Fern & Shelf field guide
An indoor plant database should answer the question you have while you are standing beside the pot. How much of the mix should dry before watering? Will this plant cope with a dim room, or merely decline more slowly there? Is it a sensible choice around a cat? These 30 profiles put those practical details in one place.
Search by common or botanical name, then narrow the list by light, difficulty, mature size, growth habit, humidity and pet safety. Each card shows the care cue that matters most. Open the full profile for soil, temperature, feeding, propagation and a short problem guide.
30 profiles
Streptocarpus ionanthus
African violet care starts with bright filtered light, an airy small pot, and steady moisture. Learn how to improve blooms and prevent crown rot.
Water when: Water when the surface is just dry, before the fine root ball becomes hard or the rosette wilts.
Tillandsia ionantha
Air plant care depends on thorough wetting followed by complete drying. Learn light, airflow, display choices, flowering, pups, and rot prevention.
Water when: Wet thoroughly when leaves tighten or the plant has dried since its prior watering, then drain upside down.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera care indoors needs real sun and a fully dry root zone. Learn watering cues, succulent soil, offset division, rot checks, and pet…
Water when: Water when the mix is dry through the container, the pot is light, and mature leaves begin to thin.
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
Areca palm care depends on bright filtered light and a root ball that never stays soaked. Learn watering cues, pet safety, feeding, and brown-tip…
Water when: Water after the upper inch or two begins to dry and the pot loses some weight.
Peperomia obtusifolia
Baby rubber plant care needs bright filtered light and a partial dry-down. Learn how to prevent soft stems, leaf drop, stretch, and root rot.
Water when: Water after the upper part of the mix has dried and the pot feels light, before leaves become soft.
Asplenium nidus
Bird's nest fern care starts with filtered light, a moist but airy mix, and a dry crown. Learn how to prevent rot, brown edges,…
Water when: Water the mix when its surface starts to dry, keeping water out of the central crown.
Nephrolepis exaltata
Boston fern care gets easier when moisture and humidity stay steady. Learn the right light, watering cue, soil, pet safety, and brown-tip fixes.
Water when: Water when the surface begins to lose moisture, before the root ball dries through.
Sedum morganianum
Burro's tail care protects fragile leaves while giving roots sun and dry time. Learn watering, pot choice, propagation, pest checks, and pet safety.
Water when: Water when the mix is dry through the pot, the container is light, and mature leaves begin to soften.
Aspidistra elatior
Cast iron plant care is simple once light and drainage are right. Learn when to water, when to repot, and what yellow or marked…
Water when: Water after the upper few inches of potting mix dry and the container feels lighter.
Aglaonema commutatum
Chinese evergreen care depends on leaf color and cultivar. Learn the right filtered light, watering cue, soil, safety, and fixes for yellow leaves.
Water when: Water after the upper inch or two dries and the pot loses some weight.
Pilea peperomioides
Chinese money plant care balances bright filtered light with a short dry spell. Learn watering cues, rotation, repotting, pups, and yellow-leaf fixes.
Water when: Water when the upper inch or two is dry and the pot feels noticeably lighter.
Hedera helix
English ivy care indoors needs bright light, cool air, and close pest checks. Learn watering, pruning, support, spider mite control, and pet safety.
Water when: Water when the soil surface begins to dry and the pot loses some weight.
Ficus lyrata
Fiddle leaf fig care improves with a bright stable location and soil checks before watering. Learn how to read spots, leaf drop, and weak…
Water when: Water when the upper 2 inches of mix have dried and the pot feels lighter.
Philodendron hederaceum
Heartleaf philodendron care is easier with useful light, slightly moist soil, and clean pruning. Learn how to fix sparse vines and yellow leaves.
Water when: Water when the upper inch or two has dried while the deeper root zone remains slightly moist.
Crassula ovata
Jade plant care needs strong light and a fully dry root zone between drinks. Learn watering cues, pruning, propagation, rot checks, and pet safety.
Water when: Water when the mix is dry through the pot, the container feels light, and mature leaves begin to soften.
Dracaena fragrans 'Janet Craig'
Janet Craig dracaena care is forgiving in lower light when the pot can dry slightly. Learn how to prevent brown tips, weak leaves, and…
Water when: Water after the upper inch or two of mix has dried and the pot feels noticeably lighter.
Adiantum raddianum
Maidenhair fern care rewards consistency. Learn how to balance moisture, humidity, filtered light, and drainage, plus what to do after fronds crisp.
Water when: Water when the surface just begins to lose moisture, before the root ball dries through.
Monstera adansonii
Monstera adansonii care combines bright filtered light, an airy mix, and measured watering. Learn how to fix curl, yellowing, and long bare vines.
Water when: Water when the upper inch or two of mix has dried and the pot feels lighter.
