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Point your camera at a plant and Florario identifies the species, with the botanical record already open: water, light, soil, feeding, toxicity — over 2,000 species verified at the source, one by one. And when something looks wrong, one photo is enough: the guided diagnosis reads it alongside your plant's own history. Water and feeding rhythms, season by season, are the app's job.

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  • 2. It tells you the species
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The botanical archive

The twenty best loved, botanical record in hand

From basil to monstera: twenty of the most common house and balcony plants, with the very record you see inside the app. Open one — you can read them all here, no account needed.

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Basil

Ocimum basilicum

  • every 1–3 days
  • every 4–8 days
  • min 10°C

Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus

  • every 8–12 days
  • every 25–35 days
  • min -5°C

Common lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

  • every 4–6 days
  • every 12–15 days
  • min -15°C

Common sage

Salvia officinalis

  • every 7–10 days
  • every 20–25 days
  • min -10°C

Zonal geranium

Pelargonium hortorum

  • every 3–5 days
  • every 10–15 days
  • min 5°C

Rose

Rosa hybrida

  • every 4–7 days
  • every 15–20 days
  • min -15°C

Hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla

  • every 2–4 days
  • every 10–14 days
  • min -10°C

Persian cyclamen

Cyclamen persicum

  • every 15–20 days
  • every 4–7 days
  • min 5°C

Poinsettia

Euphorbia pulcherrima

  • every 3–5 days
  • every 10–14 days
  • min 10°C

Star jasmine

Trachelospermum jasminoides

  • every 2–4 days
  • every 10–15 days
  • min -5°C

Oleander

Nerium oleander

  • every 3–5 days
  • every 15–20 days
  • min 1°C

Lemon

Citrus × limon

  • every 3–7 days
  • every 10–14 days
  • min 5°C

Olive

Olea europaea

  • every 2–8 days
  • every 10–30 days
  • min -5°C

Moth orchid

Phalaenopsis amabilis

  • every 5–7 days
  • every 7–10 days
  • min 16°C

Monstera

Monstera deliciosa

  • every 5–7 days
  • every 10–14 days
  • min 15°C

Pothos

Epipremnum aureum

  • every 7–8 days
  • every 12–15 days
  • min 10°C

Snake plant

Dracaena trifasciata

  • every 10–14 days
  • every 30–45 days
  • min 10°C

Peace lily

Spathiphyllum wallisii

  • every 3–5 days
  • every 7–10 days
  • min 15°C

ZZ plant

Zamioculcas zamiifolia

  • every 15 days
  • every 30 days
  • min 15°C

Aloe vera

Aloe vera

  • every 10–15 days
  • every 25–30 days
  • min 10°C

Knowledge that grows

The records come from the sources. They grow with people.

Every record starts with those who study plants for a living: international botanical registers, horticultural societies, university extension services. We write only what the sources confirm — and where they are silent, we would rather leave a field empty than invent a number.

But an archive, to us, is like a nursery: you never finish it, you cultivate it. We want it to grow along with the people who use the app — a report, a correction, something learned on a balcony at home — because every contribution makes the records truer for everyone. Plant knowledge should be cultivated the way plants are: patiently, and in good company.

Authoritative sources Improved by the people using it Always growing
2.000+
species already in the archive
and the goal is to give everyone that knowledge, one plant at a time

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Identification from a photo

Point the camera at the plant and Florario suggests the species — with the botanical record already there: water, light, soil, feeding. Everything starts from there.

Guided disease diagnosis

Yellow leaves, spots, pests: start from a photo and the AI thinks it through alongside your plant’s history.

Real botanical records

Over two thousand species, re-verified at the source one by one. Water, light, soil, feeding, toxicity: in black and white.

Reminders that follow the seasons

Summer water is not winter water. The reminders read the record and change pace on their own.

Frost alert

If a night below one of your plants’ minimum is in the forecast, the app tells you before it happens.

Your garden, alive

Your plants become a small scene that breathes with the weather and the time of day.

Your plants deserve a real record.

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Basil

Ocimum basilicum · Lamiaceae
Basil — Ocimum basilicum

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 1-3 days

Light

Many hours of direct sun, in a spot sheltered from wind.

Min. temperature

10°C

Feeding

every 14-21 days

Overview

Family
Lamiaceae
Native range
Tropical Asia; cultivated for so long that the specialist source gives its original habitat as uncertain
Flowering
Spikes of small white or pinkish flowers in late summer; some ornamental varieties bear them purple and showy. The RHS and the US extension service agree on the season.
Botanical synonyms
Ocimum odorum, Ocimum thyrsiflorum

Water

Summer
every 1-3 days
Winter
every 4-8 days
What you need · Water — Soil always moist but never soaked, and water at the base: wet leaves catch downy mildew.

Light and climate

Light
Full sun and a sheltered position: the RHS and the specialist source say so in the same words. The US extension service also allows it partial shade.
Hours of light
Many hours of direct sun, in a spot sheltered from wind.
Min. temperature
10°C
Humidity
Medium (40-60%)

Soil and pot

Soil type
Rich, light and well drained for the specialist source; loamy or sandy for the RHS. The US extension service does not comment on soil texture.
Ideal pH
Any: the RHS ticks all three boxes — acid, neutral and alkaline. The other two sources say nothing about pH for this species.
Drainage
High: the RHS and the specialist source both want it well drained, and the US extension service asks for good drainage while keeping the soil moist.
Repotting interval
not needed
Repotting, in words
It lives one season and is sown every year: it never reaches repotting. Seedlings are transplanted once only, into a larger pot or their final place, when they have their first true leaves. Sow in spring under warmth, or in place in summer (RHS); the US extension service also mentions stem cuttings.
What you need · Pot — A pot is what the RHS openly recommends for this plant. It needn't be large: barely half a metre, one season. Rich but light compost, with free drainage.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 14-21 days
Formula (NPK)
NPK 12-12-12
Feeding detail
A balanced fertiliser at low strength every two or three weeks while it grows, or well-rotted compost at planting. No source publishes an interval; the US extension service rates it low maintenance.
Recommended product
A balanced fertiliser at half strength every two weeks in full growth: these are tropical plants that must build all their mass in a single season. Pinching out the flowers and feeding go together — as soon as they run to seed the leaves lose their flavour.
What you need · Feed — A balanced feed at low strength every two or three weeks while it grows. It has one season to build all its mass.

Pruning

How to prune
Pinch out the tips and remove flower buds as soon as they appear: the RHS says exactly this, and it is what keeps the plant making leaves instead of seed.

Safety

Non-toxic — safe for pets and people
Toxicity details
Non-toxic, and here the sources are three and in agreement: the ASPCA has a page dedicated to this species, with a matching scientific name, and gives it as non-toxic to dogs and cats; the North Carolina extension service tags it non-toxic to dogs and to cats and has no poison section at all; the tropical specialist source writes that no risks are known. Leaves and flowers are edible.

Record notes

The RHS is clear about how it is grown at our latitudes: as an annual, in a pot, under cover — outdoors only in summer. The specialist source adds the reason, in three words: it cannot take frost. Pinching out often is what matters most: as soon as it flowers the leaves lose their flavour. Water at the base and not on the leaves, which otherwise catch downy mildew — the US extension service ran a variety trial for that very disease. In the tropics the same plant is a perennial: here it is not, because of the cold, not by nature.

