The ivy trailing from your shelf near the window has picked up a reddish, purple or bronze tint along its leaves, and you are wondering whether English ivy turning red means something is wrong. The short version: Red color in English ivy (Hedera helix) comes from anthocyanin pigments, which the plant produces in response to … Read more >>
You glance at the Birkin on your windowsill and notice the creamy pinstripes on a few leaves have turned papery tan, while the green parts still look healthy. If you are seeing philodendron Birkin white leaves turning brown, the plant is usually reacting to a specific stress in its indoor environment, and the white tissue … Read more >>
You are standing in front of an empty corner by your brightest window, picturing a tall, dramatic plant filling the space. The two names that keep coming up are bird of paradise vs fiddle leaf fig, and both look stunning in photos. The short version: Bird of paradise is usually the easier of the two. … Read more >>
You are standing in front of two tall, feathery palms at the garden center, and from a few feet away they look almost identical. Deciding between a majesty palm vs areca palm comes down to the light, humidity and patience your home can offer. The short version: The areca palm is the better choice for … Read more >>
You water your pothos, glance down, and see tiny white worms in house plants soil wriggling just under the surface or along the inside rim of the pot. It is unsettling, especially when the plant sits on a kitchen counter or a windowsill where you see it every day. The short version: Most white worms … Read more >>
You glance at the dieffenbachia by your window and notice that some of its broad leaves look paler than they did last month, with chalky or washed-out patches spreading across the green. If you are seeing dieffenbachia leaves turning white, the cause is usually something in the plant’s indoor environment that you can identify and … Read more >>
You are standing in front of a pothos on a bookshelf, its soil pulled away from the pot edge and a pale crust forming on top, wondering if the bag of mix under the sink is the right one. Choosing potting soil for houseplants feels confusing because every bag promises the same thing. The short … Read more >>
You are looking at a pothos trailing off a bookshelf, a snake plant by the radiator, and maybe a few more pots crowding the windowsill, and you wonder if they are freshening the air you breathe. Knowing how much oxygen does a house plant produce helps you set realistic expectations for that green corner. The … Read more >>
Your dracaena marginata is standing in its pot with yellow, drooping leaves, a few brown spears scattered on the floor, and you are trying to figure out how to save a dying dracaena marginata before it is too late. The short version: Most struggling marginatas can be saved if at least part of a cane … Read more >>
A tall dragon tree stands near your living room window, its spiky leaves edged in red and its thin canes leaning slightly toward the glass. Good dracaena marginata care starts with reading what that plant is already telling you about its spot. The short version: Give your dracaena marginata bright indirect light, water when the … Read more >>