Two of the basic fundamentals of growing indoor plants are meeting their light and water requirements. If these needs aren’t correct, the plant will fail to thrive. Some plants are forgiving, even in the wrong conditions, and will continue to grow happily, but many have very specific needs.
As a rule, succulents are one of the hardiest plants, they love full sun and can handle drought conditions as they store water in their fleshy tissues. Other plants need consistently moist soil but not soggy. When the soil is saturated, the pore space is filled up which deprives the roots of oxygen.
I have excluded the frequency of watering because it will vary from season to season, outside temperature and location. Obviously, a houseplant in Australia during summer will require more water than a houseplant in England during winter. It is also important to note that not all plants will follow the same water regimen. It is far more effective to check the soil of each plant individually and water as required.
Soil substrate is also important for each individual plant. Some prefer rich soil, others well-draining. If you are at all unsure, check with your local garden centre.
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Low/moderate: Able to tolerate lower-light positions, but prefers bright, indirect light.
Bright/indirect: A location that receives diffuse bright light, and morning light, avoid afternoon sun which is too strong. Can be placed close to a bright window, but out of direct light.
Full sun: Likes to grow in full sun, with at least six hours of sun a day.
Most plants are happy in bright but indirect light. This means the plant is placed near a window or glass door, but not so close that the sun rays hit the foliage.
| Water | Light | |
| Adanson’s monstera (Monstera adansonii) | Moderate | Partial sun to full shade |
| African milk thistle (Euphorbia trigona) | Low/moderate | Bright/indirect to full sun |
| Aluminium plant (Pilea cadierei) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Amaryllis (Amaryllis spp.) | Moderate | Partial shade |
| Anthurium (Anthurium spp.) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Baby rubber plant (Peperomia obtusifolia) | Low/moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Bear’s paw (Cotyledon tomentosa) | Low/moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Bengal fig (Ficus benghalensis ‘Audrey’) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Bird of paradise (Strelitzia spp.) | Moderate/high | Bright/indirect |
| Bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus) | Moderate | Medium to low/indirect |
| Black velvet alocasia (Alocasia reginula) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Blue chalk sticks (Curio talinoides var. mandraliscae) |
Low | Full sun |
| Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) | Moderate/high | Bright/indirect |
| Brittle maidenhair fern (Adiantum tenerum) | Moderate/high | Bright/indirect |
| Bunny ears cactus (Opuntia microdasys) | Low | Full sun |
| Cacti (Cactaceae) | Low | Full sun |
| Calathea (Calathea spp.) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Candelabra tree (Euphorbia ingens) | Low | Full sun |
| Carrion plant (Stapelia grandiflora) | Moderate | Full sun |
| Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) | Low to moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Chain of hearts (Ceropegia woodii) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| China doll plant (Radermachera sinica) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema spp.) | Moderate | Medium to low |
| Chinese palm fern (Livistona chinensis) | Moderate | Bright/indirect to full sun |
| Chinese money plant (Pilea spp.) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Christmas carol aloe (Aloe x ‘Christmas carol’) | Low | Bright/indirect |
| Climbing onion (Bowiea volubilis) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Cobra lily (Darlingtonia californica) | High | Bright/indirect to full sun |
| Condom plant (Ceropegia ampliata) | Low | Full sun |
| Creeping philodendron (Rhaphidophora decursiva) | Moderate | Low/moderate |
| Cupid peperomia (Peperomia scandens) | Low/moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Devil’s ivy (Pothos spp.) | Moist, water when top 5 cm of soil is dry | Bright/indirect |
| Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia spp.) | Moderate | Indirect |
| Donkey ears (Kalanchoe gastonis-bonnieri) | Low/moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Drooping prickly pear (Opuntia monacantha) | Low | Full sun |