Photo: FASTILY (TALK) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · from Wikipedia

Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus · Lamiaceae
Rosemary — Salvia rosmarinus

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 8-12 days

Light

Many hours of direct sun every day.

Min. temperature

-5°C

Feeding

every 12 months

Overview

Family
Lamiaceae
Native range
The Mediterranean basin, Italy included: the specialist source lists as native range Turkey and Cyprus, the former Yugoslavia, Greece, Italy with Sardinia and Sicily, Spain with the Balearics, France with Corsica and Portugal, and on the African shore Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia, plus the Canaries and Madeira. Its habitat is garrigue and dry rocky places, especially near the sea — hence the name, «sea dew».
Flowering
From mid spring to early summer, with a few scattered flowers in autumn too (RHS). The flowers are small and two-lipped, gathered in whorls around the stem: pale blue or violet, more rarely white, and pink in some cultivars. The three sources agree on the period and the colours.
Botanical synonyms
Rosmarinus officinalis, Rosmarinus angustifolius, Rosmarinus latifolius, Rosmarinus prostratus, Rosmarinus communis, Rosmarinus flexuosus, Rosmarinus laxiflorus, Rosmarinus rigidus, Rosmarinus tenuifolius, Rosmarinus serotinus, Rosmarinus palaui, Rosmarinus aunieri, Rosmarinus cyanocalyx, Rosmarinus ligusticus, Rosmarinus massiliensis, Rosmarinus perrietii, Rosmarinus platyphyllus, Salvia fasciculata

Water

Summer
every 8-12 days
Winter
every 25-35 days
What you need · Water — Little, and never on a fixed calendar: water when the soil is dry deep down. Too much water kills it faster than frost, and in winter it should be sheltered from persistent rain.

Light and climate

Light
Full sun: it is the only box the RHS ticks, and the North Carolina extension service asks for at least six hours of direct sun a day. The latter adds in its text that it tolerates partial shade, but the specialist source is firm the other way — in shade it does not grow.
Hours of light
Many hours of direct sun every day.
Min. temperature
-5°C
Humidity
Low: dry air does not bother it at all. ⚠️ The North Carolina extension service contradicts itself internally — it lists humidity among the conditions the plant withstands, yet writes in its text that it tolerates wet, humid places poorly, and that poor air circulation together with high humidity brings it powdery mildew.

Soil and pot

Soil type
Light and free-draining: sandy, medium-textured or stony. The three sources agree in ruling out clay and heavy soils. The specialist source adds a detail that matters to anyone growing it for aroma: on limestone the plant comes smaller but more fragrant.
Ideal pH
Any suits it: acid, neutral or alkaline. The sources do not agree on which it prefers, though: some give it slightly acid soil and some slightly alkaline and chalky.
Drainage
Essential, and this is the point on which every source converges: the North Carolina extension service writes that excess water is the commonest cause of decline and death, the specialist source that it cannot take winter wet, and the RHS ticks the well-drained box alone.
Repotting interval
every 2-3 years
Repotting, in words
In spring, when the roots have filled the pot. The North Carolina extension service says it transplants and roots easily, so the operation is not as delicate as on other herbs. Adult size counts, though: in open ground it reaches a metre and a half in height and as much across, and its roots are heart-shaped — a taproot that soon divides into several primary roots, downwards and outwards.
What you need · Pot — A deep and wide pot — the root is heart-shaped and goes down — with very free-draining compost lightened with sand or grit, and a good drainage layer at the bottom. Terracotta is better, as it dries out.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 12 months
Formula (NPK)
NPK 5-5-5
Feeding detail
Very little, and above all in a pot: one light handful in spring, once a year. In open ground it usually needs none at all. This is a plant of lean, stony soil, and the specialist source spells it out — on poor chalky ground it comes smaller but more fragrant. The interval is a growing judgement: none of the sources consulted publishes one.
Recommended product
Little or nothing: a handful of light fertiliser in spring, and that is all. These are plants of lean, stony soil, and fed too well they make large, soft leaves with no scent — the essential oils concentrate when the plant is kept on short rations.
What you need · Feed — Almost nothing: one light handful in spring, once a year, and only in a pot. Overfed it makes large leaves with no scent.

Pruning

How to prune
After flowering, which is where every source places it (the RHS puts it in its pruning group 9, and for hedges says to shorten once flowering is over). ⚠️ Beware of a very common piece of advice the sources do NOT confirm: that old wood must never be cut. The North Carolina extension service says on the contrary that after flowering it can even be pruned hard to thicken it up, and the specialist source writes that it takes pruning very well and shoots again from old wood.

Safety

Toxicity
Dogs and cats — Safe
People — Mild — discomfort
Toxicity details
In the kitchen it is safe and in everyday use: leaves, young shoots and flowers are eaten raw or cooked, and the leaves make a tisane. ⚠️ Two real warnings, though, and they come from different sources. The RHS classes it as a contact allergen and recommends gloves when handling it at length; the specialist source adds that rosemary-oil products can redden the skin, and that the oil, taken in large amounts as an abortifacient, has caused deep coma, spasms, vomiting and even death. So it is the concentrated medicinal preparation that is dangerous, not the sprig in the roast. To be avoided in pregnancy. On pets two sources agree in calling it harmless: the North Carolina extension service marks it non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, and the ASPCA has its own record saying the same.

Record notes

What kills rosemary is water, not cold: the North Carolina extension service writes that overwatering is the commonest cause of decline and death, and the same source warns that it is hard to overwinter indoors. ⚠️ Hardiness varies a great deal from cultivar to cultivar, and that is a practical fact: 'Arp' is given as the most cold-resistant, while 'Prostratus', the creeping form, is the least hardy of the species. It takes salt spray and seaside exposure very well, well enough to make a hedge of it. ⚠️ The US extension service notes that it is confused with several other plants of similar foliage — Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula stoechas, Santolina chamaecyparissus, Phlox subulata, Conradina canescens and Ceratiola ericoides.

Photo: Margalob · CC BY-SA 4.0 · from Wikipedia

Common lavender

Lavandula angustifolia · Lamiaceae
Common lavender — Lavandula angustifolia

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 4-6 days

Light

Many hours of direct sun.

Min. temperature

-15°C

Feeding

every 30-40 days

Overview

Family
Lamiaceae
Native range
Western Mediterranean (France, Italy, Spain)
Flowering
Late spring and summer (June to August), with spikes of typically blue-violet flowers.
Botanical synonyms
Lavandula officinalis, Lavandula vera, Lavandula spica, Lavandula angustfolia, Lavandula delphinensis, Lavandula fragrans

Water

Summer
every 4-6 days
Winter
every 12-15 days
What you need · Water — It fears standing water more than anything else, especially in winter: better too little water than too much.

