houseplants

care guide

Syngonium
‘Arrow’
(Arrowhead plant) sarahraven.com
 how to grow

Bring life, colour and greenery

to your home with our new and
How to grow
extended range of houseplants. Most houseplants come from warm, semi-shaded places around the world, meaning they’re well suited
Indoor plants in colourful to the temperatures and light levels in our homes.
pots not only enhance the
appearance of a room but can LIGHT the majority of houseplants want good light to keep them growing, but not direct midday or
also boost your mood and afternoon sun which can scorch their leaves.
improve air quality. TOP TIP:
Whether you choose flowering • Wiping dust off leaves with a damp cloth will keep them clean and shiny and enable them to absorb
houseplants, trailing plants to more light for photosynthesis.
position on shelves or hang POSITION away from cold draughts or very warm radiators. Fluctuations between the two in winter
from the ceiling, large plants can be very stressful for plants, causing leaves to turn yellow or brown or fall.
to add drama and structure,
or small pots for your desk or • In sunny, west or south-facing rooms, place plants on a table or shelf away from the window.
bedside, a houseplant will bring • In shadier, north or east-facing rooms, plants will be happy on the windowsill.
a little of the outside, in. • In winter when there is little sun, you can move all plants closer to windows.
• In the height of summer, when nights are reliably warm, most houseplants love a holiday in the
garden so place them outside in a sheltered but shady spot for a week or more.

TEMPERATURE the optimum range for most

houseplants is between 15°C and 25°C.

contents WATERING how often you water will depend

on the size of your plant and pot, the time of year
3-4 How to grow and the room temperature. See individual plant
5  Pests, Repotting & Pets information for details. You may need to water
as often as every other day in summer and as
6-16 Houseplants infrequently as once a month in winter.

TOP TIPS
1. Overwatering and underwatering of
Key houseplants is a common challenge when
growing and is something to be mindful of.
2. To judge the right time to water, you will need
IDEAL LOCATION to look at the surface of the compost. You can
also lift the pot to feel whether it is light (dry)
CARE or heavy (moist). For some plants it’s best to
push your finger into the compost down to
Photography by Jonathan Buckley ©

the first knuckle to feel if there is still moisture

RATE OF GROWTH below the surface.
3. If you have access to rainwater from a clean
water butt rather than tap water, this is ideal
PET FRIENDLY
for your plants. If using tap water, you can fill a
bottle and allow it to stand for 24 hours before
CAUTION FOR PETS using it, so any chemicals can evaporate. It’s
also best if water is tepid, not icy cold. Goeppertia concinna (Calathea)

2 For our exclusive plants and seedlings see sarahraven.com sarahraven.com 3

how to grow pests, repotting & pets

Pests
TLC
There are a handful of pests that can be a problem for your houseplants.
Spotting them early and isolating the affected plant from others is Ratings
important.
All the houseplants
• S
 cale insects - the first sign of these is usually a sticky substance on the we sell have been
leaves, then you may notice the little shell-like bumps on stems and chosen to thrive
veins. They can be scraped off with your nail and a damp cloth. with basic tender
• M
 ealybugs - also excrete a sticky substance and produce a fluffy white loving care. Of
wax on stems and leaves (or sometimes roots). Clean them off as soon course some are
as you see them. a little fussier than
• F
 ungus gnats - little flies that can be seen crawling around the compost others so here’s our
or pot. They are annoying but rarely do much damage to plants. They rating:
like wet compost so allow the surface of the compost to dry out slightly Very easy
and clean up any you can see.
Easy
Standing affected plants outside for a few weeks in summer can really
A little fussy
help them shake off pests.

Platycerium bifurcatum (Common staghorn fern)

Repotting
THE PERFECT SPOT many houseplants like a humid environment, so if grown in a bathroom or It’s a good idea to repot plants every 1-3 years in spring. This gives you the opportunity to change the
kitchen, they will be very happy. If grown in a room where radiators are frequently on, the air can compost and ensure the roots have space to thrive.
become dry, which risks leaves discolouring or falling.
HOW TO
TOP TIPS • Always use a pot with a drainage hole in the bottom. You can place this inside a pot with no holes but
1. To combat drying, you can spritz leaves weekly with water using a fine mister. make sure there is enough space for excess water to drain out and evaporate.
2. Standing plants in a wide tray of pebbles with a little water in it helps to keep the air around • Use peat-free, multipurpose compost, loam-based compost or specialist houseplant compost.
them moist.
• If potting on, simply choose a container that is about one third bigger than the one the plant is
FEEDING most houseplants like to be fed every 2-4 weeks between March and September when they coming out of.
are growing. Use a liquid feed diluted with water. • Some plants can have their root ball split apart. You can then replant one half in the same container
• Specialist houseplant fertilisers are high in nitrogen which is great for leafy growth. and pot up the other half in a new pot (they make great presents!)
• Fast-growing plants tend to need to be fed more often than slow-growing ones. • If plants become too large and unmanageable to repot, you can top dress them instead. This means
• Ferns (Adiantum, Asplenium, Platycerium and Phlebodium) and succulents like Sansevieria need less removing the surface of the compost and adding a layer of fresh compost. Mature plants which have
nutrients so only feed once a month and dilute the fertiliser more. been in the same pot for many years will also need extra water and feed.

