Sophia 
You water your pothos on the kitchen windowsill, and a scatter of tiny white specks starts hopping across the wet soil like popcorn. Those jumpers are almost always springtails, and finding springtails in houseplants is one of the most common soil surprises for indoor growers. The short version: Springtails are harmless soil insects that feed … Read more >>
Your west window sits soft and dim all morning, then floods the room with hot, golden light from midafternoon until sunset. The right house plants for west facing window conditions turn that strong late-day sun into steady growth instead of crispy leaves. The short version: Sun-loving succulents, cacti, jade, aloe, ponytail palm and bird of … Read more >>
Are your plants invaded by tiny, persistent, fluffy-looking creatures? Don’t brush it off thinking that the infestation would die off in a few days. Soil mites can live for years! But soil mites are not all bad – besides looking unsightly. They can be beneficial to house plants in California and don’t cause much damage. … Read more >>
One of the great things about houseplants is that they can reproduce asexually, which means they don’t need another plant to fertilize them to create new offspring. This process is called vegetative propagation, and it’s how many houseplants are produced. Propagation by cutting is the most common method of vegetative propagation from an existing plant. … Read more >>
You brush past a hibiscus or a pot of basil on the windowsill, and a small cloud of tiny white specks lifts off the leaves, drifts for a moment, then settles right back where it started. If you want to know how to get rid of white flies on houseplants, the good news is that … Read more >>
Do your houseplants have dark spots on their leaves? Do you fear these spots might damage your plants? Before you find a cure for these spots, know that various factors can cause spotted leaves. Sometimes, the plants alert you that they need immediate attention by turning brown. Take action as soon as you see the … Read more >>
You water a pothos on the windowsill and a line of small brown ants scrambles out of the soil and up the side of the pot. If you are searching for how to get rid of ants in a houseplant, the fix is usually simple once you know why they moved in. The short version: … Read more >>
If your home is like most, the winter months can be pretty dreary. The days are shorter, the weather is colder, and the sun seems to disappear for weeks at a time. This can make it hard to keep your spirits and energy levels high. However, houseplants are one easy way to brighten your home … Read more >>
The pot on your windowsill has a pale crust on the rim, water runs straight through it, and the plant hasn’t put out a new leaf in months. The question of how often you should change the soil in houseplants usually comes up right at this point. The short version: Most houseplants need fresh potting … Read more >>
You water your pothos, glance down a day later, and spot a cluster of small yellow caps rising from the pot as if they appeared overnight. Mushrooms growing in houseplant soil look alarming, but they are one of the most common and least dangerous surprises an indoor gardener runs into. The short version: The mushrooms … Read more >>