Light and climate

Light
Full sun, intense direct light
Hours of light
Many hours of direct sun.
Min. temperature
-15°C
Humidity
Low (below 40%)

Soil and pot

Soil type
A very light, free-draining substrate, sandy or gravelly is fine, of low fertility. It tolerates chalky soils.
Ideal pH
The RHS gives any reaction as fine; the US extension service prefers it neutral to alkaline.
Drainage
Essential and very high; it fears waterlogging, especially in winter, which can cause root rot.
Repotting interval
Every 2-3 years, or when the roots have completely filled the pot, using a slightly larger container.
What you need · Pot — A pot with excellent drainage: it fears waterlogging more than cold.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 30-40 days
Formula (NPK)
NPK 5-5-5
Feeding detail
Use a balanced fertiliser at low strength, only during the spring-summer growing season. The plant prefers poor soils.
Recommended product
Little or nothing: a handful of light fertiliser in spring, and that is all. These are plants of lean, stony soil, and fed too well they make large, soft leaves with no scent — the essential oils concentrate when the plant is kept on short rations.
What you need · Feed — Very little: it prefers poor soils, and too much feeding makes it less fragrant.

Pruning

How to prune
Prune lightly right after flowering to remove spent stems and keep the shape compact. Avoid cutting into old wood, as the plant struggles to regrow from it. A harder shaping prune can be done in early spring.

Safety

Toxicity
Dogs and cats — Mild — discomfort
People — Mild — discomfort
Toxicity details
Confirmed by two independent sources (the North Carolina extension service and the ASPCA): linalool and linalyl acetate, nausea, vomiting (not in horses) and loss of appetite. Cats remain the most sensitive. The plant's strong smell usually discourages animals from eating it, and the pure essential oil is far more concentrated and risky than the plant itself.

Record notes

Never cut into old wood: the plant struggles to start again from there, and a bad prune can leave it bare in that spot for good. A light prune after flowering, with a harder one in early spring, keeps it compact and lengthens its life.

Photo: Christer Johansson · CC BY-SA 3.0 · from Wikipedia

Common sage

Salvia officinalis · Lamiaceae
Common sage — Salvia officinalis

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 7-10 days

Light

Many hours of direct sun.

Min. temperature

-10°C

Feeding

every 12 months

Overview

Family
Lamiaceae
Native range
The northern Mediterranean and the Balkans: the North Carolina extension service lists as native range Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland. Naturalised in many other countries, Sicily and Sardinia included.
Flowering
Early summer, with short spikes of pale blue flowers (RHS, which gives the colour explicitly).
Botanical synonyms
Salvia lavandulifolia, Salvia hispanorum, Salvia rosmarinifolia, Betonica brachyodonta

Water

Summer
every 7-10 days
Winter
every 20-25 days
What you need · Water — Little: once established it takes drought well. Standing water in winter is fatal to it, far more than frost.

Light and climate

Light
Full sun, which is the only box the RHS ticks. The US extension service also allows partial shade, that is direct sun for part of the day: the two diverge, with full sun as the safe reading for aroma.
Hours of light
Many hours of direct sun.
Min. temperature
-10°C
Humidity
Low (below 40%)

Soil and pot

Soil type
Light, moderately fertile soil, poor and stony is fine too, with excellent drainage: the three sources agree (the RHS allows chalk, loam and sand; the US extension service adds rocky, shallow ground; the specialist source describes the habitat as dry stony slopes, usually on limestone, often with very little soil).
Ideal pH
Any suits it: acid, neutral or alkaline (RHS). The US extension service centres it on neutral.
Drainage
Very high: the RHS expressly warns to protect it from excess winter wet, which is what kills it rather than the cold.
Repotting interval
every 2-3 years
Repotting, in words
In spring, when the roots have filled the pot. It spreads wider than it grows tall — up to almost a metre across — so the pot's diameter matters more than its depth.
What you need · Pot — A wide pot rather than a deep one, with free-draining compost lightened with sand or grit. Sheltered from persistent winter rain.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 12 months
Formula (NPK)
NPK 5-5-5
Feeding detail
Little or nothing, once in spring and only if the soil is poor: in moderately fertile ground what is already there may be enough, and an excess of nutrients makes foliage at the expense of flowering and aroma.
Recommended product
Little or nothing: a handful of light fertiliser in spring, and that is all. These are plants of lean, stony soil, and fed too well they make large, soft leaves with no scent — the essential oils concentrate when the plant is kept on short rations.
What you need · Feed — Almost nothing: one light handful in spring, once a year. Overfed it makes large leaves with no scent.

Pruning

How to prune
In spring, shortening it to keep it compact (the RHS puts it in its pruning group 9). After flowering the spent spikes are cut off: that is what lengthens its life, because without pruning the base goes bare and woody.

Safety

Toxicity
Dogs and cats — Safe
People — Mild — discomfort
Toxicity details
In the kitchen it is safe and in everyday use — the leaves season meat, vegetables, eggs and stuffings, and are used in tisanes. ⚠️ The specialist source warns, however, that it becomes toxic if used in excess or for prolonged periods: restlessness, vomiting, dizziness, tremors and convulsions. It is contraindicated in pregnancy and to be avoided by anyone prone to convulsions. The North Carolina extension service has no toxicity section for this species; the ASPCA does have its own record for common sage and gives it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.

Record notes

⚠️ This record covers two plants the sources keep together: common sage and Spanish sage, which GBIF classifies as its subspecies (Salvia officinalis subsp. lavandulifolia) — the latter has narrower leaves, a more camphorous aroma and comes from Spain, while the species has its native range in the northern Mediterranean and the Balkans. Very drought-resistant once established. The thing to avoid absolutely is standing water, especially in winter.

Photo: Kurt Stüber [1] · CC BY-SA 3.0 · from Wikipedia

Zonal geranium

Pelargonium hortorum · Geraniaceae
Zonal geranium — Pelargonium hortorum

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 3-5 days

Light

Full sun, or a sheltered spot for part of the day, with as many direct hours as possible.

Min. temperature

5°C

Feeding

every 10-14 days

Overview

Family
Geraniaceae
Native range
A garden hybrid of two South African Pelargonium species
Flowering
From spring to autumn, with clusters of red, pink, white, orange or purple flowers.
Botanical synonyms
Pelargonium monstrum

Water

Summer
every 3-5 days
Winter
every 10-15 days
What you need · Water — Water moderately, letting the surface of the compost dry out between waterings.

Light and climate

Light
Full sun or light partial shade
Hours of light
Full sun, or a sheltered spot for part of the day, with as many direct hours as possible.
Min. temperature
5°C
Humidity
Low (below 40%)

Soil and pot

Soil type
Chalk, clay, loam or sand, fertile and well drained (RHS: four types).
Ideal pH
Neutral to alkaline, not acid (RHS: two boxes).
Drainage
High, to prevent root rot.
Repotting interval
every year in spring, if the plant is kept through the winter.
What you need · Pot — Repot every year in spring if the plant is kept through the winter.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 10-14 days
Formula (NPK)
NPK 15-30-15
Feeding detail
A balanced liquid fertiliser during growth, then a high-potassium one as flowering begins.
Recommended product
A geranium feed high in phosphorus and potassium, every two weeks from April to September, stopped in winter. High nitrogen makes a bush and no flowers: it is the first reason a geranium stays green and bare.
What you need · Feed — A balanced feed during growth, rich in potassium while flowering.

Pruning

How to prune
Remove faded flowers regularly to encourage new blooms. Pinch out the tips in spring to promote a bushy habit.

Safety

Toxicity
Dogs and cats — Mild — discomfort
People — Mild — discomfort
Toxicity details
The whole plant contains compounds such as geraniol and linalool, which can cause gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, loss of appetite) if eaten by dogs and cats. Contact with the sap can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive people.