| Dwarf umbrella tree (Schefflera arboricola) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Elephant ear (Alocasia spp.) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Elephant’s foot yam (Dioscorea sylvatica) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Elkhorn fern (Platycerium bifuracatum) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Emerald ripple peperomia (Peperomia caperata) | Low/moderate | Bright/indirect |
| English ivy (Hedera helix) | Water when the top of the soil feels dry | Bright/indirect |
| Exotic begonia (Begonia brevirimosa) | Moderate/high | Bright/indirect |
| Eyelash begonia (Begonia bowerae) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Fancy leaf caladium (Caladium bicolour) | High | Bright/indirect |
| Fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) | Moderate | Bright/filtered |
| Firesticks (Euphorbia tirucalli) | Low | Bright/indirect to full sun |
| Flapjack (Kalanchoe luciae) | Low | Full sun |
| Fuzzy leaf begonia (Begonia peltata) | Moderate/high | Bright/indirect |
| Giant taro (Alocasia macrorrhizos) | Moderate/high | Bright/indirect |
| Golden cane (Dypsis lutescens) | Low, allow to dry out between watering | Full sun |
| Golden rat tail (Winterocereus aurespinus) | Low | Bright/indirect to full sun |
| Grape ivy (Cissus rhombifolia) | Moderate | Low/moderate |
| Green shield alocasia (Alocasia clypeolata) | Moderate/high | Bright/indirect |
| Happy plant (Dracaena) | Slightly moist, allow to dry out between watering | Bright/indirect |
| Heart-leaf fern (Hemionitis arifolia) | High | Bright/indirect |
| Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Hoya spp. | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Horsehead philodendron (Philodendron bipennifolium) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Iron cross oxalis (Oxalis tetraphylla) | Slightly moist | Bright/indirect |
| Jade plant (Crassula ovata) | Low | Full sun |
| Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) | Moderate | Bright/indirect, will tolerate shade |
| King anthurium (Anthurium veitchii) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| King or queen air plant (Tillandsia exeographica) | Low/moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Kris plant (Alocasia sanderiana) | Moderate/high | Bright/indirect |
| Lady palm (Rhapis excelsa) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Laui (Echeveria laui) | Low | Bright |
| Lipstick plant (Aeschynanthus radicans) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Macho fern (Nephrolepis biserrata ‘macho’) | Moderate/high | Bright/indirect |
| Madagascar dragon tree (Dracaena marginata) | Low | Bright/indirect to full sun |
| Maidenhair fern (Adiantum aethiopicum) | Moderate/high | Bright/indirect |
| Mazae begonia (Begonia mazae) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Mini monstera (Rhaphidophora tetrasperma) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Mistletoe cactus (Rhipsalis baccifera) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Money tree plant (Pachira aquatica) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Monstrose apple cactus (Cereus hildmannianus ‘monstrose’) |
Low/moderate | Full sun |
| Moses-in-the-cradle (Tradescantia spathacea) |
Slightly moist | Bright/indirect |
| Nerve plant (Fittonia albivenis) | Well drained, moist, but not too soggy | Low/moderate |
| Network calathea (Goeppertia kegeljanii) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Oak leaf philodendron (Philodendron pedatum) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Ornamental yam (Dioscorea dodecaneura) | Moderate/high | Bright/indirect |
| Painted leaf begonia (Begonia rex) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans) | Moist in spring, summer and autumn, dry in winter | Indirect, will tolerate shade |
| Peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp.) | Moderate | Low to bright, indirect sunlight |
| Peacock plant (Calathea lietzei) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Pearl laceleaf (Anthurium scandens) | Moderate/high | Bright/indirect |
| Peruvian apple cactus | Low/moderate | Full sun |
| Philodendron (Philodendron spp.) | Moderate moisture, but allow to dry out between watering |
Bright/indirect |
| Pitcher plants (Nepenthes spp.) | High | Bright/indirect to full sun |
| Polka dot begonia (Begonia maculata) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) | Moist, water when the top 1 cm of soil is dry | Bright/filtered |
