Starter handbook
Beginner plant care questions.
The questions everyone starts with, answered plainly, with links to the full guides when you want more.
- LightEnough to read by
- WaterCheck the compost first
- FeedingOnly when growing
Five things that matter most
Get these roughly right and most houseplants will do fine.
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Light
If there is enough daylight to read a book by, a houseplant can grow. South and west windows are the sunniest, east and north are cooler and shadier. Pale, leggy growth means too little light.
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Water
Push a finger a few centimetres into the compost and lift the pot to feel its weight. Water thoroughly, let the excess drain away and empty the saucer.
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Pot and drainage
Use a pot with a drainage hole. A pot too big for the roots keeps the compost wet. Go up one size at a time, and repot in spring.
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Warmth and humidity
Most houseplants are tropical. Keep them away from radiators, draughts and cold glass, and expect brown tips in dry, heated air.
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Feeding
Feed a plant that is growing, from spring to early autumn, once light and water are right. A freshly potted plant does not need feeding for a while.
Pick a topic
Short answers, with a link to the fuller guide where there is one.
Light
How do I know if a plant is getting enough light?
The RHS rule of thumb is that if there is enough daylight to read a book by, a houseplant can grow. Pale, stretched, leggy growth reaching for the window is the usual sign that there is too little.
Which window is best?
South and west windows are the warmest and sunniest, east and north are cooler and shadier. East and west suit many plants. A south windowsill can be too strong in summer and a north one too weak in winter.
Can I keep a plant in a room with no window?
No plant is happy in a windowless room. Even shade-tolerant plants need some daylight.
Watering
How often should I water?
Not on a set schedule. Check the compost with a finger a few centimetres down and lift the pot to feel its weight, then water when it has dried a little. Plants that store water, such as cacti, snake plants and ZZ plants, like to dry out between waterings.
How do I water properly?
Water thoroughly until it runs out of the base, then empty the saucer so the roots are not left standing in water.
Does it matter what water I use?
Room-temperature water suits most plants. Spider plants and peace lilies can be sensitive to fluoride in tap water, so the RHS suggests rainwater or filtered water for those.
Feeding
When should I start feeding a new plant?
Fresh compost usually comes with starter nutrients, so check the bag. Waiting until the plant is growing again is a sensible guide.
How often should I feed?
It depends on the plant, the feed and the season, and the label on your feed comes first. The RHS suggests once or twice a month for foliage plants from March to October.
Can I overfeed a plant?
Yes. Too much feed leaves salts in the compost, browns leaf tips and can leave a white crust. If in doubt, use a little less.
Repotting
How do I know when a plant needs repotting?
Roots circling the root ball or poking out of the drainage holes, water running straight through, compost that dries very fast, or growth that has stalled.
What size pot next?
One size up, only when the plant needs it. A much bigger pot holds wet compost around the roots for too long.
When is the best time to repot?
Spring, when the plant is starting to grow again.
Problems
Why are the leaves yellow?
It has several causes: too much or too little water, too little light, a pot that is too big, cold or a draught. Check watering and light before you reach for feed.
Why do the leaf tips go brown?
Most often dry air or too little water. Feed that is too strong, and for some plants fluoride in tap water, can do it too.
Why is my plant tall and floppy?
Nearly always too little light. Move it somewhere brighter and trim the stretched stems with clean scissors.
What you see, and what to try
Print it, screenshot it, stick it on the fridge. Start with the cheapest check.
| What you see | What it usually means | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow leaves | Too much or too little water, low light, a pot that is too big, cold, or sometimes hunger. | Feel the compost, check the light, look at the pot. Feed only if those are right and the plant is growing. |
| Brown leaf tips | Dry air or too little water, most often. Feed salts can do it too. | Check watering and humidity, and ease off any feeding. |
| Dropping leaves | A sudden change, a cold draught, too much or too little water, or low humidity. | Look for what changed recently, and keep the plant away from draughts and radiators. |
| Tall, pale, floppy growth | Too little light. | Move it somewhere brighter. |
| Wilting in wet compost | Overwatering, or roots that are struggling. | Stop watering, let the compost dry a little, and check the drainage. |
Where to start if you have not got a plant yet
The RHS names a few plants that put up with a lot: spider plant, snake plant (sansevieria), Chinese evergreen (aglaonema), cast iron plant (aspidistra), ZZ plant, ivy and golden pothos. Even these need some daylight, and if you share your home with pets it is worth checking each plant before you buy.
Not sure which one you need?
What are you growing?
Tell us what you're growing and we'll name the feed.
