Quick care guide
Medium to bright indirect light; avoid harsh direct sun.
Keep moderately moist with good drainage; many types react to very hard water.
Moderate to high humidity with airflow.
Fine but airy mix that holds some moisture.
Light and placement
Medium to bright indirect light; avoid harsh direct sun. Place the plant where it can remain stable rather than moving it repeatedly. Watch the newest growth: smaller leaves, stretching or leaning usually mean the plant needs more usable light, while pale scorched patches can follow sudden exposure to strong sun.
Window direction is only a starting clue. Distance from glass, curtains, nearby buildings, trees and seasonal sun angle can change light dramatically. Move the plant gradually when increasing exposure.
Watering and roots
Keep moderately moist with good drainage; many types react to very hard water. Water thoroughly when the plant’s root zone is ready, then let excess leave the drainage hole. Empty cachepots and saucers. A plant in lower light, a larger pot or a moisture-retentive mix will usually dry more slowly than the same species in warm bright conditions.
Fine but airy mix that holds some moisture. Repot only when roots are crowded, the mix has decomposed, or drainage behaviour has changed. A modest increase in pot size is safer than surrounding a small root system with a large volume of wet mix.
Growth, pruning and propagation
Patterned leaves, often with daily movement. Prune with clean tools and remove only damaged or unwanted growth. Cleaning leaves helps you notice pests and allows light to reach the surface.
Propagation: Division during active growth.
Common problems
Brown edges from dry air, water quality, or salts; curling from dryness; root problems in stagnant mix. Diagnose by checking soil moisture, root condition, light and recent changes before adding fertilizer or pesticide. Damaged leaves may not recover, so judge improvement by healthy new growth.