Choosing a plant based on the light in the room

Light is the first thing to consider, before available space or looks. A ficus or a philodendron do well in bright but indirect light, near a window with no direct sun. A yucca or a dracaena tolerate lower light and a darker corner of the living room. A monstera prefers filtered light, never full afternoon sun, which scorches its leaves. Before buying, look at the room at the time of day the plant will spend there: a north-facing window gives little light, a south-facing one plenty, often too much for delicate foliage.

Watering without overdoing it

The most common mistake isn't too little water but too much: a permanently waterlogged root ball rots the roots long before a plant dies of thirst. Let the top few centimetres of compost dry out between waterings for most large green plants, and always empty the saucer afterwards. Needs vary with the season, pot size and room temperature: our guide Watering indoor plants explains why there's no universal schedule.

Repotting at the right time

A large plant bought in a growing pot benefits from repotting into a container just a little bigger, with suitable compost and good drainage at the bottom. The right moment shows in roots coming out of the drainage hole, or soil that dries out within hours of watering. Pots, compost and repotting tools are in the Pots & compost category.

A little artificial light as backup

In a dim room or in winter, a grow light extends the growing season without replacing daylight. Large ornamental plants are happy with around twelve hours of light a day: our guide on light duration indoors sets out the benchmarks for different crops.

Toxicity for pets

Some common indoor species, including several philodendrons, dieffenbachia and dracaena, are irritant or even toxic to cats and dogs if ingested. This isn't universal, and isn't always stated on the label: if in doubt about a specific species, it's worth checking before buying if a pet likes to chew on leaves, and placing the plant out of reach as a precaution.