Read your light first
Stand where the plant will go at midday and look towards the window. If you can see a lot of open sky, the spot is bright. If you mainly see buildings or trees, or the window is several metres away, it is low light. A plant that "tolerates low light" survives there; it rarely grows fast.
Plants by light
| Plant | Light | Pets |
|---|---|---|
| Cast iron plant (Aspidistra) | Low to medium | Generally listed as non-toxic |
| Parlour palm | Low to medium | Generally listed as non-toxic |
| Spider plant | Medium to bright, indirect | Generally listed as non-toxic |
| Boston fern | Medium, indirect; likes humidity | Generally listed as non-toxic |
| ZZ plant | Low to bright, indirect | Toxic to cats and dogs |
| Snake plant | Low to bright | Toxic to cats and dogs |
| Pothos | Low to bright, indirect | Toxic to cats and dogs |
| Peace lily | Low to medium | Toxic to cats and dogs |
| Monstera | Medium to bright, indirect | Toxic to cats and dogs |
| Aloe | Bright, some direct sun | Toxic to cats and dogs |
Some popular houseplants are toxic to pets, and true lilies (such as Easter and tiger lilies) are especially dangerous to cats, including the pollen and vase water. Check a plant against a reliable poison-control list from a veterinary or animal-welfare body before you bring it home, and ask your vet if a pet chews one.
Watering without drowning
- Push a finger into the compost. Water only when the top few centimetres are dry; for succulents and snake plants, wait until it is almost dry throughout.
- Water thoroughly until it runs out of the drainage hole, then empty the saucer.
- Water less in winter, when growth slows and light is lower.
- Use pots with drainage holes. A decorative pot without holes can hold a plain plastic pot inside it.
Yellow, soft leaves usually mean too much water. Crisp brown edges often mean too little water or very dry air.
Styling plants in a room
- Use one large plant in a corner rather than many small ones dotted around.
- Group small plants in threes on a tray, at different heights, as you would objects on a shelf.
- Trailing plants look good from high shelves, but keep toxic ones where pets cannot reach the falling stems.
- Match pot colour to your palette: terracotta warms a room; white, stone and grey-green stay calm.
Dried and faux options
For a spot with no natural light, dried grasses or branches in a tall vase give a similar softness with no care. Keep them away from heat and dust them now and then.