Record notes

This plant thrives on plenty of sunlight and dislikes waterlogging; soil with excellent drainage is essential. For abundant, continuous flowering it is essential to keep removing faded flowers and to feed regularly during the growing season. Although perennial, it does not tolerate frost and must be sheltered in winter or treated as an annual.

Photo: autore non indicato · CC BY-SA 3.0 · from Wikipedia

Rose

Rosa hybrida · Rosaceae
Rose — Rosa hybrida

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 4-7 days

Light

6-8h

Min. temperature

-15°C

Feeding

every 15-30 days

Overview

Family
Rosaceae
Native range
A garden hybrid: it does not exist in the wild
Flowering
From spring to autumn, in a wide range of colours including white, pink, red, yellow and orange.

Water

Summer
every 4-7 days
Winter
every 15-20 days
What you need · Water — An organic mulch at the base in spring keeps moisture in the soil and holds weeds down: it does more than an extra watering. Water at the base, leaving the leaves dry and the air moving, to reduce fungal disease.

Light and climate

Light
Full sun, intense direct light
Hours of light
6-8h
Min. temperature
-15°C
Humidity
Low (below 40%)

Soil and pot

Soil type
Fertile soil, rich in humus, well drained.
Ideal pH
From six to six point nine, with the ideal around six point five: slightly acid.
Drainage
High, it does not tolerate waterlogging.
Repotting interval
Every 2-3 years for plants in pots, in spring.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 15-30 days
Formula (NPK)
NPK 6-10-10
Feeding detail
A balanced rose fertiliser, or a high-potassium one while flowering.
Recommended product
A rose feed, with more phosphorus and potassium than nitrogen: excess nitrogen makes long soft shoots, which are the first target of aphids and powdery mildew. Two applications, in late winter and after the first flush.

Pruning

How to prune
Main prune in late winter (February-March), removing old, weak or crossing wood and shortening the main stems by about a third or a half. Remove faded flowers through the summer to encourage new blooms.

Safety

Non-toxic — safe for pets and people
Toxicity details
Roses of the genus Rosa are not toxic to people or pets if eaten. The main risk is mechanical, from the thorns, which can injure skin or mouth.

Record notes

For abundant flowering, at least 6 hours of direct sun a day is essential. Ensure good air circulation between plants to reduce the risk of fungal disease. Mulching the base with organic matter in spring helps keep moisture in the soil and holds down weeds. "Rosa hybrida" is not a single botanical species: it is the name given collectively to the thousands of modern garden roses (hybrid teas, floribundas, repeat-flowering kinds), born of repeated crosses between different species and traceable in no taxonomic database as a single entity. The values in this record describe the average profile of a modern garden rose, not a precise species.

Photo: Roozitaa · CC BY-SA 3.0 · from Wikipedia

Hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla · Hydrangeaceae
Hydrangea — Hydrangea macrophylla

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 2-4 days

Light

Four to six hours

Min. temperature

-10°C

Feeding

every 30-40 days

Overview

Family
Hydrangeaceae
Native range
Japan
Flowering
From early summer to autumn. The flower colour (pink, blue, purple) depends on soil pH and on how much aluminium is available.
Botanical synonyms
Hydrangea hortensia, Hydrangea hortensis, Viburnum macrophyllum

Water

Summer
every 2-4 days
Winter
every 10-14 days
What you need · Water — Generous, regular watering in summer: the large leaves wilt fast if the soil dries out.

Light and climate

Light
Partial shade; ideally morning sun and afternoon shade.
Hours of light
Four to six hours
Min. temperature
-10°C
Humidity
Medium (40-60%)

Soil and pot

Soil type
Fertile soil, rich in organic matter and moist.
Ideal pH
Acid to alkaline, with no marked preference
Drainage
Excellent drainage, to avoid waterlogging.
Repotting interval
every 2-3 years
Repotting, in words
Or whenever the roots have filled the pot, preferably in spring.
What you need · Pot — A pot with rich, moist compost; prune right after flowering, never after August, because it flowers on last year's stems.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 30-40 days
Formula (NPK)
NPK 10-5-15
Feeding detail
Use a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring. To encourage blue colouring, use a product low in phosphorus and high in potassium; for pink, one richer in phosphorus.
Recommended product
A low-phosphorus hydrangea feed, from late winter to midsummer. Phosphorus locks up aluminium in the soil, and without available aluminium blue hydrangeas turn pink again: whoever wants blue uses a low-phosphorus feed and an acidifier, whoever wants pink does the opposite.
What you need · Feed — A specific low-phosphorus feed for blue, a richer-in-phosphorus one for pink: the choice of feed decides the colour.

Pruning

How to prune
Prune right after summer flowering ends, removing faded flowers and cutting the oldest stems back by a third to rejuvenate the plant. Avoid late pruning (after August) so as not to spoil next year's flowering.

Safety

Toxicity
Dogs and cats — Mild — discomfort
People — Mild — discomfort
Toxicity details
All parts of the plant are toxic if eaten in large amounts by dogs, cats and children, because of cyanogenic glycosides. Symptoms can include vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Contact with the sap can cause dermatitis in sensitive people.

Record notes

Flower colour is influenced by soil pH: acid soil (pH 5.0-5.5) with aluminium present produces blue flowers, while neutral to alkaline soil (pH 6.0-6.5 and above) gives pink or red ones. The plant flowers mainly on last year's stems, so wrong pruning or late frosts can spoil the display. It needs generous, regular watering through the warm season or its large leaves wilt quickly.

Photo: Raul654 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · from Wikipedia

Persian cyclamen

Cyclamen persicum · Primulaceae
Persian cyclamen — Cyclamen persicum

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 15-20 days or less (dormant period)

Light

From none to six hours of direct sun.

Min. temperature

5°C

Feeding

every 15-20 days

Overview

Family
Primulaceae
Native range
From Algeria to the eastern Mediterranean.
Flowering
Late autumn, winter and early spring. The flowers come in various colours including white, pink, red, purple and lavender.
Botanical synonyms
Cyclamen latifolium

Water

Summer
every 15-20 days or less (dormant period)
Winter
every 4-7 days
What you need · Water — Water at the rim of the pot or from below, never in the middle: wetting the heart rots the crown, and that is how it almost always dies. In summer, when it yellows and drops its leaves, stop almost completely: that is rest, not illness. Start again in autumn.

Light and climate

Light
Filtered light or partial shade: from none to six hours of direct sun, never full sun.
Hours of light
From none to six hours of direct sun.
Min. temperature
5°C
Humidity
Medium (40-60%)

Soil and pot

Soil type
A free-draining, light substrate rich in organic matter, such as a mix of general-purpose compost, peat and perlite.
Ideal pH
Acid or neutral.
Drainage
Essential to prevent tuber rot; use pots with drainage holes and a very porous substrate.
Repotting interval
every 1-2 years
Repotting, in words
Repot during the summer rest, leaving the top of the tuber uncovered. Sow it (twenty to thirty days to germinate); dividing it is difficult, because it rots.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 15-20 days
Formula (NPK)
A balanced feed at half strength, only while it is in leaf.
Feeding detail
Use a liquid fertiliser for flowering plants, low in nitrogen, diluted to half the recommended strength, only during active growth (autumn to spring).
Recommended product
A flowering feed high in phosphorus, every two weeks while in flower, then stop. The indoor cyclamen in particular needs a dry rest in summer: to keep watering and feeding it as it yellows is how it is lost every year.

