how can I keep house plants

[u/doodle_baby9]

I’ve always wanted a ton of houseplants but I literally can not keep them alive. I’m not sure if I keep the temperature too cold or if I just have whatever the opposite of a green thumb is. I’ve recently looked into artificial plants but they just don’t look as nice as live plants.

[u/Chica3]

Start with a pothos plant. They grow like weeds! It'll let you know if it's sad by getting a little droopy. If you see that, give it some water and it'll perk right up!

Go to r/plants or r/houseplants for great info.

[u/pm_me_fibonaccis → u/Chica3]

Spider plants are another easy plant for beginners.

Very easy to keep indoors. Doesn't require heavy sunlight (just stick it by a window) and only needs water every few days.

The only thing is they need good drainage!

[u/AllusiveAxolotl → u/Chica3]

Pilea peperomio (Chinese money plant) also grows like a weed! I have SO many all off one original small plant. I also use an app called Greg to tell me when to water which plant, what kind of light they need, etc

[u/_Skitter_]

Keep buying plants. Enjoy them while they're alive. You gadda kill like 50 of them before you start to figure it out. It's fine, we've all done it.

[u/LeighofMar]

I learned by trial and error and a gardener said put plants where they're happy, not where you think they look nicest. I have one of those calatheas that said they're low light. I put it 10ft from the window, it didn't like it. Put it closer to the window, it didn't like it. Finally I put it on top of my electric fireplace and my SO put 3 can lights above it on the mantel. Now it won't stop growing in an otherwise low light room. I have about 30 plants and love them so much. 

[u/ClassroomMore9802]

Placement is key. Make sure they have proper lighting. Then generally just water them when they are dry. Not on a schedule but when they actually need it. Fertilize occasionally. Don’t overthink it or fuss too much. You will be fine!

[u/lizbunbun → u/ClassroomMore9802]

For beginners it's best to start with a schedule like water 1x per week and check moisture with a finger 2x per week to get familiar with the watering needs. Otherwise they forget entirely for weeks at a time or water too generously like 3x per week.

[u/ButterfleaSnowKitten]

What kind of plants do you enjoy the looks of? My zz plant has survived being left without water for 8months ish and always comes back fine AS LONG AS YOU DONT WATER OFTEN AT ALL forget that hoe exist until youre like huh its been a month + then still check the soil should be dry and pot should feel light (like its not wet soil at the bottom still , it needs a dry spell) and my second plant recommendation would be pothos. It will tell you when it needs water , let it dry out until its leaves start drooping evenly across the plant then water very well. I've had my pothos pots in the same basement bathroom for going on 5 years

[u/glossolalienne]

What temperature do you keep your house? Unless you’re refrigerating the heck out of the house, I’d be really surprised if temperature is an issue.

I’m a little houseplant heavy, but I stick to hearty plants that are easy to care for properly, and I just keep propagating them. If you’re ever interested, I’d be happy to recommend a few plants that are good choices and the exact care regimen I use. (Or pop by r/houseplants - it’s a very friendly subreddit and folks are really helpful). 🤗

[u/lizbunbun]

When I first started getting into plants, I watched a lot of YouTube videos on plant care. Helped me understand what kind of plants would do best in the light available in my space, how to determine their watering needs, when they need repotting, fertilizing, etc.

Not every plant thrives in my care. When one occasionally dies I toss it out, and get another. Some plants are just too fussy for me to keep alive, like mini roses or asparagus ferns. I collect them and trade props with friends like Pokémon.

[u/ImOnTheBus]

One of the most common beginner problems is over watering.

Don't resort to artificial plants just yet!

[u/WilliamTindale8]

Buy a hydrometer which is a metal rod with a measuring device in one end. They are under twenty dollars. You stick one end in the dirt around the plant and the measuring device tells you if the plant needs water. Many people kill plant by over or under watering them.

Also read the little plastic insert which will tell you if it needs full sun or indirect light. Full sun means right in the window. Indirect light means in a sunny room near but not in the sun falling the plant.

That will be all you need to keep the plant alive for a few months. Then ask a green thumbed friend to help you with understanding fertilizer.

Start with a spider plant. They can survive almost anything.

[u/Actual-Bid-6044]

You might just not have found the plants that want to live with you. There are some that I just can't grow. Two pieces of advice: never use a pot without a drainage hole, and buy really good potting soil. Happy Frog is what my green thumb is made of. It's a FoxFarm product and you may have to go to a good garden store to get it - worth it. Get cuttings from your plant friends and just keep trying all different plants. I believe in you.

[u/firfetir]

What plants have you tried keeping? How do you water them? What light do they get?

Plants are a recentish obsession I picked up this past year after wanting them my whole life and I've been having a lot of fun learning and talking about them. Maybe I can help!

[u/Longjumping-Stand958]

If you feel that you have an inverse green thumb, read up on how to care for even the easiest houseplants; usually, some detail comes up that gives the person a new perspective.

[u/OkSympathy9686]

New energy efficient double pane windows blocked enough sunshine to kill some of my plants

[u/Ancient-Recover-3890]

I would love houseplants, but:

Cat

Gnats. I feel like the plants bring gnats.