Resources for Houseplant Care & New Gardeners
I have dabbled with houseplants for some time now, but really don’t know much about the plants I keep. My strategy for watering and keeping them healthy is really quite arbitrary. I’ve wanted to learn a bit more about how to properly care for the plants that I have, and how to pick the best ones for my home and region. Luckily, there are some great informational sites for new gardeners — and they have plenty of insight for practiced green thumbs, too! Whether you’re looking for low maintenance landscaping ideas or fun projects like building a kiddie pool garden, here are some of the best free online resources for houseplant care guides:
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A Quick Cat Mom Life Gardening Tip
Fellow Cat Moms:
Do you have cats who love to help your gardening endeavors? Because I sure do!
For my screened in patio — our catio — I like to keep a variety of plants for my cats, including catnip, cat grass, and more.
Click here to learn how to create your own cat garden!
Top Houseplant Care Guides & Gardening Resources to Explore:
The Sill: Common Plant Care Questions & Tips by Plant Type
First and foremost, I’ve found The Sill to be quite useful. A hub for all things plant-parenthood, The Sill offers great FAQ to common plant questions along with a care library based on specific plant type. From basic guidelines for most plants to specific suggestions, it’s really informative and easy to understand. Their “new plant owner” tips are particularly useful.
Side note: I really wish I lived in a climate that allowed me to grow a wider variety of beautiful flowers that require frost and cooler temperatures — this post on tulip quotes got me thinking about this! — but, alas, they are not suited to Florida. It does make it even more exciting to see these types of flowers when we travel, though!
Gardenista: Houseplants Field Guide
“Houseplants are not living indoors by choice. Ever since Victorian plant collectors brought home exotic tropical specimens, we’ve been coaxing warm-climate natives to thrive inside our homes.“
Gardenista shares about the history of houseplants, and gives some more information about how and why certain plants thrive. Their field guide has 28 over-arching types of plants, each with specific information and care suggestions.
Their blog post “10 Secrets to Successful Houseplants from the Experts” is also particularly illuminating.
Houseplant Resource Center: FAQ
The Houseplant Resource Center seeks to “educate and empower [readers] to grow gorgeous houseplants.” Some of their information is behind a paywall, but the free resources, including their FAQ tab, are also helpful, just a bit harder to find than on The Sill or Gardenista. The FAQ center offers insights into plant care and maintenance, indoor soil, root supplement, and more.
Good Housekeeping: 25 Gorgeous Indoor Plants That Are Almost Impossible to Kill & Everything You Need to Know About Container Gardening
If you’re looking for low-maintenance plant options, this Good Housekeeping article is for you. Besides describing houseplant care for jade plants, air plants, and more, the article offers suggestions on where to get your low-maintenance houseplants.
Relatedly, small-space gardeners — apartment dwellers with balconies in particular — will find this container gardening article useful. It covers drainage, pot size, materials, and more.
Curious about growing your own herbs and tea garden?
Ever wondered what is lemon balm?
Learn more about brewing your own tea recipes here!
Homestead & Chill: Houseplant Care 101 – The Ultimate Guide to Happy & Healthy Indoor Plants
Dovetailing from the low-maintenance plant options from Good Housekeeping, this Homestead & Chill blog post offers a selection of plants that are easy to care for, along with lighting recommendations, containers, soil, and more. Really, it cover pretty much everything… It’s a bit overwhelming, but it’s also written clearly and is a one-and-done article. I recommend bookmarking it and checking back when you have a question.
HGTV: Houseplant Care – 8 Keys to Success
Last but not least, this short HGTV article explains succinctly how to keep indoor plants heavy with eight easy maintenance and care tips. Some suggestions might be a bit obvious even to the newest of gardeners, but others were things you might not think of, like keeping an eye out for drafts and humidity issues inside.
Where to Buy Plants Online
Need a plant for your cute new planter? Check out Verdant Lyfe, a plant-loving mother-daughter team out of South Florida. Their plants are all locally sourced in Florida from various farms that use a mix of organic farming methods and sustainable agriculture. Plus, their prices are great and shipping is fast!
Take 10% off your first order from Verdant Lyfe here!
Do you have a favorite houseplant care resource?
Where did you learn to care for your garden?
One of the best parts about starting a little garden in your home or on your patio is picking out cute planters.
Check out my round up of cute and colorful ceramic planters from Etsy for all the garden inspiration!
*This post was originally published in May 2021. It was most recently updated on April 3, 2025.