| Polydactylum anthurium (Anthurium polydactylum) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Purple shamrock (Oxalis triangularis) | Moderate/high | Bright/indirect |
| Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura) | Lightly moist, allow the soil surface to dry out between watering |
Bright/indirect |
| Pygmy date palm (Phoenix roebelenii) | Moderate | Bright/filtered |
| Purple oxalis (Oxalis triangularis) | Slightly moist | Bright/filtered |
| Queen anthurium (Anthirum warocqueanum) | Moderate/high | Bright/indirect |
| Queen of hearts (Homalomena rubescens ‘Maggie’) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Rabbit’s foot fern (Davallia fejeensis) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Radiator plants (Peperomia spp.) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Raindrop peperomia (Peperomia polybotrya) | Low/moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Red bristle philodendron (Philodendron squamiferum) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Rock tassel fern (Huperzia squarrosa) | Moderate/high | Bright/indirect |
| Rubber plant (Ficus elastica) | Average, water when the top 3 cm is dry | Bright/indirect |
| Sabre fig (Ficus binnendijkii) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Satin vine (Scindapsus pictus) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Scaly zamia (Lepidozamia peroffskyana) | Low | Bright/indirect |
| Silver dollar vine (Zerosicyos danguyi) | Low | Full sun |
| Silver leaf monstera (Monstera siltepecana) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Skeleton key philodendron (Philodendron tortum) | High | Bright/indirect |
| Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata) | Low, allow to dry out between watering | Full sun, partial sun to full shade |
| Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) | Moderate/high | Bright/indirect |
| Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) | Average, water when the top 2.5 cm of soil is dry | Low/moderate |
| Spiral aloe (Aloe polyphylla) | Moderate | Bright/indirect to full sun |
| Staghorn fern (Platycerium superbum) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Strap leaf anthurium (Anthurium vittarifolium) | Moderate/high | Bright/indirect |
| String of buttons (Crassula perforata) | Low/moderate | Bright/indirect |
| String of hearts (Ceropegia woodii) | Low, allow to dry out between watering | Bright/indirect |
| String of beans (Curio radicans) | Low/medium | Bright/indirect |
| String of needles (Ceropegia linearis) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| String of pearls (Curio rowleyanus) | Low/medium | Bright/indirect |
| Sundew (Drosera spp.) | High | Bright/indirect to full sun |
| Swedish ivy (Plectranthus australis) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) |
Moist, well drained, water when the top 5 cm is dry |
Partial sun |
| Swiss cheese vine (Monstera adansonii) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Ti plant (Cordyline spp.) | Keep moist during the growing period | Bright/indirect |
| Tree houseleek (Aeonium spp.) | Low | Bright |
| Trumpet pitchers (Sarracenia spp.) | High | Full sun |
| Velvet leaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum var. hederaceum) |
High | Bright/indirect |
| Velvet plant (Gynura aurantiaca) | Moderate | Full to partial sun |
| Venus fly trap (Dionaea muscipula) | High (use rainwater or distilled water) | Full sun |
| Watermelon peperomia (Peperomia argyreia) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Wax plant (Hoya spp.) | Slightly moist, water when the soil dries out | Medium to bright indirect light |
| Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) | Moderate | Bright/filtered |
| White vein arrow leaf (Caladium lindenii) | High | Bright/indirect |
| Windmill palm tree (Trachycarpus fortunei) | Consistently moist | Partial shade |
| Yucca (Yukka spp.) | Low | Bright |
| Zebra alocasia (Alocasia zebrina) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| Zebra cactus (Haworthiopsis attenuata) | Low | Full sun |
| Zebra plant (Aphelandra squarrosa) | Moderate | Bright/indirect |
| ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) | Low | Low/moderate |
Julia is a writer and landscape consultant from Wollongong with a love of horticulture. She had been an avid gardener for over 30 years, collects rare variegated plants and is a home orchardist. Julia is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge of plant propagation and plant toxicology. Whether it’s giving advice on landscape projects or sharing tips on growing, Julia enjoys helping people make their gardens flourish.