Pruning

How to prune
Gently remove yellowing leaves and faded flowers by twisting the stem slightly at the base of the tuber, to encourage new blooms and prevent disease.

Safety

Toxicity
Dogs and cats — Mild — discomfort
People — Mild — discomfort
Toxicity details
Low severity: triterpenoid saponins, in roots and stems — the tuber is the worst part. The unpleasant taste makes ingestion rare in people; if eaten, vomiting and diarrhoea. Handling it can irritate the skin.

Record notes

A bulbous plant of the eastern Mediterranean, and indoors a winter plant: it flowers in the cold season and rests in summer, yellowing and dropping all its leaves. In that period water almost not at all and repot, keeping the top of the tuber above the soil. Water at the rim of the pot, never in the middle: crown rot is the typical failure. Roots and stems contain saponins: vomiting and diarrhoea if eaten, skin irritation from handling.

Photo: autore non indicato · CC BY-SA 3.0 · from Wikipedia

Poinsettia

Euphorbia pulcherrima · Euphorbiaceae
Poinsettia — Euphorbia pulcherrima

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 3-5 days

Light

Several hours of bright, filtered light.

Min. temperature

10°C

Feeding

every 15-20 days

Overview

Family
Euphorbiaceae
Native range
Mexico and Guatemala
Flowering
In winter; the true flowers are the small yellow cyathia at the centre, surrounded by large coloured bracts (usually red, but also pink, white or variegated).
Botanical synonyms
Poinsettia pulcherrima

Water

Summer
every 3-5 days
Winter
every 10-14 days
What you need · Water — Water sparingly, letting the surface dry out: never waterlogged, especially in winter at lower temperatures.

Light and climate

Light
Bright, indirect light
Hours of light
Several hours of bright, filtered light.
Min. temperature
10°C
Humidity
Medium (40-60%)

Soil and pot

Soil type
A fertile, peaty, well-drained substrate, based on general-purpose compost with added organic matter.
Ideal pH
From five point five to six point five.
Drainage
Essential to prevent root rot; use pots with holes and a drainage layer at the bottom.
Repotting interval
Every year, in late spring, after pruning, into a pot slightly larger than the last.
What you need · Pot — Repot every year in late spring, after the hard prune.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 15-20 days
Formula (NPK)
NPK 15-30-15
Feeding detail
A balanced liquid fertiliser for flowering plants during active growth (spring-summer).
Recommended product
A flowering feed high in phosphorus while in flower, and a foliage feed the rest of the year. The poinsettia needs long, dark nights from October to colour its bracts: fertiliser has nothing to do with the red, darkness does.
What you need · Feed — A balanced liquid feed every 15-20 days during spring-summer growth; stop during winter flowering.

Pruning

How to prune
Prune hard in spring (April), shortening the stems to about 10-15 cm above the compost to encourage compact growth.

Safety

Toxicity
Dogs and cats — Mild — discomfort
People — Mild — discomfort
Toxicity details
The milky sap can cause skin irritation on contact and mild gastrointestinal upset if eaten, both in people and in pets. Its toxicity is often overstated.

Record notes

To bring the bracts into colour for Christmas, from late September the plant needs an unbroken dark period of about 14 hours every night for 8-10 weeks. Avoid standing water and cold draughts absolutely. After the festive period, reduce watering to allow a rest. RHS: hardinessLevel 2 → H1b, tempMin 10°C confirmed (no correction). Toxicity confirmed on the ASPCA (scientific name verified on the page): toxic to dogs/cats/horses, irritant principle in the sap, symptoms generally mild («sap is generally mild») — consistent with the mild/mild already in the archive.

Photo: André Karwath aka Aka · CC BY-SA 2.5 · from Wikipedia

Star jasmine

Trachelospermum jasminoides · Apocynaceae
Star jasmine — Trachelospermum jasminoides

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 2-4 days

Light

Full sun as much as possible.

Min. temperature

-5°C

Feeding

every 20-30 days

Overview

Family
Apocynaceae
Native range
China, Japan and Vietnam
Flowering
From late spring into summer, with strongly scented white star-shaped flowers.
Botanical synonyms
Rhynchospermum jasminoides

Water

Summer
every 2-4 days
Winter
every 10-15 days
What you need · Water — Regular during growth.

Light and climate

Light
Full sun or partial shade, south-, west- or east-facing, in a sheltered position (RHS).
Hours of light
Full sun as much as possible.
Min. temperature
-5°C
Humidity
Medium (40-60%)

Soil and pot

Soil type
Chalk, loam or sand (RHS), fertile.
Ideal pH
Acid to alkaline, with no marked preference (RHS: all three boxes).
Drainage
Excellent drainage is indispensable to avoid root rot.
Repotting interval
every 2-3 years
What you need · Pot — Not invasive despite its vigour; a support for walls, pergolas and fences.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 20-30 days
Formula (NPK)
NPK 15-30-15
Feeding detail
A balanced liquid fertiliser for flowering plants during the growing season.
Recommended product
A flowering feed high in phosphorus every two weeks in season. Nearly all of them have poisonous latex — oleander and cascabela are among the most toxic ornamental plants there are — and should be pruned with gloves, without burning the prunings.
What you need · Feed — A balanced liquid feed for flowering plants during growth.

Pruning

How to prune
Prune after flowering to contain growth and shape the plant, removing untidy or damaged stems.

Safety

Toxicity
Dogs and cats — Safe
People — Mild — discomfort
Toxicity details
Like other Apocynaceae, it holds a white latex in its sap that can irritate the skin on contact; no source consulted (RHS) reports toxicity if eaten.

Record notes

This plant is a vigorous but not invasive climber, ideal for covering walls, pergolas and fences if given a support. The leaves can take on a bronze colour in winter, a normal effect of the cold. For abundant flowering it is essential to give it a sunny position for several hours a day.

Photo: pizzodisevo · CC BY-SA 2.0 · from Wikipedia

Oleander

Nerium oleander · Apocynaceae
Oleander — Nerium oleander

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 3-5 days

Light

Many hours of direct sun

Min. temperature

1°C

Feeding

every 15-20 days

Overview

Family
Apocynaceae
Native range
The Mediterranean basin and southern Asia
Flowering
Late spring to autumn; flowers in pink, white, red, yellow or salmon.
Botanical synonyms
Nerium atropurpureum, Nerium coccineum, Nerium haquevillei, Nerium madonii, Nerium odorum, Nerion oleandrum

Water

Summer
every 3-5 days
Winter
every 15-20 days
What you need · Water — It takes drought well once settled in: in summer water regularly, but let it dry out between turns.

