How to Grow Houseplants for Beginners: Do’s and Don’ts

Figuring out what houseplants need can be confusing for a beginner plant owner. Not everything about plant care is obvious, and sometimes small missteps lead to a plant’s death and a strong feeling of discouragement. But have no fear — there are a few general guidelines houseplant growers can stick to that will set plants up for success.

Light: Don’ts

Don’t put plants in the dark! Plants need light to perform photosynthesis and being in the dark most of the time will make this a lot harder for the plant. Just because a plant is labeled “low-light” doesn’t mean that it will grow its best in a dark corner or hallway. With less light, the plant will use less water, so the roots could be at risk of rotting.

Don’t put plants in too much light, either. Some plants, like succulents, appreciate more light than others, but many tropical houseplants are at risk of sunburns in direct light. Putting a plant outside for a day of direct sun could burn its leaves, turning them yellow and brown.

Some plants will stretch out to reach more light when in low-light conditions. This is known as etiolation.

Light: Do’s

Do try to understand the plant’s needs and place it in a spot that will make it happy. While succulents prefer to be outside or in a spot that receives very bright direct light, tropical plants like pothos, philodendrons, monstera and many more are less demanding. Many tropical plants prefer bright indirect light, which can be easily found in homes with well-lit windows or created with the use of a grow lamp. It’s a good idea to look up the specific type of plant and check on its light needs.

Watering: Don’ts

Don’t give a plant just a little bit of water every day. Many first time plant owners — speaking from experience here — think their plants need water every day, adding just enough water to the soil to wet the plant without making a mess. Unfortunately, this is a recipe for over-watering and will drown the roots, keeping them from breathing and growing.

Watering: Do’s

Do water plants thoroughly. Sorry, this will make a mess — but it’s what plants need to grow strong roots and healthy leaves. First, check the soil moisture by sticking a finger about an inch into the soil. If it feels dry, then it’s time to water. Make sure the water is poured into all sides of the pot and that a decent amount of water runs out the bottom. The pot should feel significantly heavier than before. Some plants may end up needing a thorough watering every few days, but others may take anywhere from a week to a month to dry out.

I water my plants in the bathtub or sink so excess water can easily drain away.

Soil: Don’ts

Don’t use just any soil for plants. Store-bought soil is often too heavy and has too much water retention for houseplants. For example, Miracle-Gro’s indoor plant soil can work, but it needs some soil amendments (additional materials) mixed in to keep it from suffocating plants and leaving them with a nasty case of root rot or soil fungus.

Soil: Do’s

Do research on each plant’s soil needs and make a soil mix that checks all the boxes. Plant owners can combine various amounts and types of soil amendments with regular indoor plant soil before repotting to get a soil that is catered to their plant’s needs. Some soil amendments every grower should have on hand include perlite, sand, orchid bark and peat and sphagnum moss. Different plants will need different kinds of soil mixes that offer more or less moisture.

Do check bags of soil for bugs or fungus. Soil, even fresh from the store, can be hiding stowaways that could harm plants. Shine a flashlight into the bag after opening it and watch for anything moving around. If anything looks suspicious, return or discard the bag.

Perlite, sand, orchid bark, peat and sphagnum moss can all be used as soil amendments.

Pots: Don’ts

Don’t choose pots without drainage holes. Many decorative ceramic pots have no drainage holes at the bottom. If a plant grower were to pot plants straight into a container without a drainage hole, they might get lucky and have a healthy plant, but it’s not likely. Without drainage holes, there’s nowhere for the water to go. A solid pot without holes can still be used as a cachepot — meaning the plant is actually growing in a pot with drainage holes, but that pot sits inside the solid, decorative one.

Pots: Do

Do make sure pots have adequate drainage. There should be at least one drainage hole in terra cotta and smaller ceramic or plastic pots, but the more holes, the better! Holes can easily be cut out of plastic nursery pots during repotting if the plant isn’t getting enough drainage.

Do choose different types of pots for different plants. Pots are typically made of either terra cotta, ceramic or plastic. Plants are often sold in plastic nursery pots, and these work well for almost any type of plant as long as the pot has drainage and appropriate soil. Terra cotta offers good growing conditions for plants like pothos, philodendrons, succulents and many more because the terra cotta will absorb excess water and help the soil dry out quicker. Some plants, like prayer plants and ferns, prefer not to have their soil dry out. Choose plastic or ceramic pots for these plants. For orchids, the best choice is a plastic slotted pot, which allows water to run out the sides of the pot as well as the bottom and gives the orchid’s roots access to light. Slotted pots can be DIY-ed by punching holes in the sides and bottom of a 24-ounce plastic to-go container.

Transparent slotted pots are great for growing orchids and are offered in many colors.

Pest Treatment: Don’ts

Don’t wait for an infestation to begin treating plants for pests. It’s hard for beginner growers to imagine that pests may one day infest their beloved plants, but it’s something all plant owners need to be prepared to handle. Pests can enter the home on new plants, pets or through windows and doors. Unchecked pests can destroy a plant’s appearance and even kill it.

Pest Treatment: Do’s

Do be prepared with supplies to tackle pests at the ready, just in case. It’s good to have neem oil, a gentle soap, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol and diatomaceous earth available to help prevent pests and treat them if they show up. Not every pest requires the same treatment, and plant owners likely won’t ever need to use all of the above supplies at once, but the list includes the different products needed to handle the most common pests — spider mites, mealybugs, thrips, aphids, fungus gnats and springtails.

Neem oil is a wide-ranging pest treatment and can be used to clean and shine leaves.

Do try to be proactive in pest prevention. Neem oil mixed with room-temperature water and mild soap is a great choice for prevention. About once a month, add the mix to a watering container, fill rest of the container with water and wet the plant thoroughly. This will let the roots absorb the oil, making the whole plant unappealing to pests. The same neem mixture can be sprayed onto your plant’s leaves and wiped down. Neem cleans dust and dirt off leaves, leaving them shiny and bad-tasting to bugs.