Houseplants 101: for those who’ve never touched a plant

A beginner’s guide to bringing nature inside your concrete haven

9 min readSep 17, 2019

Two years ago, I decided to bring home a tiny plant. I had never previously owned one, nor had any experience taking care of one. In fact, the decision wasn’t even sparked from the intention of learning about houseplants. It was a design choice.

I had just moved into a new apartment and begun designing the place of my dreams. Despite all the handpicked furniture and accent chairs and pop wall arts, the place seemed to… lack life. And what was a better way to add life than to bring in a piece of nature itself?

Thus began my journey of learning about houseplants.

What started as a design choice, however, quickly became a hobby that I looked forward to every weekend. Coming home from work and checking on my plants; repotting them to see them grow taller and wider; moving on to growing my own chillies and tomatoes. The decision unknowingly gave me a new passion.

It wasn’t simple though. For someone who has absolutely no idea what it means to own a plant, going about the research felt like an enormous task. I found several websites and YouTube channels, all detailing the various aspects of plant caring — the different varieties, variegation in species, repotting techniques, propagation ideas etc. But I just wanted something simple, something to get me started. I knew once I got the basics, I could come back and learn the advances.

And having been through the journey myself, I now want to document it. I have owned almost a dozen plants, and while I am in no way an advanced gardener, I have learnt enough from my experience to help anyone starting out. I want to provide a simple guide to anyone who has had no experience with plants, but wants to try their hand at it; be it to learn gardening, or to decorate their space.

So let’s start.

What you’ll learn

We’ll talk about everything you need to know before you get a plant. I’ll try to simplify everything, and provide additional resources so you could dive deeper as per your liking.

What I will NOT do, is go too much into the specifics — knowledge that you don’t need to have before you get a plant. I have personally found extra information confusing when I am starting. So I’ll keep it beginner level.

Needs of a plant

This one is simple — light, water, and moisture. Every plant needs a combination of these, just different quantities and frequency. Understanding what your space provides, along with the needs of your plant will be crucial in keeping your new kid happy.

Before going shopping

Step 1: Figure out where you will keep it 🏡

Before you even think of shopping for a houseplant, you NEED to know where you will place it. You won’t buy a couch without knowing where you would put it, right? The location of the plant will be the single most crucial factor in determining its survival. Each plant has a certain set of conditions in which it’ll thrive; understanding what your location provides — in terms of light and moisture — will help you pick the right plant.

A window sill will offer a completely different set of conditions than a bathroom with a small window. Even windows facing different compass directions will cater to different plants.

Step 2: Understand the lighting situation ☀️

While you can control the amount of water and moisture your plants receives, you cannot really control the sunlight at a place. As a result, it becomes the most important factor in selecting your plant.

When you go shopping for your plant (more on that later), you will (most likely) find a description of the plant’s needs written on card. It will look something like this:

If the terms used to describe lighting conditions feel vague to you, you are not alone. Let’s discuss them so you are aware of what they mean.

Bright, direct sun/Full sun: This refers to a plant that wants direct, unhindered, sunlight for six or more hours a day. Such a plant could be kept on a window sill.

Bright, but indirect sun: This is a happy spot for most plants. It refers to a plant that requires bright light for most part of the day, but not direct rays from the sun. Placing the plant near a north facing window, or 10–15 feet away from a window that gets direct sun (but beyond the reach of direct rays) is ideal.

Low light: This refers to a plant that can survive in little to no light throughout the day. A bathroom with a small window can be ideal for such plants.

If this doesn’t provide you with a clear understanding, or if you simply like visuals, I suggest watching The Sill’s video below. They even created a cute set to explain the concept!

Need more? Here is another helpful guide to explain some of the lighting terms.

Step 3: The right plant 🌱

Now that you understand what lighting condition exists in your selected spot, it is time to find a plant for you. But what exactly is the right plant? It’s easy. The right plant will connect with you the moment you see it. It will give you joy every day you look at it; it will make you care for it. If you can’t imagine the plant in your house, don’t get it!

There are a couple of ways you can look for possible options for your home. You can Google plants that meet your requirement. Or you can simply go shopping and be spontaneous. Or you can take a look at some of the plants that I have personally taken care of and recommend to a beginner.

