Plant Shopping With a Pro
The basics of some of the most popular houseplants, as explained by Emily O’Gwin, greenhouse manager at Bethesda’s American Plant:
1. Fiddle-Leaf Fig
Difficulty: Challenging.
Soil: 50 percent cactus mix, 50 percent regular potting mix.
Light: Very bright indirect to direct sun.
Water: Allow to dry slightly between waterings in spring and summer. In fall and winter, reduce watering and allow to become about 40 percent dry.
Know: Given their finicky nature, O’Gwin suggests trying a small one before blowing the budget on a large tree.
2. Snake Plant
Difficulty: Easy.
Soil: Cactus mix.
Light: Low to half a day of direct sun.
Water: Allow to become about 80 percent dry between waterings.
Know: Though not edible, it’s in the same family as asparagus.
3. Spider Plant
Difficulty: Easy.
Soil: Regular potting mix.
Light: Low to half a day of direct sun.
Water: Allow to dry about 50 percent between waterings.
Know: O’Gwin’s favorite for beginners, it’s easy to propagate and nontoxic to pets.
4. Monstera
Difficulty: Easy.
Soil: 50 percent cactus mix, 50 percent regular potting mix.
Light: Medium to half a day of direct sun.
Water: Allow to become almost completely dry between waterings, then water thoroughly.
Know: It’s a vine, so eventually you’ll want some sort of structure, such as a moss pole, in its pot for it to climb.
5. Pothos
Difficulty: Easy.
Soil: 50 percent cactus mix, 50 percent regular potting mix.
Light: Low to half a day of direct sun.
Water: Allow to become nearly dry between waterings, then water thoroughly.
Know: Dangly growth makes it great for a shelf or hanging basket.
6. Cat Palm
Difficulty: Medium.
Soil: Cactus mix.
Light: Low to direct morning sun.
Water: Allow the first couple inches of soil to dry between waterings.
Know: Its fronds can burn in strong afternoon sun.
7. ZZ Plant
Difficulty: Easy.
Soil: Cactus mix.
Light: Low to direct morning sun.
Water: Allow to become fully dry between waterings.
Know: Tough to kill unless overwatered. Its root system is built to withstand drought.
8. Dracaena
Difficulty: Easy.
Soil: Cactus mix.
Light: Low to direct morning sun.
Water: Allow to dry thoroughly between waterings.
Know: It comes in many colors and styles and is one of the only low-light-tolerant plants that can still get tall.
9. Bromeliad
Difficulty: Easy.
Soil: 50 percent orchid mix, 50 percent sphagnum moss.
Light: Low to direct morning sun.
Water: Allow soil to become nearly dry, then water thoroughly. Mist a couple times a week to keep leaves hydrated.
Know: In its natural environment, it grows on treetops and other high-up spots.
This article appears in the December 2021 issue of Washingtonian.
Marisa M. Kashino joined Washingtonian in 2009 and was a senior editor until 2022.
