This document provides guidance on choosing and caring for houseplants based on the amount of light different window exposures provide. It recommends succulents and cacti for south-facing windows with over 6 hours of direct light per day, as they need bright sunlight but infrequent watering. For west-facing windows with 4-6 hours of light, it suggests rubber plants that enjoy heat and humidity. East-facing windows provide diffused light suitable for popular plants like fiddle leaf figs and pothos. ZZ plants are recommended for north-facing windows with less than 4 hours of light per day as they are very low maintenance.

1. Plant care 101
How to choose and care for your houseplants

2. South-Facing Light
If you have the luxury of a sunny south-facing window, consider succulents and cacti. The fleshy plants
are native to the desert, where they sunbathe all day. Water them thoroughly but rarely — about
twice a month. Aloe is particularly resilient and doubles as a salve for cuts and burns.
Aloe! Cacti! Succulents!
More than 6 hours of light

3. Succulent Pro tips!
Plant like-plants with like-plants, otherwise it becomes like the
“Hunger Games” and only one will survive. For example, never put
a succulent with a cactus because a cactus needs even less water.
Always underwater! The worst thing that will happen is you lose a
pup or two. Once you overwater, you can’t remove it.
Your plant will talk to you - really! If it needs light it
will start to streeeeetch and elongate, like the
picture to the right. This is called growing legs.
If your plant needs water, it will get wrinkly and look
like a raisin.
This is bad!

4. west-Facing Light
Western exposure gets slightly more intense sunlight than east-facing windows, so it tends to be
warmer. Opt for a plant comfortable with light and heat, such as a rubber plant. The India-born bush
also loves humid environments, so keep its soil consistently moist and mist the leaves often.
Rubber plants! Monstera! Philodendron 'Xanadu'!
4-6 hours of direct light

5. East-Facing Light
East-facing windows get naturally diffused light, which is comfortable for most plants. Your options
are many, though consider the so-hot-right-now fiddle leaf fig. Its ruffled leaves fill up voids in your
apartment while the branches add height.
Fiddle leaf figs! Pothos! Palms!
4-6 hours of indirect light

6. North-Facing Light
Because windows with northern exposure get the least amount of sunlight throughout the day, you
have better chances of keeping a goldfish alive than most plants. Enter the low-maintenance ZZ
plant. Its waxy leaves don’t need much sunlight — and require only weekly water — to survive.
Spider plants! Snake plants! ZZ plants!
Less than 4 hours of light

7. Avoid: Mall plants!

8. Toxic for pets
Autumn Crocus
Azalea
Cyclamen
Kalanchoe
Lilies
Oleander
Dieffenbachia
Daffodils
Lily of the Valley
Sago Palm
Tulips and Hyacinths
(see a full list here)

9. RESOURCES
Online Plants
H.Bloom
The Sill
Grounded
Cool Vessels
CB2
Terrain
When all else fails …
afloral.com