Shopping for Indoor Plants

Before going shopping for your new plants, start by asking yourself some important questions. How much space do you have for houseplants? If you have only a tiny windowsill, you may want to choose very small succulents. If you have a lot of space, you can choose larger plants, such as pretty hanging ivy or large ferns and even potted trees. How much sunlight does your house or apartment get? If you get a lot of sun, you can grow sun-loving herbs and bright-green coffee plants. If you don't get a lot of sun, you may want to stick with mosses, ferns, and hardy plants that can endure and even enjoy shade. Also, how much care are you willing to invest in your plants? Some plants are particular and need to be watered on a consistent schedule--other can take a little neglect. If you're often out of town, you'll also want to take that into account. Generally, flowering plants are high-maintenanceer than non-flowering plants.

Once you've answered these questions for yourself, you're ready to go to the garden store or nursery and pick out your indoor plants. When choosing your plants, looks for healthy-looking, bright green leaves and stems. Signs that a plant is not very healthy include yellow or dead leaves. You may also want to gently lift the plant and its soil away from the edge of the pot to see if the plant is root-bound. If the plant's roots are curled all around the inside of the pot—and perhaps even poking out of the drainage hole at the bottom—the plant is root-bound and may not be the best option.