Sections
Reference sections
The reference is divided into four topics, each covering its own set of questions. The first helps you choose a plant that suits your window and your routine. The second explains how much water and light greenery really needs. The third is about pots, potting mix and repotting. The fourth is about noticing trouble early and protecting the plants next to it.
A windowsill is a small climate of its own, with its own sun, draughts and a radiator below. The better you know that climate, the better your plant will do.
The topics follow the questions that almost every beginner asks in the first few months. We speak in general terms and do not replace the description of a particular species: when it comes to light, water or temperature, the right answer always depends on which plant you have at home.
Choosing a plant and a spot
A good plant is one that suits your window, not the one that looked best on the shop shelf. This section is about matching what you want with the conditions you have.
- A dark room and a north-facing window
A collection for homes that rarely see the sun, and for anyone who wants greenery away from the window.
- A new plant at home
Five steps on the home page: checking it over, a shelf of its own, choosing a spot and your first notes.
- Plants around children and pets
Answers about what to consider if you share your home with a cat, a dog or a toddler who puts everything in their mouth.
Watering and light
Water and light are linked: the less light a plant gets, the more slowly it grows and the less it drinks. This section helps you find the balance.
- Watering when the soil is dry
How to test the soil with your finger, why a pot needs a drainage hole and why roots suffocate in soggy soil.
- Questions about watering
What to do with water in the saucer, how to water in winter and why yellow leaves do not always mean thirst.
- Indirect light and direct sun
Glossary entries on the kinds of light a windowsill gets and how a plant shows that it has too little or too much.
Repotting and potting mix
Over time a pot becomes cramped and the potting mix loses its loose texture. This section explains how to tell when it is time and how to move a plant gently.
- Repotting step by step
A practical guide: what to prepare, how to take the plant out of its pot and what to do after repotting.
- Feeding in general terms
Why a plant needs nutrients, why you do not feed it right after repotting and why it matters to read the instructions.
- New articles about potting mix
A feed of the latest pages, with articles about pots, potting mix and propagation from cuttings marked.
Plant health
Pests and diseases are easier to stop early. This section covers how to notice the first signs and keep the trouble from spreading to neighbouring plants.
- Pests, pets and children
Answers about little flies above the soil, a film on the leaves and how to protect your household from dangerous plants.
- Plants in a home with a cat
A collection for cat owners: which plants to check especially carefully and where to put them.
- Archive of plant health articles
All finished pages by date, including articles on quarantining new plants and care while you are away.
Read next
- Guides
A step-by-step guide to repotting a houseplant gently, plus our catalogue of articles.
- Reference
A beginner’s glossary: drainage, feeding, cuttings, bright indirect light, root rot and quarantine.
- Collections
Reading paths: a dark room and a north-facing window, a home with a cat, care before a holiday.
Sources
- Houseplant care handbooks
- Veterinary home safety leaflets
Information is current as of the date this page was prepared. Houseplants differ widely in what they need from light, water and potting mix, so check the requirements of your own species before you change how you care for it.