Introduction To The Needs of Every Plant Lover

Indoor Plant Care Guide: Light, Water, and Soil Basics for Thriving Plants    10-30-24

Dear Plant Lover:

When we first bring an indoor plant into our home, we usually think, "Where am I going to put this?" That's the absolute right question. Here's why: plants are living organisms that need the right environment to thrive. We must begin with the basics—sunlight, water and soil. Sometimes, we receive a plant as a gift from a friend or relative, which begins our plant care journey, or we decide to grow our collection by purchasing one ourselves. A good salesperson will usually explain your plant’s needs before you leave the store, but for those still exploring, we’ve got you covered.

Light, Water, Soil:

Part 1 - Light

The three types of sunlight we need to consider for our plants are full light, indirect light, and low light. These lighting conditions in our home should guide us in choosing the right type of plant.

1. Plants Needing Full Light for Indoor Growth

Plants that need full light require about six hours of direct, bright, unfiltered sunlight, typically from south-facing windows where the sun streams in all day. Some plants in this category include desert and tropical varieties such as cacti and succulents, herbs, and some flowering plants. Examples include Saguaro and Barrel cacti, Jade Plants, Rubber Plants, Croton, and the Aloe Vera as seen above.  

2. Best Indoor Plants for Indirect Light

The second category is indirect light, which is still bright but doesn’t shine directly on the plants. This type of light is often found near east- or west-facing windows that provide filtered sunlight. Common plants that thrive in indirect light include the Snake Plant (Sansevieria), ZZ Plant, Spider Plant, Pothos and the Peace Lily . These varieties generally do well in both indirect and low light.

3. Top Low-Light Indoor Plants for Low-Sun Rooms

Lastly, the low-light group thrives in spaces with north-facing windows or rooms with dim lighting. This category includes plants like the Cast Iron Plant, which is perfect for very low light due to its hardy nature, the adaptable and easy-to-maintain Philodendron, and the Boston Fern, which prefers low to moderate light with high humidity. Dracaena and Calathea also handle low light well.

Wrapping it Up:

Apart from full-light plants, most others are amenable to low to moderate light, making them suitable for many rooms in our homes. There is some variation in these guidelines. Generally, the more vibrant and lighter colored the leaves, the more sunlight the plant tends to need. When plants flower, it’s important not to reduce the amount of light they’ve been receiving. Of course, there are other factors needed to maintain a plant’s health, which we will discuss as we move forward. This guide is just a starting point for those beginning to understand why indoor plants fit so well into our lives.

Nothing teaches us better than the experiences we have as we navigate the joy of nurturing house plants. We learn from our mistakes and often have them in common—whether it’s yellow or brown leaves, failed transplants, or accidentally knocked-over pots. Next time, we will consider water and how it fits into the health of our plants.

As you continue on your plant journey, we hope you will consider Aero Myst (ShopAeroMyst.com) as a friend and resource. Keep us posted on your plant adventures and be sure to check out our community.