How to read it
These are starting points, not rules. A pothos in a hot, bright window wants more water than one in a cool, dim corner. Adjust to your room — the plant tells you when you're wrong.
| Plant | Light | Water | Humidity | Difficulty | Pet-safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pothos | Low–Med | Low | Low–Med | Easy | No |
| Monstera | Med–Bright* | Med | Med–High | Easy–Med | No |
| Snake plant | Low–Med | Low | Low | Easy | No |
| ZZ plant | Low | Low | Low | Easy | No |
| Spider plant | Bright* | Med | Med–High | Easy | Yes |
| Peace lily | Low–Med | High | High | Easy | No |
| Calathea | Med | Med–High | High | Medium | Yes |
| Philodendron | Low–Med | Med | Med | Easy | No |
| Fiddle leaf fig | Bright | Med | Med–High | Hard | No |
| Succulents | Bright | Low | Low | Easy | Mostly |
* "Bright" and "Med–Bright" mean bright indirect light — a few feet from a sunny window. Direct midday sun burns most of these.
The three numbers that matter most
If you only remember three things from this sheet, remember these:
- Water low, not often. Five of the ten want to dry out between drinks. When in doubt, wait.
- Light beats love. A snake plant in a dark hallway will outlive a monstera you fuss over in the wrong window.
- Pet-safe is not the default. Pothos, monstera, peace lily, ZZ and philodendron are all toxic if chewed. Spider plant, calathea and most succulents are the safe picks.
Print this page
The cheat sheet prints clean — nav, footer and consent bar are hidden on paper. Use your browser's Print (Ctrl/Cmd+P) and choose "Save as PDF" to keep a copy on your phone for the plant shop.
Where to go next
Pick a plant and read its full profile, or use the by-space finder to match a plant to the room you actually have. New to all this? Start with the beginner guide.
