The core techniques behind healthy plants, explained step by step. Start with the basics below, then jump into the detailed guide for your plant.
How to water houseplants
More houseplants die from overwatering than from anything else. The right rhythm depends on the plant:
Let it dry completely
Drought-tolerant plants that store water, like the ZZ plant and snake plant.
Water when the top inch or two is dry
Most tropical foliage plants, such as the rubber plant, spider plant and lipstick plant.
Keep lightly and evenly moist
Thirstier plants with fine roots, like the prayer plant. Water quality matters for these.
Whatever the plant, check the soil with your finger instead of watering on a fixed schedule. Water thoroughly until it drains, and never leave a pot standing in water.
How to propagate houseplants
Most houseplants can be multiplied for free. The right method depends on how the plant grows.
| Method | Best for | Step-by-step guide |
|---|---|---|
| Stem cuttings in water or soil | Trailing and branching plants | Inch plant, prayer plant, lipstick plant |
| Plantlets (babies) | Plants that make ready-made offspring | Spider plant babies |
| Division | Clumping plants | Snake plant, bird of paradise |
| Leaf cuttings | Succulent-leaved plants | ZZ plant leaflets, snake plant leaf sections |
| Air layering | Tall, woody plants | Rubber plant |
How to repot houseplants
Repot in spring
Plants recover fastest when they’re actively growing. Signs it’s time: roots circling the pot or poking out of the drainage hole, or soil that dries out within a day or two.
Go up just one size
A pot 1–2 inches wider is plenty. An oversized pot holds wet soil for too long, which is how root rot starts.
Use the right mix
Fast-draining cactus mix for plants like the ZZ and snake plant; an airy mix with bark and perlite for tropical foliage plants.
Always use a drainage hole
Decorative pots without one are fine as an outer cover, as long as the plant sits in a nursery pot you can lift out to drain.
All how-to guides
Planting, growing and propagation guides, newest first.
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How to Propagate a Snake Plant: 4 Easy Methods
How to propagate a snake plant in water, in soil, by division or from rhizomes, with timelines, the variegation catch and fixes for rotting cuttings. -
Plant Identification: How to Identify Any Plant
How to identify a plant: the best free plant ID apps, the clues to check (leaves, flowers, stems), free expert help, and safety tips for unknown plants. -
How to Plant Succulents (Without Rotting Them)
How to plant succulents: the right soil and pot, step-by-step planting, the soak-and-dry watering method, light, easy beginner types and pet safety. -
How to Grow Basil for a Big, Bushy Harvest
How to grow basil from seed or a store-bought plant: warmth and sun, watering, the pinching trick for bushy plants, harvesting and fixing problems. -
How to Plant Lavender So It Actually Survives
How to plant lavender: choosing English, French or lavandin types, when to plant, soil and drainage, spacing, growing in pots, watering and pruning. -
How to Plant Garlic in Fall for a Big Summer Harvest
How to plant garlic: when to plant in your zone, hardneck vs softneck, how deep to set the cloves, mulching, watering, scapes and when to harvest. -
How to Plant Tulip Bulbs: When and How Deep
How to plant tulip bulbs in fall: the best time for your USDA zone, how deep and far apart to plant, pots vs beds, and how to get tulips to come back.
Looking for a specific plant? Browse our houseplant care guides A–Z.