Light and climate

Light
Full sun, intense direct light
Hours of light
Many hours of direct sun
Min. temperature
1°C
Humidity
Low (<40%)

Soil and pot

Soil type
Fertile and well drained, though it tolerates poor soils too.
Ideal pH
It adapts to any pH
Drainage
High, it does not tolerate waterlogging.
Repotting interval
Every 2-3 years, or when the plant outgrows its pot.
What you need · Pot — Repot every 2-3 years; always handle with gloves, and never burn the prunings, because the smoke is toxic.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 15-20 days
Formula (NPK)
NPK 15-30-15
Feeding detail
A balanced liquid fertiliser during the growing season.
Recommended product
A flowering feed high in phosphorus every two weeks in season. Nearly all of them have poisonous latex — oleander and cascabela are among the most toxic ornamental plants there are — and should be pruned with gloves, without burning the prunings.
What you need · Feed — A balanced feed every 15-20 days at the height of summer flowering; reduce it in autumn as growth slows.

Pruning

How to prune
Prune lightly after flowering to keep its shape; it can take hard pruning if needed, to be done in late winter.

Safety

Toxicity
Dogs and cats — Highly toxic
People — Highly toxic
Toxicity details
All parts of the plant are extremely toxic if eaten, both by people and by pets, because of cardiac glycosides. Contact with the sap can also cause skin irritation.

Record notes

It is very drought-resistant once established and tolerates intense heat and salt air, which makes it ideal for coastal gardens. Given its high toxicity, it is essential to handle it with gloves and to avoid planting it where children or pets spend time. Never burn the prunings, as the smoke is toxic.

Photo: Alexxx Malev from Taganrog, Russia · CC BY-SA 2.0 · from Wikipedia

Lemon

Citrus × limon · Rutaceae
Lemon — Citrus × limon

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 3-7 days

Light

Six to eight hours, in full sun

Min. temperature

5°C

Feeding

every 15-30 days

Overview

Family
Rutaceae
Native range
Southern Asia, probably north-eastern India.
Flowering
Mainly in spring and summer, but it can flower several times a year; scented white flowers, sometimes tinged with violet.
Botanical synonyms
Citrus limon, Citrus limonum, Citrus × limonia, Citrus medica var. limon

Water

Summer
every 3-7 days
Winter
every 10-14 days
What you need · Water — It fears waterlogging: excellent drainage is indispensable.

Light and climate

Light
Full sun, intense direct light
Hours of light
Six to eight hours, in full sun
Min. temperature
5°C
Humidity
Medium (40-60%)

Soil and pot

Soil type
Fertile, loam-based, well-drained compost.
Ideal pH
From six to seven
Drainage
Essential to prevent root rot.
Repotting interval
Every 2-3 years in spring, into a slightly larger container.
What you need · Pot — Outdoors in summer in a sunny sheltered spot; in winter in a cool, bright place.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 15-30 days
Formula (NPK)
Balanced NPK, or nitrogen-dominant (N) in spring and summer
Feeding detail
A citrus-specific fertiliser, rich in nitrogen during the growing season.
Recommended product
Use a balanced fertiliser, or one with a higher nitrogen content, as growth restarts, to support leaves and fruit.
What you need · Feed — A citrus feed rich in nitrogen during the growing season.

Pruning

How to prune
Prune in late winter or early spring to remove crowded or dead branches and to keep the shape.

Safety

Toxicity
Dogs and cats — Highly toxic
People — Safe
Toxicity details
The fruit is edible for humans, but the peel and the green parts contain essential oils and psoralens that are toxic to dogs and cats, causing vomiting, diarrhoea and potentially dermatitis or more serious symptoms if eaten in large amounts.

Record notes

The lemon fears waterlogging, which can cause root rot; excellent drainage is essential. Grown in a pot, it is best moved outdoors to a sunny sheltered spot in summer and brought into a cool, bright place in winter, with less watering. Fruit can take up to a year from the flower, so it is normal to see flowers and fruit on the plant at the same time. The peel, if handled and then exposed to the sun, can cause photodermatitis (RHS): use gloves when handling the fruit.

Photo: Elena Chochkova · CC BY-SA 4.0 · from Wikipedia

Olive

Olea europaea · Oleaceae
Olive — Olea europaea

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 2-8 days

Light

Full sun almost all day.

Min. temperature

-5°C

Feeding

During the growing season, from spring to late summer, every 4-6 weeks.

Overview

Family
Oleaceae
Native range
The Mediterranean basin
Flowering
Late spring or early summer; it bears small, scented cream-white flowers in panicles.
Botanical synonyms
Olea pallida, Olea sativa

Water

Summer
every 2-8 days
Winter
every 10-30 days
What you need · Water — The enemy is standing water, not thirst: impeccable drainage, especially in the first few years.

Light and climate

Light
Full sun, intense direct light
Hours of light
Full sun almost all day.
Min. temperature
-5°C
Humidity
Low (below 40%)

Soil and pot

Soil type
A very free-draining substrate, poor or stony is fine. A mix of general-purpose compost and inert material such as coarse sand or pumice is ideal.
Ideal pH
acid to alkaline, a wide range
Drainage
Essential, and critical to the plant's survival.
Repotting interval
every 2-4 years
Repotting, in words
Increase the pot diameter only a little at each repotting, preferably in spring.
What you need · Pot — A very free-draining substrate, poor or stony is fine; increase the pot size only a little at each repotting.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
During the growing season, from spring to late summer, every 4-6 weeks.
Formula (NPK)
NPK 5-5-5
Feeding detail
A balanced fertiliser for Mediterranean plants, or a slow-release organic feed.
Recommended product
Little fertiliser or none: these are plants of maquis and garrigue, grown on stony, poor soils with rainless summers. Fed too well they grow soft, catch fungal disease and lose their compact shape.
What you need · Feed — Little: it is a plant of maquis and garrigue, on poor stony soils. Fed too well it grows soft.

Pruning

How to prune
Prune lightly to shape the plant in mid spring. Harder pruning can be done from early to midsummer, so the wounds heal before winter.

Safety

Non-toxic — safe for pets and people
Toxicity details
The olive (Olea europaea) is not considered toxic to dogs, cats or children. Eating too many of the fruits, however, because of their high fat content, can cause gastrointestinal upset in pets. It is important not to confuse it with oleander (Nerium oleander), a very toxic ornamental plant it is sometimes wrongly associated with.

Record notes

The olive thrives in conditions that replicate its Mediterranean habitat: hot dry summers and mild damp winters. Impeccable drainage is essential to prevent root rot, its main enemy in cultivation. To encourage flowering and fruiting, the plant needs about two months at cool temperatures, between 4 and 10°C, over winter.

Photo: en:User:Nickfraser · CC BY-SA 3.0 · from Wikipedia

Moth orchid

Phalaenopsis amabilis · Orchidaceae
Moth orchid — Phalaenopsis amabilis

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 5-7 days

Light

Bright but always filtered light, never direct sun (the leaves are thin and scorch easily).

Min. temperature

16°C

Feeding

every 15-20 days

Overview

Family
Orchidaceae
Native range
South-east Asia, New Guinea and northern Australia
Flowering
A long-lasting flowering that can happen at any time of year, with mostly white flowers marked yellow and red on the lip.
Botanical synonyms
Cymbidium amabile, Epidendrum amabile, Synadena amabilis

Water

Summer
every 5-7 days
Winter
every 7-10 days
What you need · Water — It has no water-storing organs beyond its leaves: it must never dry out completely. Soak it thoroughly in the morning only, without leaving water sitting in the crown, and repeat only when it is nearly dry (AOS).

