Houseplants: light and water by your window, not a schedule
Pick a houseplant, window direction, distance, pot, and season. Get a light check and how often to check the soil, plus pet safety from the ASPCA list for 38 common houseplants.
Most houseplants die from too much water, not too little. The Light and Water tool gives a range of days to check the soil. The soil decides when to water.
How to check the soil
Finger test: push a finger into the soil up to the first knuckle, about an inch. Dry and crumbly means that layer is dry. Cool or damp means wait. For deeper checks use a wooden skewer: it comes out clean when the soil is dry.
Weight test: lift the pot right after a full watering and remember the weight. A pot that feels much lighter is drying out. This works best for small and medium pots.
When you water, soak until water runs out the drainage hole, then empty the saucer after 15 to 30 minutes. Plants in pots without drainage are much easier to overwater.
Houseplant care table
| Plant | Light | Water | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pothos | Low light to bright indirect light | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Toxic to pets |
| Heartleaf philodendron | Low light to bright indirect light | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Toxic to pets |
| Monstera | Medium light to bright indirect light | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Toxic to pets |
| Snake plant | Low light to some direct sun | Water when the soil is dry all the way down | Toxic to pets |
| ZZ plant | Low light to bright indirect light | Water when the soil is dry all the way down | Not listed |
| Spider plant | Medium light to bright indirect light | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Pet safe |
| Peace lily | Low light to bright indirect light | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Toxic to pets |
| Fiddle leaf fig | Bright indirect light to some direct sun | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Toxic to pets |
| Rubber plant | Medium light to some direct sun | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Toxic to pets |
| Weeping fig | Bright indirect light to some direct sun | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Toxic to pets |
| Calathea | Medium light to bright indirect light | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Pet safe |
| Prayer plant | Medium light to bright indirect light | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Pet safe |
| Aloe | Bright indirect light to some direct sun | Water when the soil is dry all the way down | Toxic to pets |
| Jade plant | Bright indirect light to some direct sun | Water when the soil is dry all the way down | Toxic to pets |
| Echeveria and rosette succulents | Some direct sun | Water when the soil is dry all the way down | Pet safe |
| Haworthia | Medium light to bright indirect light | Water when the soil is dry all the way down | Pet safe |
| Desert cacti | Some direct sun | Water when the soil is dry all the way down | Not listed |
| Christmas cactus | Medium light to bright indirect light | Water when the top half of the pot is dry | Pet safe |
| Moth orchid | Medium light to bright indirect light | Water when the top half of the pot is dry | Pet safe |
| African violet | Medium light to bright indirect light | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Pet safe |
| Boston fern | Medium light to bright indirect light | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Pet safe |
| Peperomia | Medium light to bright indirect light | Water when the top half of the pot is dry | Pet safe |
| Hoya | Bright indirect light to some direct sun | Water when the top half of the pot is dry | Pet safe |
| Dracaena (corn plant) | Low light to bright indirect light | Water when the top half of the pot is dry | Toxic to pets |
| Pilea | Medium light to bright indirect light | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Pet safe |
| Chinese evergreen | Low light to bright indirect light | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Toxic to pets |
| String of pearls | Bright indirect light to some direct sun | Water when the soil is dry all the way down | Not listed |
| Burro's tail | Bright indirect light to some direct sun | Water when the soil is dry all the way down | Pet safe |
| Bird of paradise | Bright indirect light to some direct sun | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Toxic to pets |
| English ivy | Medium light to bright indirect light | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Toxic to pets |
| Arrowhead plant | Medium light to bright indirect light | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Toxic to pets |
| Dieffenbachia (dumb cane) | Medium light to bright indirect light | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Toxic to pets |
| Parlor palm | Low light to bright indirect light | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Pet safe |
| Areca palm | Bright indirect light | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Pet safe |
| Money tree | Medium light to bright indirect light | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Pet safe |
| Ponytail palm | Bright indirect light to some direct sun | Water when the soil is dry all the way down | Pet safe |
| Cast iron plant | Low light to medium light | Water when the top half of the pot is dry | Pet safe |
| Polka dot plant | Bright indirect light | Water when the top inch of soil is dry | Pet safe |
Pet safety comes from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list. The list is not exhaustive, and a plant marked non-toxic can still upset a pet stomach. If a pet eats a plant and you are worried, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list.
Guides
- How often to water houseplants: check, do not schedule
- Houseplant light by window direction
- Pet-safe houseplants for cats and dogs
- How to bring rosemary indoors for winter
- When to bring basil and tender herbs indoors
- How to protect fig trees in winter by zone
- Pet-Safe Garden Finder: garden plants toxic to dogs and cats
- Garden to Bed: fall closeout checklist
- Holiday Rebloom Desk: poinsettia, Christmas cactus, and orchid rebloom
Sources
- Illinois Extension, Watering houseplants
- Illinois Extension, Lighting for houseplants
- Illinois Extension, Repotting houseplants
- Illinois Extension, Houseplant troubleshooting
- University of Missouri Extension G6510, Caring for Houseplants
- University of Missouri Extension G6515, Lighting Indoor Houseplants
- ASPCA, Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants