer a shallow large pot, and upright Philodendrons, which wont trail or climb, but can have HUGE beautiful leaves! Just water when the soil is dried out and give them medium to bright indirect light. **Bonus: Philodendron is listed by NASA as a air purifying plant, however it is also considered toxic to children and pets – so make sure to keep it somewhere out of reach.

Another Bonus? EASY to propagate and have more plants! Or plants to give to friends. Check out my Philodendron Propagation tutorial here or you can watch my video on how to propagate them here.

Monstera Deliciosa

Monstera’s are a tropical plant that love humidity and bright indirect light but they can also adapt to more light if needed. They are naturally tropical, so don’t let the soil get too dry before watering. Tip: stick your finger an inch or two in the dirt, if its dry, water it. It will also be happy with frequent misting, you can get an inexpensive mister on amazon, I have included in the links below! Bonus? You can propagate these very easy! I walk through how to propagate them, using three different methods on my Monstera propagation post, you can check out here.

Dracena

It is very easy to know when your Dracena needs water, simply stick your finger 1-2 inches into the soil, if it is dry, you can water it! If the soil is getting and staying to wet or too dry however, you may notice browning or yellowing tips on the leaves. When your dracena has a pup (another smaller plant in the pot) you can keep it in the same pot, or separate it into another, giving you an entirely new plant! Another bonus with these plants, is they aren’t super prone to pests (apparently they are not tasty) so that is not something you will often have to worry about. They do however get dusty leaves, so you should make sure to wipe them off occasionally.

Birds of Paradise

Warning these can get HUGE. The Bird of Paradise LOVES direct light, and with enough sun and humidity, it can even flower indoors, however most blooms will be seen outside. Another easy to maintain plant, just stick your finger and inch or two into the soil, to feel if it is dry, if it is, water it! You can also mist it to help with humidity if you are growing the plant indoors. Make sure it is in well draining soil and gets A LOT of sun!

Low Light Plants
For apartment corners, so my parents think I have some kind of decor in my apartment plant parent: 

 

Cast Iron Plant

As long as Cast Iron Plants are watered consistently, they can survive pretty dim lighting. They like their soil moist, not soaked, but other than that they are very hardy and easy to care for. These are the perfect plants for a corner. Bonus, they can be pretty tall, so they can add some height to a room on top of an end table or as a floor plant.

ZZ Plant

the ZZ plant or Zamioculcas zamiifolia, tolerates neglect and low light, but also does really well in direct or bright light. One of the only ways to kill it, is by over watering, as it stores extra water already, in the base of the ZZ and in the stems. It is bright and voluminous, and its thick, waxy leaves are very resilient.  There are also other fun varieties, such as the popular and sought after Raven ZZ plant, that although its leaves start out neon green, as they mature, they turn black and are very aesthetically pleasing. Water very sparingly, maybe once every 2 weeks, depending on conditions and less in the winter.

Peace Lilly

Fertilize very occasionally, and keep the soil moist but do not over water. The peace lily will usually let you know if they are not getting enough water, by drooping leaves or yellowing leaves. These plants can be sensitive to chemicals that are found in some tap water, so if you cannot figure out what is going on with your peace lily and why it is unhappy, you might consider trying filtered water.

Chinese Evergreen

A low light tolerant plant (especially the darker leaf varieties) that will also do well in medium to bright indirect light (The lighter the foliage, the more light it usually needs), this full –  beautiful foliage house plant is easy to care for. Just water when dry (I usually water mine about once a week). It comes in a variety of colors and patterns and looks lush year around. This plant is also pretty resistant to bugs, which is a great bonus. . Here’s a quick video on repotting & care for these guys!

Office Plants
For the cubical, so I don’t look like I am only a workaholic plant parent: 

Golden Pothos

Golden Pothos are Golden plants for beginners. They are the easiest to propagate, and like to be watered when their soil dries out. They can tolerate artificial or indirect light and are very easy to care for. If their leaves appear droopy or discolored, it is usually a sign of over or under watering, or needing light. Sometimes it can mean that your plant is root bound. If your plant seems like its vines are not growing, try soaking the vines in water for about ten minutes. I have had excellent results with this, as sometimes the water in the pot doesn’t get all the way to the ends of the vines! They seem much happier and healthier when I do this about once a month or once every other month.