Light and climate

Light
Bright but indirect light, screened from direct sun.
Hours of light
Bright but always filtered light, never direct sun (the leaves are thin and scorch easily).
Min. temperature
16°C
Humidity
High (50-70%)

Soil and pot

Soil type
A specific bark-based orchid substrate, well aerated.
Ideal pH
Acid to slightly acid, roughly five point five to six point five: the typical value of an epiphyte substrate.
Drainage
Maximum, to prevent root rot.
Repotting interval
Every 1-2 years, after flowering or when the substrate breaks down.
What you need · Pot — A porous, medium-grade bark substrate; a mesh pot inside a larger container, so the roots breathe while staying near a film of water. Repot every 1-3 years, best in spring after flowering (AOS).

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 15-20 days
Formula (NPK)
NPK 30-10-10
Feeding detail
A balanced orchid fertiliser, diluted to a half or a quarter of the recommended strength.
Recommended product
An orchid feed for bark, high in nitrogen: decomposing bark consumes nitrogen and takes it away from the plant. A quarter strength, at every watering during growth — «little and always», not a lot now and then. From late summer switch to a flowering feed, and in winter stop.
What you need · Feed — A high-nitrogen feed (e.g. 30-10-10) twice a month on bark substrate; a phosphorus-rich one (e.g. 10-30-20) to encourage flowering. A quarter strength at every watering if warm and humid (AOS).

Pruning

How to prune
After flowering, cut the stem above a lower node to encourage a second flush, or at the base if it dries out.

Safety

Non-toxic — safe for pets and people
Toxicity details
No source consulted documents toxicity for this species; the genus Phalaenopsis is generally considered non-toxic.

Record notes

To trigger flowering it helps to drop the night temperature to about 16-18°C for a few weeks. Ensure very good air circulation to prevent fungal disease, while avoiding cold draughts. When watering, soak the substrate thoroughly and then let all the excess drain away, never leaving the roots standing in water.

Photo: Orchi · CC BY-SA 3.0 · from Wikipedia

Monstera

Monstera deliciosa · Araceae
Monstera — Monstera deliciosa

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 5-7 days

Light

Filtered light for most of the day. The North Carolina extension service marks a band of two to six hours of direct sun, but in its own growing text it wants it out of direct sun, and the RHS and the useful-tropical-plants database say the same.

Min. temperature

15°C

Feeding

every 30 days

Overview

Family
Araceae
Native range
From southern Mexico to Panama: Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica.
Flowering
Indoors it almost never flowers. It bears a white-green spathe around a spadix up to about thirty centimetres long, and from there the fruiting spike: cream-coloured berries covered in hexagonal green scales.
Botanical synonyms
Philodendron pertusum, Monstera borsigiana, Tornelia fragrans, Monstera lennea, Monstera lenneana, Philodendron anatomicum, Philodendron fenestratum

Water

Summer
every 5-7 days
Winter
every 10-14 days
What you need · Water — Water well and let it drain, then let the surface dry a little before going back. Moist yes, sodden no. In winter barely at all.

Light and climate

Light
Bright but indirect light, as near an east- or west-facing window.
Hours of light
Filtered light for most of the day. The North Carolina extension service marks a band of two to six hours of direct sun, but in its own growing text it wants it out of direct sun, and the RHS and the useful-tropical-plants database say the same.
Min. temperature
15°C
Humidity
High.

Soil and pot

Soil type
A loam-based compost, peat-free, rich in organic matter and free-draining.
Ideal pH
It prefers acid, between five and a half and six, and tolerates five to seven and a half. The North Carolina extension service ticks neutral alone, the RHS all three boxes.
Drainage
Indispensable: the substrate must stay moist but not sodden, and dry out a little between waterings.
Repotting interval
every 2 years
Repotting, in words
In spring, when the roots have filled the pot. It is the moment to sort out the support: with nothing to climb, the new leaves stay small and unsplit.
What you need · Pot — A loam-based compost, peat-free, rich and free-draining. Give it a sturdy support: with nothing to climb, the new leaves stay small and unsplit.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 30 days
Formula (NPK)
Balanced NPK, with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in equal parts.
Feeding detail
A balanced liquid fertiliser, diluted, during the growing season (spring-summer).
Recommended product
A balanced liquid feed, once a month while it is growing, stopped in winter. In a coarse substrate the fertiliser is not held and runs straight through, so little and diluted beats a lot at once.
What you need · Feed — A balanced liquid feed, once a month while it grows, nothing in winter. In a coarse substrate the fertiliser runs straight through: little and diluted beats a lot at once.

Pruning

How to prune
Prune in spring to control its size, removing dry or damaged leaves and shortening over-long stems to encourage bushier growth.

Safety

Toxicity
Dogs and cats — Mild — discomfort
People — Mild — discomfort
Toxicity details
Every part contains needle-like calcium oxalate crystals, except the fruit when fully ripe. Chewing them gives an intense burning of mouth, tongue and throat, with drooling, difficulty swallowing and vomiting; the sap irritates the skin. The North Carolina extension service rates the severity as low and specifies that serious trouble comes only from eating a lot; the ASPCA gives it as toxic to dogs and cats. The fruit is ripe when the green scales fall away by themselves: before then it causes swelling and irritation, and some people remain allergic even to the ripe one.

Record notes

The holes in the leaves are not a fault and do not come at once: young leaves are entire, and they fenestrate as the plant climbs a support. If the new ones keep coming small and closed, what is missing is light or a support, not fertiliser. The aerial roots are of two kinds, those that go down looking for water and those that anchor: they are not cut, they are guided towards the pole or the pot. Wiping dust off the leaves genuinely helps, because they are large and dust shades them. Indoors it hardly ever fruits, and that is no loss: the unripe ones are not edible.

Photo: O Tupinólogo · CC BY 4.0 · from Wikipedia

Pothos

Epipremnum aureum · Araceae
Pothos — Epipremnum aureum

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 7-8 days

Light

From none to six hours of direct sun, few being better.

Min. temperature

10°C

Feeding

every 15-30 days

Overview

Family
Araceae
Native range
Mo'orea, in the Society Islands.
Flowering
Extremely rare in cultivation indoors.
Botanical synonyms
Pothos aureus, Scindapsus aureus, Rhaphidophora aurea

Water

Summer
every 7-8 days
Winter
every 12-15 days
What you need · Water — Let the compost dry out between waterings. Leaf edges turning black and rotten roots are too much water — it is the first fault the source lists, and on this plant almost the only one.

Light and climate

Light
Bright indirect light, and it puts up with deep shade too. In the dark the variegation disappears and the leaves turn back to green.
Hours of light
From none to six hours of direct sun, few being better.
Min. temperature
10°C
Humidity
Medium (40-60%)

Soil and pot

Soil type
A peat-based mix, free-draining.
Ideal pH
No published data.
Drainage
High, to prevent root rot.
Repotting interval
every 1-2 years
Repotting, in words
The trailing stems root in water by themselves: cut below a node, put it in a glass and in two weeks it has roots.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 15-30 days
Formula (NPK)
A balanced feed at reduced strength.
Feeding detail
A balanced liquid fertiliser during the growing season.
Recommended product
A foliage feed, high in nitrogen and potassium and low in phosphorus: they make leaves, not flowers. At half strength every two weeks from March to September — the aerial roots burn easily, and in a coarse substrate the fertiliser is not held but runs straight through.

