Know the plant.
Read the room.

ZZ plant

Place a ZZ plant in medium to bright indirect light, let the potting mix dry substantially between waterings, and use a compact pot with excellent drainage. Lower light is tolerated, but growth becomes very slow.

Spider plant

Grow a spider plant in bright indirect or medium light, water when the upper mix begins to dry, and let excess drain. Give the arching leaves room and root mature plantlets when you want new plants.

Rubber plant

Give Ficus elastica bright indirect light, water after the upper mix has partly dried, and keep its position warm and stable. Clean the broad leaves and rotate modestly for balanced growth.

Peace lily

Keep a peace lily in medium to bright filtered light and water when the upper mix begins to dry, before repeated severe wilting. Use a draining pot and protect it from cold draughts and radiator air.

Heartleaf philodendron

Grow heartleaf philodendron in medium to bright indirect light, keep the mix lightly moist but aerated, and let the upper layer dry before watering again. Trail it or give it a support and prune sparse vines.

Areca palm

Place an areca palm in bright filtered light, keep the root ball evenly but not permanently wet, and protect the fronds from radiator heat and cold draughts. Give it space and inspect regularly for spider mites.

Kentia palm

Give a Kentia palm medium to bright indirect light, a humus-rich draining mix and steady moisture without saturation. It is tolerant but slow-growing, so avoid repeated repotting and drastic changes.

Boston fern

Keep a Boston fern in bright indirect light with a consistently lightly moist, well-drained root ball and higher humidity. Protect it from radiator blasts and never let the whole pot dry hard.

Aloe vera

Place Aloe vera at a very bright south- or west-facing window, acclimate it to direct sun, and let the mix dry completely before watering deeply. Use a small terracotta pot with several drainage holes.

Jade plant

Keep a jade plant in a very bright window with gradually introduced sun, water only after the mix dries well, and use a heavy draining pot. Prune in active growth to shape the miniature-tree form.

Wax plant

Give Hoya carnosa bright indirect light with gentle sun, a small pot of loose fast-draining mix, and time to dry partly between waterings. Do not remove old flower spurs, because the plant can bloom from them again.

Fiddle-leaf fig

Place Ficus lyrata directly beside a bright window, water thoroughly after the upper mix partly dries, and keep light and temperature stable. Clean its large leaves and avoid oversized pots.

Bird of paradise

Give bird of paradise the brightest warm position available, including acclimated direct sun, water after the upper mix partly dries, and allow generous space for the leaves. Indoor flowering requires maturity and exceptional light.

Flamingo flower

Keep Anthurium andraeanum in bright filtered light, an airy epiphytic mix and steady warmth. Water after the upper mix begins to dry, drain fully, and protect leaves from radiator air.

Tradescantia zebrina

Give Tradescantia zebrina bright indirect light with some gentle sun, water after the upper mix starts to dry, and pinch or prune regularly. Root fresh node cuttings back into the pot when old vines become bare.

Dwarf umbrella tree

Grow dwarf umbrella tree in bright indirect light, water after the upper mix partly dries and prune in active growth to control height. Keep it warm and stable through winter.

Yucca cane

Put Yucca gigantea in a very bright position with acclimated sun, let much of the mix dry before watering and use a heavy draining pot. Low light plus frequent watering is the main indoor risk.

Christmas cactus

Grow Christmas cactus in bright filtered light and an airy mix, watering after partial drying rather than treating it like a desert cactus. Stable cool nights and long uninterrupted darkness help initiate buds.

Moth orchid

Keep a Phalaenopsis in bright filtered light, water when the exposed roots turn silvery and the bark approaches dry, then drain completely. Use orchid bark and never leave the crown full of water.

Chinese evergreen

Keep Aglaonema in medium to bright indirect light, let the upper mix dry before watering and protect it from cold draughts. Colourful cultivars need more light than plain green forms.

Dragon tree

Give a dragon tree medium to bright indirect light, let the upper half of the mix dry before watering, and keep the canes warm. Prune a healthy cane in spring when you want branching.

Monstera

Place Monstera deliciosa in bright indirect light, water thoroughly after the upper potting mix has partly dried, use a draining chunky mix and give mature stems a support. In Dutch winter, move it closer to light and expect slower drying.

Pothos

Grow Pothos in medium to bright indirect light, water after the upper mix dries, and use a pot with drainage. Trim sparse vines above a node and propagate node-bearing cuttings. Move it closer to a window in Dutch winter and reduce watering as growth slows.

Pilea

Keep Pilea in bright indirect light, water after the upper mix dries and rotate it regularly for even growth. Separate rooted pups only when they have their own small root system, then keep the new plants in stable bright light.

Calathea

Give Calathea bright filtered light, an airy mix that stays lightly moist without becoming stagnant, and a warm position away from radiators and cold glass. Treat brown edges as a clue to investigate, not proof that tap water is the only cause.

Baby rubber plant

Keep Peperomia obtusifolia in bright indirect light, let a good portion of the mix dry before watering, and use a small airy pot. Its fleshy leaves store water, so frequent watering is unnecessary.

Money tree

Place a money tree in bright indirect light, water thoroughly once the upper part of the mix has dried, and always let excess water drain away. Keep its braided trunk warm and away from cold glass, and rotate it occasionally for even growth.