PLANT SOS watch out for browning, yellowing or wilting leaves. If a plant looks stressed in this way, it
usually comes down to watering or light levels. Pets
WHAT TO DO first check that the plant isn’t dried out or sitting in water. Next check the position of the While most pets won’t be tempted to eat
plant and ensure it isn’t being scorched by sun or sitting in deep shade. houseplants, for complete confidence we’ve
• If it’s very dry, stand it in a sink of water for 30mins to rehydrate. identified those which are pet-friendly and those
which can be toxic if eaten. If your pet has a habit
• If it’s soggy, ensure drainage is OK and hold off watering until the compost begins to dry out. of chewing things, aim to place ones that might
• If you move a plant to a new position, it will usually take a few weeks before the plant begins to adapt be toxic out of their reach.
and you can see signs of recovery. Curly

4 See sarahraven.com for our full range of plants, bulbs and seedlings sarahraven.com 5
houseplants houseplants

Alocasia x amazonica ‘Polly’

Adiantum raddianum “You can’t go wrong with (Elephant’s ear)
‘Fragrantissimum’ the classic maidenhair fern. Best in a light and warm room, away from direct sun in
(Maidenhair fern) It reminds me of a fine lace summer and cold draughts in winter.

Loves a bright spot but not in direct sun or curtain, its black stems Keep the compost just moist. Loves a humid bathroom
or kitchen. If grown elsewhere, mist leaves or sit the
the heat from a radiator. like the thread linking the plant in a tray of damp pebbles.
Keep moist at all times but not soggy or
sitting in water. If the compost does dry
pattern of leaves. It can’t Plants can reach 1.5m tall and almost as wide, with huge
leaves. Large plants can be divided when repotting.
out and fronds die, don’t worry – simply fail to be pretty wherever
cut back, water well and wait for new Caution for pets Easy
growth to appear. you put it.”
A healthy plant can reach 75cm high and Sarah Raven
wide but it is common for them to be a
lot smaller. If growing well, they will need
repotting every 2-3 years.
Pet friendly A little fussy

6 See sarahraven.com for houseplants sarahraven.com 7

houseplants houseplants

Aspidistra have been Begonia ‘Gryphon’

grown in British homes This begonia will be happiest near a north or east-facing window.
since Victorian times Keep it away from any direct sun. You can stand it in
a shaded spot outside in summer.
& are incredibly Ensure the compost remains just moist in summer but allow
tolerant of neglect. to dry out a little between watering in winter.
A compact, bushy plant which usually reaches about 45cm tall and
wide. They can be pruned back if they get leggy. Repot every
2-3 years.
Aspidistra elatior (Cast iron plant) Caution for pets Easy

Very tolerant of shade so ideal for a sunless room.

Fine in bright light too but avoid direct hot sun.
Easy! Try to keep the compost moist but not soggy and
don’t worry if you occasionally forget to water it.
Typically, about 60cm tall and 45cm wide. Does not
grow fast and does not like repotting, so wait until
absolutely necessary (about every 3 years) and split
before replanting.
Pet friendly Very easy

Asplenium nidus
Epipremnum aureum
(Bird’s nest fern)
(Devil’s ivy)
Like all ferns, these do best if placed
in indirect light (a north or east-facing Loves a well-lit spot that doesn’t get direct
windowsill is ideal) away from the heat of summer sun.
radiators.
Water just as the compost begins to
Keep compost just moist but not soggy. dry out, which might be once a week in
Grow in a humid bathroom, mist fronds or summer but far less in winter. Mist the
place pot on a tray of pebbles and water. leaves occasionally.
Asplenium can grow to 90cm or more Can grow to 1.5m or more. Pinch back
once mature. Young plants may need stems for bushiness, allow to trail down a
repotting every year or two. shelf or provide a mossy pole for them to
climb up. Repot when they get cramped.
Pet friendly Easy
Caution for pets Easy