ZZ plant

the ZZ plant or Zamioculcas zamiifolia, tolerates neglect and low light, but also does really well in direct or bright light. One of the only ways to kill it, is by over watering, as it stores extra water already, in the base of the ZZ and in the stems. It is bright and voluminous, and its thick, waxy leaves are very resilient.  There are also other fun varieties, such as the popular and sought after Raven ZZ plant, that although its leaves start out neon green, as they mature, they turn black and are very aesthetically pleasing. Water very sparingly, maybe once every 2 weeks, depending on conditions and less in the winter.

Philodendron

One of the most common varieties of Philodendron that I have come across is the Heart Leaf (Philodendron Scandens) or Philodendron Brazil . They can be found in big box stores & even grocery stores. This plant thrives in most conditions including artificially lit offices, shaded living rooms & indirectly sunny kitchens, it can trail, hang in a pot or even loves to climb & cling to things when given the opportunity, another trailing variety is the Philodendron Micans which have a beautiful velvety texture and can be deep green or have pops of color. There are a number of other varieties of philodendrons, some crawling varieties such as the Gloriosum, which prefer a shallow large pot, and upright Philodendrons, which wont trail or climb, but can have HUGE beautiful leaves! Just water when the soil is dried out and give them medium to bright indirect light. **Bonus: Philodendron is listed by NASA as a air purifying plant, however it is also considered toxic to children and pets – so make sure to keep it somewhere out of reach.

Another Bonus? EASY to propagate and have more plants! Or plants to give to friends. Check out my Philodendron Propagation tutorial here or you can watch my video on how to propagate them here.

Chinese Evergreen

A low light tolerant plant (especially the darker leaf varieties) that will also do well in medium to bright indirect light (The lighter the foliage, the more light it usually needs), this full –  beautiful foliage house plant is easy to care for. Just water when dry (I usually water mine about once a week). It comes in a variety of colors and patterns and looks lush year around. This plant is also pretty resistant to bugs, which is a great bonus.

Bug-Resistant Plants
For the plant parents who ‘just can’t’ with bugs.

Chinese Evergreen

A low light tolerant plant (especially the darker leaf varieties) that will also do well in medium to bright indirect light (The lighter the foliage, the more light it usually needs), this full –  beautiful foliage house plant is easy to care for. Just water when dry (I usually water mine about once a week). It comes in a variety of colors and patterns and looks lush year around. This plant is also pretty resistant to bugs, which is a great bonus.

Dracena

It is very easy to know when your Dracena needs water, simply stick your finger 1-2 inches into the soil, if it is dry, you can water it! If the soil is getting and staying to wet or too dry however, you may notice browning or yellowing tips on the leaves. When your dracena has a pup (another smaller plant in the pot) you can keep it in the same pot, or separate it into another, giving you an entirely new plant! Another bonus with these plants, is they aren’t super prone to pests (apparently they are not tasty) so that is not something you will often have to worry about. They do however get dusty leaves, so you should make sure to wipe them off occasionally.

Bromeliads

The vibrant array of Bromeliads that you can usually find, even at big box stores, is astonishing. Bromeliad has thick vibrant leaves, so bugs don’t usually bother with trying to chew on or through them. Bromeliads love sun, and most varieties can handle and abundance of it, however some types of bromeliads cant handle direct sunshine and should be kept somewhere where their exposure is more indirect. They prefer to have moist soil , not wet, and should be kept in fast draining soil. They can also be grown in hanging baskets. They thrive in humid conditions!

Snake Plant

Snake Plants or Sansevieria are the best plants for beginners, of course this is only my opinion. There are so many different types, and varieties that fall in this bucket. There are tall, short, skinny, fat, bright green, minty almost white, deep green, patterned, etc. so whatever your style is, you can most likely find a snake plant that will fit your home. Their care is also easy, they can survive in bright direct sun, indirect light and even shade. Their watering is minimal, with only being watered when their soil is dry (hint, stick your finger down into the soil, about an inch or two, to see if it is dry). Typically their only demise comes from freezing temperatures, or too much water. You can propagate them easily, by cutting a leaf and placing it right back in soil, or by separating their pups.

Products:

Here are the links from products I really use! Some are amazon affiliate links. If you buy anything using these links, I may make a small commission, so thanks! However, you don’t need to use these exact brands, or could purchase them from a local garden center near you!