Houseplant Care – A Beginner’s Guide
Houseplant care — the beginner’s guide
Watering, light, fertilizing, repotting, and the best plants for beginners
Discover houseplants
Houseplants improve the air, reduce stress, and make any room feel more inviting. The good news: most plants need less attention than you might think. Here are the basics.
Watering properly — the most common source of mistakes
The number one cause of death in houseplants: overwatering. Not dryness, not too little light — too much water.
- Finger test: Stick your finger 2–3 cm into the soil. Does it feel moist? Don’t water. Dry? Water.
- Better too little than too much: Most houseplants handle dryness better than waterlogging.
- Avoid waterlogging: Excess water must be able to drain away. Use a pot with a drainage hole + saucer. After 30 minutes, pour away any remaining water from the saucer.
- Water temperature: Room-temperature, stale water is ideal. Cold tap water can shock the roots.
- Seasonal adjustment: Water less in winter (the plant is resting), more in summer (growing phase).
Pro tip: Succulents and cacti need much less water than tropical plants. In winter, once a month is often enough.
The right light
Light is the plant’s food source (photosynthesis). The right amount depends on the species:
- Bright light (south-facing windows): succulents, cacti, citrus trees, palms.
- Medium light (east-/west-facing windows): Monstera, ficus, philodendron, peace lily.
- Low light (north-facing windows/interiors): Sansevieria (snake plant), Zamioculcas (ZZ plant), pothos. More about plants for dark rooms.
Signs of too little light: Long, thin shoots (the plant is “stretching” toward the light), pale leaves, hardly any new growth. Solution: move it closer to the window or use a grow light.
Fertilizing — when and how
- When: Only during the growing season (March–September). Do not fertilize in winter.
- How often: Every 2–4 weeks with liquid fertilizer in the watering water. Less is more — overfertilizing causes harm.
- Which fertilizer: A general indoor plant fertilizer works for most plants. For cacti and succulents: a special cactus fertilizer (less nitrogen).
- Just repotted? Don’t fertilize! Fresh soil contains enough nutrients for around 6–8 weeks.
Repotting — when is it time?
- Signs: Roots are growing out of the drainage hole, water runs straight through right away (no soil left to retain it), the plant tips over easily.
- Best time: Spring (March–May) — the plant is growing most actively and recovers quickly.
- New pot size: Only 2–3 cm larger than the old pot. Too much space = too much damp soil = root rot.
- Drainage: Clay shards or expanded clay at the bottom of the pot + a pot with a drainage hole.
The best indoor plants for beginners
- Sansevieria (Snake Plant): Nearly indestructible. Low light, little water, air-purifying.
- Pothos (Epipremnum): Grows almost anywhere, forgives mistakes, and trails beautifully.
- Zamioculcas (ZZ Plant): Survives weeks of neglect. Perfect for forgetful people.
- Monstera deliciosa: The Instagram star. Grows quickly and looks spectacular.
- Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum): Blooms even in low light. Its drooping leaves show you when it needs water.
- Spider Plant (Chlorophytum): Tough, air-purifying, produces offshoots — the perfect beginner plant.
- Aloe Vera: Easy to care for, useful (gel for skincare), and decorative.
The 5 most common care mistakes
- Too much water: Waterlogging leads to root rot — the most common killer. It’s better to water less often, but thoroughly.
- Wrong location: A light-loving plant in a dark corner = a slow death. Always check its light needs.
- No drainage: Pots without a drainage hole = a trap for waterlogging. Always make sure there is proper drainage.
- Fertilizing in winter: The plant is resting — fertilizer only puts stress on the roots.
- Repotting too rarely: After 1–2 years, the soil is depleted and compacted.
Indoor plants at MO BLUMEN Vienna
Easy-care potted plants, Monstera, succulents, and more — delivered all across Vienna.
Frequently asked questions
That depends on the plant, the pot, the season, and the room temperature. As a rule of thumb: tropical plants (Monstera, Philodendron) every 7–10 days, succulents and cacti every 2–4 weeks, and generally less often in winter. The finger test is best.
The most common causes are: overwatering (root rot), nutrient deficiency (not fertilized or repotted for a long time), too little light, or natural aging (lower leaves). A single yellow leaf is normal. Several at once = time to find the cause.
The best-known air-purifying plants (according to the NASA Clean Air Study) are: Sansevieria, peace lily, pothos, spider plant, dracaena, rubber plant, and aloe vera. They filter pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene from the air. For a noticeable effect, though, you’ll need several plants per room.
Fungus gnats love damp soil. The fix: water less and let the soil dry out well between waterings. Yellow sticky traps catch the adult gnats. A layer of sand or gravel on top of the soil helps prevent them from laying eggs. Neem oil added to the watering water works against the larvae.