You brushed past the bunny ears cactus on your windowsill, and now your fingers prickle, sting, and itch even though you can’t see a single spine. The short version: Yes. Cacti can cause itching, usually from tiny barbed hairs called glochids, broken spine tips left in the skin, or irritant sap from cactus look-alikes such … Read more >>
You run a finger across a leaf near the window and it comes away gray, with a soft film of dust that dulls the green and catches the afternoon light. The short version: Wipe smooth, sturdy leaves with a soft cloth dampened in lukewarm water, supporting each leaf from below. Rinse small or leafy plants … Read more >>
Your suitcase is half packed by the door, and the pothos on the bookshelf and the fern by the east window are about to spend a week or more on their own. Knowing how to care for houseplants while on vacation comes down to a few simple choices made in the days before you leave. … Read more >>
You are standing in a plant shop or scrolling a listing, looking at two tall, glossy trees and wondering which one belongs by your window. The rubber tree vs fiddle leaf fig decision comes up often because both are popular indoor Ficus species with big leaves and similar price tags, but they behave very differently … Read more >>
Your snake plant sits in a glossy ceramic pot by the window, and when you tip it, you see a solid bottom with no hole at all. You might wonder whether that matters for a plant known for surviving almost anything. The short version: Yes, a snake plant needs drainage. Its thick roots and rhizomes … Read more >>
Your plant sits by the window with yellowing leaves, a slumped stem, and soil that looks either soggy or dusty dry. If you are wondering why your house plant is dying and how to save it, the cause is almost always visible once you know where to look. The short version: Most indoor plants decline … Read more >>
Your dieffenbachia has grown tall and leggy, with a long bare cane topped by a tuft of leaves leaning toward the window. If you are wondering how to propagate dieffenbachia from that awkward stem, you are in a good position, because this plant roots readily from almost every part of its cane. The short version: … Read more >>
You brush a hand past the windowsill and feel a leaf that is soft as felt, and suddenly you want more plants like it. A house plant with fuzzy leaves adds texture that glossy foliage can’t match, but that fuzz changes how you water, clean and position the plant. The short version: Fuzzy leaves are … Read more >>
You notice a dug-up crater in your fiddle leaf fig’s pot, soil scattered across the floor, and a smell that tells you exactly what happened. Learning how to keep cats from pooping in your house plants starts with understanding why that loose, soft soil looks so inviting to your cat. The short version: Cover the … Read more >>
You spot a cottony white fleck tucked into the spines of the cactus on your windowsill, or fine webbing near the top that wasn’t there last week. Your first instinct is to grab something that works fast without harsh chemicals, and neem oil is usually the first thing that comes to mind. The short version: … Read more >>