Taking care of plants can be fun and simple with the right know-how. Houseplants bring life and color to our homes, improve air quality, and boost our mood. But to enjoy these benefits, it's important to keep them healthy and thriving. Whether you're new to houseplants or find them a bit tricky, we've got you covered.

Here are our top plant care tips

1. Choose plants that fit your lighting conditions

It's natural to want plants that match your style. Just like some pet owners choose animals that mirror their personalities and appearance, you might be drawn to plants that reflect you, naturally. But, it's important to prioritize the light available in your space above all when choosing houseplants. Whether your home receives lots of direct sun, or mostly cooler indirect, natural light, find the plants that suit that space.

Types of light

The image below illustrates how you can assess the different types of light within your home.

Here they are in order of intensity:

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Direct light: Hot. Intense.

• Only the hardiest houseplants, can handle the intense heat and brightness of several hours of direct sun on their leaves.
• Choose succulents, herbs, cactus, or bird of paradise.

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Filtered light: Warm. Very Bright.

• This is the golden zone for most houseplants. Filtered light diffuses the intensity of the natural sunlight while allowing generous warmth to pass through to the foliage which is ideal for all tropical plants.
• Choose tropical plants, prioritizing those with large leaves or woody stems, like Ficus lyrata.

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Bright, indirect: Periodically warm. Shaded yet bright.

• Our runner-up for preferred houseplant conditions is the ever-talked-about "bright, indirect light." This area will get warm when the sun shines through, and will brighten up the space, but will never directly hit your plant's leaves. Expect your plants to lean towards the warmth (like the rubber plant pictured), so anticipate rotating your planter periodically.
• Almost all houseplants will do well in this space. Not suitable for succulents or cacti.

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Indirect light: Medium light. May get warm.

• Some plants live happily in this area, but you must select them carefully. Typically these plants require less frequent watering as well.
• Choose a ZZ plant, snake plant, philodendron, pothos, peace lily, calathea, dracaena, or ivy, to name a few.

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Low light: Somewhat cool, distant, natural light.

• It's important to note that "low light" does not mean dark — yes, it's brighter than you think. Again choose only the hardiest plants for your low-light spots.
• Choose ZZ plant, spider plant, peace lily, pothos, or dracaena.

As you can see from the image above, 4 different types of light can exist in just 7 feet. Prioritizing your houseplant space according to light needs is wise and awesome. But, maybe you want to put your Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree or Bird of Paradise tree in a corner with less-than-ideal light access? For tricky scenarios like this, supplemental grow lights are a good option that will grant more flexibility in houseplant placement.

See the image below and notice how supplemental light can improve the habitat for your bright light loving houseplants, like this ficus:

A closer look at low-light environments

Now, you may be wondering what low light looks like. Low light, the most common of indoor plant conditions, is likely much brighter than you think. Note that low light is not dark. All plants need natural light. Avoid putting your houseplants in dark bathrooms or hallways. See the image below for an example of low light:

2. Choose plants compatible with your lifestyle

Are you a jet-setter or a homebody? Just like selecting a pet that can handle your absence or constant attention, choose plants that align with your daily life. Yes, that means you may need to adjust from being a dog person to a cat person — or maybe even a goldfish person. Busy lifestyles are well-suited to low-maintenance plants like succulents, hoya, snake plants, and ZZ plants which forgive a little neglect and thrive on infrequent watering schedules. If you have more time to nurture, consider air plants, calathea, or orchids, which thrive with a bit more TLC.

3. Apply simple watering wisdom

A simple rule of thumb for plant watering is to err on the side of under-watering rather than over-watering. Surprisingly, your plants require less frequent watering than you might expect. Forget about sticking to a rigid schedule. Instead, gauge the soil’s moisture level using a chopstick, a moisture meter, or your finger. Most houseplants thrive best when allowed to dry out almost completely before receiving a thorough soaking. This approach closely imitates their natural growing conditions. Over time, you’ll start to recognize a pattern in their watering needs, which will help you establish a more flexible watering routine.

Important Tip: Be wary of hydrophobic soil, where water tends to run through without being absorbed, especially if the soil dries out completely. To prevent this, make sure the soil is fully saturated during watering. A good indicator of proper saturation is the weight of the pot; a light pot usually means it's not retaining moisture effectively.

4. Fertilize your plants

Just like a person who exercises regularly needs more food to fuel their activities, houseplants that receive plenty of light require more fertilizer to support their growth. When selecting a fertilizer for houseplants, opt for products with high nitrogen content to boost foliage growth, and ensure it's urea-free. The brighter the light, the more fertilizer your plant can utilize effectively—similar to how a more active person might need more nutrients.

During the bright, growth-heavy months of spring and summer, it’s wise to enhance your fertilization routine. Use fertilizers that provide gentle, instant nourishment which is ideal for houseplants to receive consistent nutrients.

Consider using Big Green Leaves®, which is a high-nitrogen plant food enriched with botanical kelp (from organic seaweed extract). This offers a myriad of benefits to houseplants including enriching the soil microbiome and providing essential nutrients for healthy growth. Unlike slow-release formulas, this product offers immediate nourishment, perfect for maintaining consistent nutrient levels that support robust plant health and vibrant leaf growth.

Read: Top 4 Problems with Houseplant Fertilizers

5. Ensure your plant pot has drain holes

Last, but we probably should have mentioned first, is drainage! Ensure your plant’s “home”—its pot—has good drainage. This means the pot will have holes in the bottom for water to escape. This point cannot be understated. Without drainage holes, you're asking for a dead or diseased plant in a matter of time. If your houseplant pot has no drainage holes, make some. Alternatively, removable liner pots are a convenient option for using decorative pots. This makes watering your plants easier.

Additionally, some soils will drain better than others. Avoid indoor potting mixes with high water retaining materials, specifically wetting agents, that hold too much moisture. We love chunky mixes or sterile soil mixes with high ratios of perlite, pumice, sand, LECA, or charcoal, to name a few. These materials enable water to reach the roots of the houseplant while allowing excess moisture to drain away quickly.

Ready to help your indoor plants thrive?

By following these top tips, you'll not only match your plants to your personal and living conditions but also ensure they thrive under your care.

Happy planting!