Reference
Plant care at a glance
By the Plantshop.com Editorial Team · Updated · How we research · Report an error
Light, water, humidity, pet toxicity and difficulty for 63 common houseplants in one table. Toxicity from the ASPCA; care ranges from university extension sources.
| Plant | Light | Water | Humidity | Pets | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| African Violet | Bright indirect light; an east window or a few feet from south/west | When the top 1/2 in is dry; water at the soil, not on the leaves, with room-temperature water | Average to medium | Non-toxic | Moderate |
| Air Plant | Bright indirect light | Soak in water for 20-30 minutes every 1-2 weeks, then dry upside down | Average; more frequent soaks in dry homes | Not listed | Easy |
| Alocasia | Bright indirect light | When the top 1-2 in is dry; keep evenly moist in summer, drier in winter | High; 60%+ | Toxic | Challenging |
| Aloe Vera | Bright light with direct sun | When soil is completely dry | Low | Toxic | Easy |
| Anthurium | Bright indirect light | When the top 1-2 in of soil is dry | Medium to high | Toxic | Moderate |
| Areca Palm | Bright indirect light | When the top inch is dry | Average to high | Non-toxic | Moderate |
| Arrowhead Plant | Medium to bright indirect light | When the top 1 in of soil is dry | Average to medium | Toxic | Easy |
| Begonia | Bright indirect light; no harsh midday sun | When the top 1 in of soil is dry; never soggy | Medium to high; 50%+ | Toxic | Moderate |
| Bird of Paradise | Bright light, several hours of direct sun | When the top 2 in is dry | Average | Toxic | Moderate |
| Bird's Nest Fern | Low to medium indirect light | When the top 1 in of soil is dry; water at the soil, not into the center | Medium to high | Not listed | Easy |
| Boston Fern | Medium to bright indirect light | Keep consistently moist | High | Non-toxic | Moderate |
| Bromeliad | Bright indirect light | Keep the soil lightly moist; refresh water in the central cup every 1-2 weeks | Medium to high | Non-toxic | Easy |
| Calathea | Medium indirect light; no direct sun | Keep evenly moist, never soggy | High (50%+) | Non-toxic | Challenging |
| Cast Iron Plant | Low light; tolerates deep shade | When the top 2 in is dry | Low to average | Non-toxic | Easy |
| Chinese Evergreen | Low to medium indirect light (colorful types need more) | When the top inch or two is dry | Average | Toxic | Easy |
| Chinese Money Plant | Bright indirect light; some gentle direct sun is fine | When the top half of the soil is dry; leaves soften and droop slightly when thirsty | Average | Not listed | Easy |
| Christmas Cactus | Bright indirect light; no harsh sun | When the top 1 in of soil is dry; more in bloom | Average to medium | Non-toxic | Easy |
| Croton | Bright light with some direct sun; color fades in low light | When the top 1/2 to 1 in of soil is dry; keep evenly moist, never soggy | High; 50%+ keeps leaves clean | Toxic | Moderate |
| Dieffenbachia | Medium to bright indirect light | When the top 1-2 in is dry | Average to medium | Toxic | Easy |
| Dracaena | Low to bright indirect light | When the top 1-2 in is dry | Average | Toxic | Easy |
| Echeveria | Full sun to very bright light; a south or west window | Soak, then wait until the soil is completely dry | Low | Non-toxic | Easy |
| English Ivy | Medium to bright indirect light; tolerates some sun | When the top 1 in of soil is dry | Average to high; dislikes hot, dry air | Toxic | Moderate |
| Fiddle Leaf Fig | Bright indirect light, some gentle direct sun | When the top 2 in is dry; water deeply | Average to high | Toxic | Challenging |
| Gardenia | Bright light with some direct sun | Keep evenly moist with room-temperature water | High | Toxic | Challenging |
| Haworthia | Bright indirect light; tolerates less light than most succulents | When the soil is completely dry, every 2-4 weeks | Low | Non-toxic | Easy |
| Heartleaf Philodendron | Low to bright indirect light | When the top inch is dry | Average | Toxic | Easy |
| Hoya (Wax Plant) | Bright indirect light | When soil is mostly dry | Average | Non-toxic | Easy |
| Indoor Bonsai Tree | As bright as possible: a south or west window, or a strong grow light | When the top 1/2 in of soil is just dry; water until it drains | Average; higher helps | Toxic | Moderate |
| Jade Plant | Bright light with direct sun | When soil is dry | Low | Toxic | Easy |
