Foliage houseplants

Foliage houseplants: the basics

Most foliage houseplants come from the floor of tropical forests, and that explains what they want indoors: bright light that does not hit the leaves directly, warmth all year and soil that stays lightly moist without staying wet.

Water when the top few centimetres of soil are dry, and empty the saucer afterwards. Soggy roots kill far more foliage plants than dry ones. Growth slows from autumn, so water less in winter and stop feeding until spring.

Yellow lower leaves usually mean too much water, crisp brown edges point to dry air or irregular watering, and long, leggy stems to too little light. Several of these plants are toxic to cats and dogs; each sheet says which.