THE PLANT LIBRARY

Houseplants

A little green indoors. Start with a healthy nursery plant and learn when to leave the watering can alone.

Browse all 13 houseplants guides ↓

A FEW PLACES TO START

Choose a shape and a watering habit.

All three plans begin with a small rooted plant in its nursery pot. Give it window light, then use the mix’s dryness to decide when to water.

Pothos

Epipremnum aureum

For trailing vines near a bright window: start with one rooted plant and trim long stems as it grows.

Space
Keep its nursery potStart with a 4–6-inch nursery plant. Use a saucer or cachepot.
Start with
1 small plantChoose a healthy rooted plant for the quickest start.
Watch for
A dim room can leave the pot wet much longer. Wait for the mix to dry between waterings and empty the outer pot.
View Pothos care steps

Snake plant

Dracaena trifasciata

For a plant with a longer drying period: start with one small snake plant and keep its draining nursery pot.

Space
Keep its nursery potChoose a 4–6-inch plant with drainage. A stable outer pot helps.
Start with
1 small plantNo immediate repotting or seed starting needed.
Watch for
Let the mix dry throughout before watering. Slow growth is normal, especially in lower light; more water is not the fix.
View Snake plant care steps

Spider plant

Chlorophytum comosum

For arching leaves and a possible future propagation project: give the leaves room, then root a baby plant if one develops.

Space
Keep its nursery potBuy one rooted plant in a 4-inch-wide nursery pot with drainage holes. Keep that pot at first and add a saucer; this is our small starter size, not a minimum for every spider plant.
Start with
1 rooted plantChoose a labeled Chlorophytum comosum with healthy leaves. If you already own one in a suitable draining pot, keep it there rather than downsizing to match this recipe.
Watch for
Brown leaf tips have several possible causes. Check moisture and feeding first; extra fertilizer or constantly wet mix can make things worse.
View Spider plant care steps

All houseplants growing guides.

13 guides
Trailing vine with green and yellow, heart-shaped leaves.Houseplants

Pothos

Epipremnum aureum

A little green for your bookshelf.

Small plantIndoor plant
See the growing steps
Snake plants with tall, striped leaves in blue indoor pots.Houseplants

Snake plant

Dracaena trifasciata

For the gardener who sometimes forgets.

Small plantIndoor plant
See the growing steps
A spider plant with arching green-and-white striped leaves and hanging plantlets.Houseplants

Spider plant

Chlorophytum comosum

A fountain of leaves, with little plants to share.

Small plantIndoor plant
See the growing steps
A potted ZZ plant with upright stems and glossy green leaflets.Houseplants

ZZ plant

Zamioculcas zamiifolia

Glossy leaves, with a longer wait between waterings.

Small plantIndoor plant
See the growing steps
A potted peace lily with glossy, pointed green leaves on a white stand.Houseplants

Peace lily

Compact Spathiphyllum hybrid

Peace lily care starts with soft window light and a soil check before watering.

Small plantIndoor plant
See the growing steps
Clusters of fleshy oval green jade-plant leaves on branching stems.Houseplants

Jade plant

Crassula ovata

Jade plant care: a sunny window, a draining pot, and time to dry between drinks.

Small plantIndoor succulent
See the growing steps
Pendant pink Christmas-cactus flowers hang from flattened green stems with rounded, scalloped edges.Houseplants

Christmas cactus

Schlumbergera × buckleyi

Gentle light, a draining pot, and a moisture check—then cool, dark fall nights when you want blooms again.

Nursery plantIndoor flowering plant
See the growing steps
A potted Monstera deliciosa with glossy green leaves split into deep lobes and natural holes.Houseplants

Monstera

Green Monstera deliciosa

Settle the nursery pot, check the mix before you water, and give the climbing stem something to lean on.

Nursery plantIndoor climbing plant
See the growing steps
Aloe vera rosettes with long green succulent leaves and small pale teeth along their edges, growing in a garden bed.Houseplants

Aloe vera

True Aloe vera grown indoors

Bright light, a draining pot, and dry mix between drinks—aloe is a drought-tolerant beginner succulent.

Nursery plantIndoor succulent
See the growing steps
Heartleaf philodendron vines with heart-shaped green leaves.Houseplants

Heartleaf philodendron

Philodendron hederaceum

A vining houseplant for bright indirect light, with waterings based on the mix and cuttings that include a node.

Nursery plantIndoor vine
See the growing steps
AI-generated illustration of a potted cast iron plant with broad, arching dark-green leaves.Houseplants

Cast iron plant

Aspidistra elatior indoors

A leafy, forgiving choice for a room with softer light.

Nursery plantIndoor foliage plant
AI-generated illustrationSee the growing steps
AI-generated illustration of a potted ponytail palm with a swollen trunk base and long, arching narrow leaves.Houseplants

Ponytail palm

Beaucarnea recurvata indoors

A sunny-window plant that prefers time between drinks.

Nursery plantIndoor succulent
AI-generated illustrationSee the growing steps
AI-generated illustration of a potted baby rubber plant with thick glossy oval green leaves.Houseplants

Baby rubber plant

Peperomia obtusifolia indoors

Glossy, rounded leaves for a bright indoor shelf.

Nursery plantWarm indoor plant
AI-generated illustrationSee the growing steps

Choosing an indoor spot? Check light where the leaves will be →

Wet mix, but still wilting? Check drainage and roots before watering again →

ONE PLANT, A NEW START

Make a new pothos from a cutting.

See where to cut, what goes below the water, and when the roots are ready for a pot.

Follow the pothos propagation guide →

Indoor plant care. Start with light, water, and a draining pot, then open one plant. Planting succulents is the job when the pot and mix are the question. A Mexican butterwort is a separate windowsill plan: butterwort care.

Leaves first. Best foliage plants is a choice list. The light, water, and pot routine stays on indoor plant care.

ONE GOOD PLACE TO START

Not sure what to grow?

A herb for dinner, flowers by the door, or green on a shelf. Start with the space you already have.

Something I can eat →A little more color →Something for indoors →

Autumn jobs to try next