Indoor house plants are a universally great design element. They go along perfectly with any theme. They act as natural air fresheners and mood-boosters. And, there are literally thousands of unique indoor plants to differentiate your space from anyone else’s.

Earlier this year, we talked about the Natural Utopia theme as one of the top interior and exterior design trends of 2019. And, sure enough, this year saw more fiddle-leaf fig trees than you could imagine. Everyone, it seemed, wanted to fill their homes with hanging vines, potted trees, and chic air plants. As other trends may come and go, it looks like indoor plants are here to stay.

If you’ve wanted to make your interior space greener but weren’t sure where to start, we’ve got all the info you need to introduce new house plants into your home. With these simple tips, you’ll have thriving indoor plants no matter how dark your space or how busy your schedule. 

Indoor plants tip #1: Know what you can offer your house plants

Think about all the conditions that might rule you out for having plants. A dark apartment, perhaps. A busy schedule. Pets. An inexplicable tendency to overwater every plant you’ve ever owned. 

Even if all of those categories apply to you, that doesn’t mean you can’t have indoor plants! It just means that you haven’t found the perfect house plants for your situation. Just like you would research what kind of dog to adopt so that you don’t end up with a high energy dog in a tiny apartment, you should put some time into learning about different plant needs and preferences. 

For instance, if you live in a house with little sunlight, go for indoor plants with darker green or purple leaves. If you travel frequently or just know that you’ll forget to water, a succulent is a good option. Or, if you’re an over-waterer, simply take home indoor plants that are happy to live in water, like pothos or bamboo.  

There are even plants who will coexist happily with your pets. As long as you make sure to stay away from poisonous plants for dogs and toxic plants for cats, you’re golden. And if you’re worried about your pets chomping down on your new house plants, read on to our next tip!

Indoor plants tip #2: Rearrange to make space for your new roommates

One of the best things you can to do make sure your house plants live to their full potential is to place them strategically.

If you have pets, for instance, make sure that your indoor plants are well out of reach. It’s hard to know which kind of plant is going to catch the eye of a curious cat, and plants located too close to the ground are in the doggie danger zone. So, you might want to hang your plants or place them on high shelves where they won’t be chewed or knocked over.

Once you place your plant, imagine that you’ve placed it in cement. We say this because moving indoor plants around too often can damage roots. Or, you can expose your house plants to shock if you move them to parts of the house with different temperatures or light exposure. 

If you’re planning on doing anything to your space in the next few months – like clearing things out and putting some items into a Spacer storage space – do all of that before buying your indoor plants. That way, you have a better idea of where your house plants will live.

Indoor plants tip #3: Get on a watering schedule

Whether you tend to drown your house plants or dry them out, your watering problems can be easily solved by getting on a consistent schedule. If you have wall calendar or agenda, keep track of when you water your plants. There are also great apps available to send you reminders when it’s time to water your indoor plants.

Remember that different plants have different watering schedules. A fern plant needs a good watering once a week while a snake plant could be happy for up to 6 weeks without a drink. That’s a huge difference, so it’s worth it to sit down, take ten minutes to plan out your watering schedule for the next month (or two, or twelve!) and then set reminders. 

Indoor plants tip #4:  Don’t give up!

We’ve got one last piece of advice for you, and it’s the most important – don’t give up! 

If your house plant is looking sad, research that type of indoor plant online to see if you can’t save it. It might look like your plant is past hope, but those roots might be making a comeback under the surface. 

And, if one of your plants does die, don’t give up on indoor plants forever! Go back to step one and try to find a plant that will work better for your space. Talk to your local nursery, talk to your friends, talk to us, and you’ll eventually find the perfect indoor plants for your home!