| Kalanchoe | Bright light with some direct sun | When the soil is dry; it is a succulent | Low | Toxic | Easy |
| Kentia Palm | Medium to bright indirect light; tolerates low light | When the top 2 in of soil is dry | Average | Non-toxic | Easy |
| Lavender | Full sun: 6+ hours | When the soil is dry 1-2 in down; never soggy | Low | Toxic | Challenging |
| Lemon Tree | Full sun: 6-8+ hours; a south window, outdoors in summer | Deeply when the top 2 in is dry | Average to medium | Toxic | Challenging |
| Maidenhair Fern | Medium indirect light; no direct sun | Keep consistently moist; never let it dry out | High | Not listed | Challenging |
| Majesty Palm | Bright indirect light, ideally some direct sun | Keep evenly moist; never let it dry out fully | Medium to high | Non-toxic | Challenging |
| Money Tree | Medium to bright indirect light | When the top 2 in is dry | Average | Non-toxic | Easy |
| Monstera | Bright indirect light; tolerates medium | When the top 2 in (5 cm) of soil is dry | Average; likes 50%+ | Toxic | Easy |
| Monstera Adansonii | Bright indirect light; tolerates medium | When the top 1-2 in is dry | Average to high | Toxic | Easy |
| Moth Orchid | Medium to bright indirect light | About weekly; let bark dry slightly | Average to high | Non-toxic | Moderate |
| Nerve Plant | Medium indirect light; no direct sun | Keep evenly moist; it faints when dry | High | Non-toxic | Moderate |
| Norfolk Island Pine | Bright light; some direct sun | When the top 1 in is dry | Medium to high | Non-toxic | Moderate |
| Olive Tree | Full sun: 6+ hours of direct sun; a south window or outdoors in summer | Deeply, then only when the top 2 in (5 cm) is dry; never let it sit in water | Low to average; tolerates dry air | Not listed | Challenging |
| Parlor Palm | Low to medium indirect light | When the top inch is dry | Average | Non-toxic | Easy |
| Peace Lily | Low to medium indirect light | Keep lightly moist; it wilts dramatically when dry | Average to high | Toxic | Easy |
| Peperomia | Medium to bright indirect light | When the top half of soil is dry | Average | Non-toxic | Easy |
| Philodendron Birkin | Bright indirect light | When the top inch is dry | Average to high | Toxic | Moderate |
| Polka Dot Plant | Bright indirect light | Keep lightly moist; it wilts dramatically when dry | Medium to high | Non-toxic | Moderate |
| Ponytail Palm | Bright light with direct sun | When soil is dry; the swollen trunk stores water | Low | Non-toxic | Easy |
| Pothos | Low to bright indirect light | When the top 1-2 in of soil is dry; leaves droop when thirsty | Average | Toxic | Easy |
| Prayer Plant | Medium indirect light | Keep lightly moist | High | Non-toxic | Moderate |
| Rosemary | Full sun: 6+ hours | When the top 1 in of soil is dry; do not let it dry out completely | Low to average | Non-toxic | Moderate |
| Rubber Plant | Bright indirect light | When the top 2 in is dry | Average | Toxic | Easy |
| Snake Plant | Low to bright light; tolerates some direct sun | Only when soil is completely dry, every 2-6 weeks | Low to average | Toxic | Easy |
| Spider Plant | Medium to bright indirect light | When the top inch is dry | Average | Non-toxic | Easy |
| Staghorn Fern | Bright indirect light | Soak the mount every 1-2 weeks; let it dry slightly between | Medium to high | Non-toxic | Moderate |
| String of Hearts | Bright indirect light; some direct sun is fine | When the soil is dry; it stores water in its leaves | Low to average | Not listed | Easy |
| String of Pearls | Bright light with some direct sun | When soil is dry; water lightly | Low | Toxic | Moderate |
| Tradescantia (Wandering Dude) | Bright indirect light keeps the purple color | When the top 1 in of soil is dry | Average | Toxic | Easy |
| Umbrella Plant | Bright indirect light | When the top 1-2 in is dry | Average | Toxic | Easy |
| Venus Flytrap | Full sun: 4+ hours of direct light | Keep wet with rainwater or distilled water only; stand in a tray | High | Non-toxic | Challenging |
| Weeping Fig | Bright indirect light; some direct sun | When the top 1-2 in is dry | Average | Toxic | Moderate |
| Yucca Cane | Bright light with some direct sun | When the soil is mostly dry; drought tolerant | Low | Toxic | Easy |
| ZZ Plant | Low to bright indirect light | When soil is fully dry, every 2-4 weeks | Low to average | Toxic | Easy |
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Please cite as: Plantshop.com, "Plant care at a glance", updated 21 Oct 2026.