Monstera deliciosa
Monstera deliciosa care depends on useful light, an airy root zone, and climbing support. Learn what drives bigger leaves and how to diagnose damage.
Water when: Water when the upper quarter to third of the potting mix has dried and the pot feels lighter.
Chamaedorea elegans
Parlor palm care suits ordinary rooms when light is gentle and roots are not soaked. Learn watering cues, pet safety, repotting, and brown-tip fixes.
Water when: Water after the upper inch or two dries and the pot feels lighter, then drain it fully.
Spathiphyllum wallisii
Peace lily care starts with filtered light and a lightly moist root zone. Learn how to handle droop, brown tips, missed blooms, and repotting.
Water when: Water when the surface begins to dry and the pot feels lighter, before the whole plant collapses.
Maranta leuconeura
Prayer plant care means steady root moisture, filtered light, and measured humidity. Learn what causes curling, faded color, and crisp leaf edges.
Water when: Water when the surface begins to dry and the pot feels a little lighter, before the root ball dries through.
Goeppertia insignis
Rattlesnake plant care needs filtered light, steady moisture, and humid air. Learn how to diagnose curling, brown margins, faded leaves, and rot.
Water when: Water when the surface begins to dry and the pot feels slightly lighter, before the root ball dries through.
Ficus elastica
Rubber plant care starts with bright filtered light and a careful dry-down. Learn how to prevent leaf drop, root damage, and one long bare…
Water when: Water when the upper 2 inches of mix are dry and the pot feels lighter.
Chlorophytum comosum
Spider plant care works without a rigid calendar. Learn the right light, watering cue, salt control, repotting plan, and an easy plantlet method.
Water when: Water when the upper inch or two begins to dry, then soak the root ball and drain it fully.
Ceropegia woodii
String of hearts care starts with light on the crown and a dry root zone. Learn watering cues, shallow pots, tuber propagation, and bare-top…
Water when: Water when most of the mix is dry, the pot is light, and mature leaves begin to soften.
Curio rowleyanus
String of pearls care needs strong crown light and a fast-drying pot. Learn watering cues, propagation, rot prevention, mealybug checks, and pet safety.
Water when: Water when most of the mix is dry, the pot is light, and mature pearls just begin to soften.
Tradescantia zebrina
Tradescantia zebrina care keeps silver and purple vines compact. Learn the right light, watering cue, pruning method, propagation, and rot checks.
Water when: Water after the upper inch dries and the pot loses some weight.
Haworthiopsis attenuata
Zebra haworthia care is simple after the plant is identified correctly. Learn light, dry-time cues, succulent soil, pup division, and rot checks.
Water when: Water when the mix is dry through the pot and the container feels light.
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
ZZ plant care starts with useful light, patient watering, and a draining pot. Learn how to handle yellow leaves, slow growth, and root trouble.
Water when: Water after most of the potting mix has dried and the pot feels noticeably lighter.
Start with the conditions you already have. A south-facing windowsill and a shaded shelf are not interchangeable, even when both look bright to human eyes. The light filter separates plants that tolerate a dimmer position from those that need a clear view of a bright window.
Use the watering cue as a check, not a reminder. "Every seven days" sounds convenient, but pot size, season, root density, soil and room temperature can change drying time by days or weeks. The profiles tell you what to feel or observe before you reach for the watering can.
Pet-safety labels are sourced separately for cats and dogs. A missing toxicity record is not treated as proof that a plant is safe. When the evidence is unclear, the card says "not verified" and links to the source checked by the editorial team.
| Section | What you will find |
|---|---|
| Identity | Accepted botanical name, useful synonyms, family and native range |
| Care | Light, watering cue, soil, humidity, temperature, feeding and repotting |
| Size and habit | Expected indoor dimensions, growth rate and growing form |
| Safety | Separate cat and dog status with a dated source |
| Troubleshooting | Common symptoms, likely causes and the first thing to check |
The database stays focused on the plant itself. Longer procedures live in their own Fern & Shelf guides. If a profile points toward wet roots, for example, continue with the guide to saving an overwatered plant. For a soil problem, compare the best potting mixes for indoor plants or learn why potting soil stops draining.
Botanical identity and care facts are checked against Cooperative Extension publications, botanical gardens and other named horticultural authorities. Pet-safety statements receive their own source and review date. We do not turn an unsupported forum comment into a fact, and we do not claim that Fern & Shelf tested a plant unless a documented test exists.
Conditions still matter. A published temperature range or mature size is a useful starting point, not a promise for every apartment. Cultivar, light, container, climate control and the age of the plant can all change the outcome. Each profile therefore pairs ranges with observable cues wherever possible.
If your plant looks unhealthy but you are not sure which care variable is responsible, use the houseplant problem diagnostic before changing several things at once. One careful check usually tells you more than a week of random fixes.