8 See sarahraven.com for houseplants sarahraven.com 9

houseplants houseplants

Ficus elastica
‘Tineke’ (Rubber plant)
& Ficus lyrata
(Fiddle leaf fig)
Happiest in a sunny room with no cold
draughts.
Make sure the compost dries
out slightly between watering as
overwatering is the most common
problem with these plants. Clean the
leaves occasionally to remove dust.
May grow to 1.8m tall or more but the
main stem can be pruned, if necessary,
which will result in bushy side shoots.
Repot every 2-3 years until too large
to handle.
Caution for pets Easy

Goeppertia concinna
(syn. Calathea
leopardina) &
Goeppertia veitchiana
‘Medaillon’
(Rose-painted calathea)
Calatheas need to be kept in light
The rubber plant and fiddle shade, away from direct sun, cold
draughts or hot air from radiators.
leaf fig can both get really Keep the compost just moist but not
tall & statuesque. soggy. Mist plants and/or stand on
pebble trays.
Rarely grows above 60cm high and
45cm wide. Repot every 2-3 years.
Pet friendly Easy

10 See sarahraven.com for houseplants sarahraven.com 11

houseplants houseplants

Howea forsteriana Philodendron

(Kentia palm) scandens ‘Micans’
Tolerant of some shade so ideal for a (Sweetheart plant)
north or east-facing room. Keep out of
direct sun. Best in a well-lit place out of
direct sun but will tolerate
Easy! Try to water regularly, keeping the
shade too.
compost just moist but make sure the pot
drains so the roots don’t get soggy. Keep the compost moist
with generous watering in
Can grow to 1.8cm tall and 1.2m wide summer but less in winter.
if happy. Repot only when plant is
completely pot bound as they dislike Can reach 1.2m or more.
disturbance. Train up a support or
leave it to trail. Stems can
Pet friendly Very easy be trimmed back if they
outgrow the space.
Caution for pets Easy

Philodendron aureum
‘Blue Star’
(Golden polypody)
Monstera deliciosa
Likes a well-lit room, in a spot that doesn’t
(Swiss cheese plant) get hot afternoon sun. Keep away from
radiators and cold draughts.
Likes a well-lit place out of direct summer
Keep moist at all times but not soggy
sun.
or sitting in water. If it’s not in a humid
Let compost dry slightly between bathroom, mist frequently and/or sit it on
waterings. Wipe dust from leaves. a tray of pebbles with water.
Can reach 1.8m tall or more and about Usually grows to about 60cm tall
90cm wide. Needs a support to climb and wide. Repot when plant looks
up (a mossy stick is ideal for aerial roots overcrowded, splitting it in two if needed.
to root into). Grows fast and will need
Pet friendly Easy
repotting every 2 years.
Caution for pets Easy

12 See sarahraven.com for houseplants sarahraven.com 13

houseplants houseplants

Pilea peperomioides
(Chinese money plant)
Enjoys a room with plenty of natural light
Sansevieria trifasciata var.
but not a position in direct summer sun. laurentii (Variegated snake plant)
Allow the surface of the compost to dry
out between watering. Sansevieria is best grown in a sunny spot but will
tolerate shade.
Usually grows to about 30cm high and Super easy! Just let the compost dry out slightly
wide. Pot on as it outgrows its pot and/or between watering and water very little in winter.
remove offsets to make new plants.
Can reach 1m tall but grows slowly and so won’t need
Pet friendly Very easy repotting more than every three years.
Caution for pets Very easy

Pilea is a top choice

for your desk or
bedside table.

Platycerium bifurcatum Syngonium ‘Arrow’

(Common staghorn fern) (Nephthytis or
Enjoys plenty of light but dislikes direct sun and cold Arrowhead plant)
draughts.
Allow the compost to dry out slightly between watering. Best in a well-lit spot away from any direct
When you do water try standing the pot in water for sun.
10 minutes. Loves a humid atmosphere so grow in a These plants must be kept just moist at
bathroom or mist often. all times but never soggy. Mist the leaves
often if the room is not humid.
60-90cm tall and wide. Slow growing but may need
repotting every 1-3 years. Rusty-brown spores forming Typically reaches about 75cm high and can
on the leaves are nothing to worry about, just a natural be trimmed back if it becomes leggy. May
part of its lifecycle. need repotting every two years.
Pet friendly Easy Caution for pets Easy

14 See sarahraven.com for houseplants sarahraven.com 15

 Zamioculcas
zamiifolia
(ZZ plant)
Enjoys a bright position
out of direct sun but will
tolerate shade too.
Overwatering is the main
cause of problems so
do allow the surface of
the compost to dry out
between watering.
Slow growing and rarely
reaches above 1m tall and
half as wide. Repot once
overcrowded.
Caution for pets
Very Easy

1 Woodstock Court, Blenheim Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 4AN

For more gardening advice, Sarah’s videos and growing guides visit our website
sarahraven.com
@sarahravensgarden @sarahravensgarden @srkitchengarden sarahraven.com/podcast

16