Snake Plant (Sansevieria)

Snake Plant: Photo by Fabian Stroobants on Pexels

Light: Likes bright light, but also does well in low light situations. This is a very versatile plant that will adjust almost anywhere
Water: When soil becomes dry. Can sustain low water conditions. Too much water is more likely to kill the plant than too little

ZZ Plant

Light: Does well in bright indirect light, or low light
Water: Only when soil is fully dry. Forgetting to water is a boon for this plant

Heart-Leaf Philodendron

Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: When the top inch of the soil is dry

Spider Plant

Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: When the soil is almost dry. If your water has a high salt concentration, consider using distilled water

Peace Lily

Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: When the soil is dry. The plant will droop and let you know when it’s time to water

Pothos (Devil’s Ivy)

Light: Bright, indirect light. Can also survive in low light situations
Water: When the soil is dry

Other Resources

If none of these appeal to you, here is a list of some additional beginner level plants that require minimal maintenance and care:

Let’s go shopping: but where?

Now that you have an understanding of where to put your plant and what plant appeals to you (this is optional), let’s look at where you can possibly buy your plants from!

At a local nursery

This is my preferred option. Find a nursery nearby, and pay them a visit. You’ll find many more varieties than mentioned above, so you may bring home a plant that you never knew about. In addition, this is a great place to get your questions answered, no matter how basic. The employees working there will be more than happy to assist you with finding the right plant for you. Your nursery will also keep all accessories that you might want to buy, so it’s a one-stop solution.

Home Depot/Grocery Store

This is a cheaper alternative if you are looking to buy plants. Many grocery stores have a houseplants section where you can find common houseplants. There won’t be the help that you would otherwise receive at a local nursery or the variety in plants, but if you know what you want, this is the quickest solution. The only downside to this approach is that the plants might not be of the highest quality. You must do a thorough inspection before bringing the plant home, making sure the plant is healthy and void of pests and diseases.

The Sill (Online)

I love The Sill because this is where I started out with. This company runs from New York and ships all your favorite houseplants right to your door. The price is definitely on the higher end, but the aesthetics of the website might just convince you to buy (it convinced me). I bought my first four plants from them, and swear to God, they have been the highest quality plants I have ever owned. If anything, The Sill has tons of resources on plant care, so it’s worth checking them out.

Amazon

This giant also has a dedicated section for houseplants that it will ship to your home. There won’t be the consistency in the quality of the plants, but the convenience and the price might make it worth.

Some other resources to help you shop for houseplants:

Accessories?

If you ever visit a plant store, you will find a lot of accessories to help you make your hobby efficient. So what exactly do you need to take care of a plant? If you ask me, nothing. Forget a watering can, a pretty planter, or a fertilizer. If you are just starting out, and don’t know if plants are your thing, avoid adding any additional costs unless you become absolutely sure.

The one thing I would advise you to buy is a saucer. Your local nursery will keep super cheap plastic saucers (less than a $1) that you can place under the plant to avoid ruining your furniture/flooring from any water spill/drainage.

And of course, as you become more experienced, you can bring in the more advanced tools!

What it means to take care

Taking care of a plant is what most people have trouble with, and causes them to give up on a potential hobby. Let’s be honest here, you will likely kill a plant or two in your journey. And it is completely fine to do so, as long as you recognize and learn from your mistakes.

In addition to understanding and providing the plant’s requirements, one must understand that plants will have a higher chance of survival in an under-cared environment, than an over-cared one. This is the biggest mistake beginners do — over-care. It is ridiculously easy to shower your plant with some extra love, when it doesn’t really need it. Like parenting, too much care will spoil your loved one. In short, if you are unsure whether to water the plant or not, avoid it for a day or two and then re-evaluate.

A houseplant is a living being; sticking to a regular schedule might not always work. You will need to adjust with changing weather and conditions. Observe any signs that the plant gives — yellowing leaves, blackening leaves, wilting, drooping, burnt edges, etc. You plant will speak to you, if you are willing to listen. Look up the symptoms online, adjust the environment, and have patience; your plant will most likely bounce back.

What’s next?

Go get a houseplant! Gardening is a very relaxing hobby, and if you stick through it, you will thank yourself later. Plants will make your home greener, purify the air, and teach you a thing or two about patience.

Plus, it is very rewarding to see your effort pay off when you see your plant thriving!

Questions?

Do ask! I’m learning too!