The Library
Care Guides
One care rhythm per guide. Most cover a genus; a few cover a care group, where plants from unrelated families happen to want the same things. Each one lists its plants as cards and prints to a clean 8.5×11 care sheet you can keep by the plant.
Aglaonema
About 26 Chinese evergreens on one easy rhythm: plain greens take low light, the variegated and colored ones need more, and most dislike the cold.
Alocasia
About ninety bold-leaved aroids: bright indirect light, medium to high humidity, a free-draining mix, and a slower, drier winter.
Anthurium
About 1,460 aroids grown two ways, for the waxy bloom or the velvet leaf, on the same care: bright indirect light, an open mix, high humidity.
Begonia
More than two thousand species in a few clear types (cane, Rex, tuberous) on one care rhythm: bright indirect light, an airy mix, careful water.
Calathea
The prayer plants (now mostly Goeppertia): boldly patterned and pet-safe, on one rhythm of warmth, humidity and clean water.
Epipremnum
The pothos: about 15 climbing aroids. The common pothos tolerates low light, does better a little on the dry side, and grows on a pole or a shelf.
Ferns
Not a family but a lineage: around ten thousand spore-bearing species on one rhythm. Even moisture, humid air, and never any direct sun.
Ficus
The figs: eight hundred trees, shrubs and climbers. Bright light and one firm rule: find them a stable spot and leave them put.
Hoya
The wax plants: several hundred semi-succulent vines, pet-safe, grown for waxy leaves and porcelain flowers. Bright light, let them dry, never cut the spurs.
Monstera
About 73 climbing aroids from tropical America: bright indirect light, water once the top of the mix dries, and a pole or stake to climb.
Peperomia
The radiator plants: over a thousand small, semi-succulent, pet-safe foliage plants. Bright indirect light, and let them dry between drinks.
Philodendron
Over 600 climbing and self-heading aroids: bright indirect light, a loose, free-draining mix, and warmth above 59°F (15°C).
Scindapsus
Satin pothos, and not a true pothos at all: silver-marked climbers that want bright indirect light and hate wet feet.
Succulents & Cacti
Not a family but a habit: water-storing plants from many unrelated families on one rhythm. Hard light, soak and dry, a gritty mix, a cool winter rest.
Syngonium
About 42 arrowhead aroids: bright indirect or filtered light, water once the surface of the mix dries slightly, and a pole or a trailing spot.
Zamioculcas
The ZZ plant: one African aroid that stores water in its rhizomes. It tolerates very low light; let the mix dry out completely between waterings.