Pruning

How to prune
Pinch out the growing tips as needed, preferably in spring, to encourage a more compact, branching habit.

Safety

Toxicity
Dogs and cats — Highly toxic
People — Mild — discomfort
Toxicity details
Medium severity: calcium oxalate crystals in leaves, stems, roots, flowers, fruit and seeds. Irritation of the mouth, pain and swelling of lips and tongue, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, diarrhoea; skin irritation on contact.

Record notes

The pothos, a climber from the Society Islands: it puts up with low light as few plants do, and indoors its stems reach several metres. In the dark, though, it loses its variegation and turns green. Let it dry out between waterings: black edges are too much water. A cut stem roots in a glass of water. It is of medium severity: the calcium oxalate gives burning in the mouth and vomiting, and it should be kept out of reach of cats and children.

Photo: Asabengurtza · CC BY-SA 3.0 · from Wikipedia

Snake plant

Dracaena trifasciata · Asparagaceae
Snake plant — Dracaena trifasciata

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 10-14 days

Light

Two to six hours of direct sun, and it takes far less.

Min. temperature

10°C

Feeding

every 20-30 days

Overview

Family
Asparagaceae
Native range
West and west-central Africa.
Flowering
Rare in cultivation indoors; it bears small scented greenish-white flowers in spring on mature plants.
Botanical synonyms
Sansevieria trifasciata

Water

Summer
every 10-14 days
Winter
every 30-45 days
What you need · Water — From spring to autumn let the soil dry out completely between one watering and the next; in winter water once every one or two months. Those are the source's intervals, and they are long on purpose: here root rot is almost the only way to lose it.

Light and climate

Light
Partial shade — two to six hours of direct sun — but it also copes very well with very little light.
Hours of light
Two to six hours of direct sun, and it takes far less.
Min. temperature
10°C
Humidity
Low (below 40%)

Soil and pot

Soil type
A very free-draining substrate, specific to cacti and succulents, peat-based.
Ideal pH
Neutral or alkaline.
Drainage
Essential to prevent root rot; use pots with drainage holes and a porous substrate.
Repotting interval
every 2-3 years
Repotting, in words
Divide the rhizome, or root a cut piece of leaf.
What you need · Pot — A pot that really drains and succulent compost. The rhizome pushes sideways: with thin plastic pots it can deform or split them.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 20-30 days
Formula (NPK)
A succulent feed at reduced strength.
Feeding detail
A balanced liquid fertiliser for foliage plants, diluted to half the recommended strength, given only during the growing season (spring-summer).
Recommended product
A low-nitrogen succulent feed, at half strength once or twice in summer. They store reserves in their leaves and come from stony ground: high nitrogen makes soft leaves that bend and never straighten again.

Pruning

How to prune
No real pruning is needed. Dry or damaged leaves can be removed by cutting them at the base.

Safety

Toxicity
Dogs and cats — Mild — discomfort
People — Mild — discomfort
Toxicity details
Low severity: saponins, throughout the plant. If eaten it causes vomiting (sometimes with blood), depression, nausea, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, drooling; in cats also dilated pupils. The sap can irritate the skin, but does not cause dermatitis.

Record notes

The sansevieria, from West Africa: upright leathery leaves, and the reputation — deserved — of surviving anything. It takes low light and weeks without water. In winter water it once every one or two months, no more: too much water is almost the only way to lose it. It contains saponins: if a dog or cat eats some it causes vomiting, drooling and depression.

Photo: Mokkie · CC BY-SA 3.0 · from Wikipedia

Peace lily

Spathiphyllum wallisii · Araceae
Peace lily — Spathiphyllum wallisii

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 3-5 days

Light

No direct sun: filtered light all day. In deep shade it survives, but it stops flowering.

Min. temperature

15°C

Feeding

every 30 days

Overview

Family
Araceae
Native range
Colombia and Venezuela, in the understorey of humid tropical forest. The RHS adds Central America, where the other sources give it as introduced, not native.
Flowering
In spring and early summer. The spathe is white and wraps a cream-coloured spadix; after ten days or so it turns pale green and stays handsome for another month. The plants sold in flower all year round have been induced with a hormone at the nursery: at home they go back to their spring rhythm.

Water

Summer
every 3-5 days
Winter
every 7-10 days
What you need · Water — A long-spouted watering can and a saucer to empty. By the time the leaves flop it has been thirsty for a while: it picks up within hours, but every collapse costs it something.

Light and climate

Light
Plenty of indirect light, never direct sun: it scorches the thin leaves. It puts up with dark corners, but there it only makes leaves — to flower it needs light.
Hours of light
No direct sun: filtered light all day. In deep shade it survives, but it stops flowering.
Min. temperature
15°C
Humidity
High.

Soil and pot

Soil type
Compost rich in organic matter, holding water yet draining. The RHS wants it peat-free, the Florida nurseries make it peat- or bark-based: in a pot, water retention matters more than the raw material.
Ideal pH
The sources disagree: the RHS ticks acid, neutral and alkaline; the North Carolina extension service, for the genus, acid alone. In a pot, acid to neutral is the prudent choice.
Drainage
Essential to prevent root rot; use pots with drainage holes.
Repotting interval
every 2-3 years
Repotting, in words
Only when the roots have filled the pot, between February and March. It likes to be a little snug, in a pot that is roomy all the same.
What you need · Pot — Rich compost that holds water without becoming sodden, in a well-drained pot. Do not repot early: it likes being a little snug, and a huge pot stays wet too long.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 30 days
Formula (NPK)
NPK 20-20-20
Feeding detail
A balanced liquid fertiliser, diluted, once a month from spring to late summer. In winter, stop.
Recommended product
A balanced liquid feed, heavily diluted — a quarter of the recommended strength — once a month in the growing season. Too much fertiliser burns the tips and edges of the leaves: if it happens, flush the compost with plenty of water and feed less often.
What you need · Feed — A balanced liquid feed, diluted far more than the label says, once a month from spring to late summer. Brown, dry leaf tips: almost always too much fertiliser, not too little.

Pruning

How to prune
Remove yellowed or dry leaves and spent flower stems by cutting them at the base.

Safety

Toxicity
Dogs and cats — Moderate — serious symptoms
People — Moderate — serious symptoms
Toxicity details
The leaves contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. Chewed, they cause intense pain and burning of lips, tongue and throat, heavy drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing (ASPCA; the North Carolina extension service grades the danger as medium and warns that it takes a fair quantity). The RHS adds that it irritates skin and eyes and recommends gloves for handling it, while the North Carolina extension service rules out contact dermatitis. Dogs, cats and horses are among those at risk, and children too.

Record notes

Wilting is its way of asking for water, and it recovers within hours — but growers call that scene a «collapse», and it is this plant's commonest fault. Brown tips come from direct sun, from too little water or from dry air: mist it with non-calcareous water or stand it on damp expanded clay. The broad leaves collect dust: a damp cloth now and then. ⚠️ Almost every peace lily on sale is a hybrid of several species, not this pure species: the name on the label gives the genus more often than the species.

Photo: W.carter · CC BY-SA 4.0 · from Wikipedia

ZZ plant

Zamioculcas zamiifolia · Araceae
ZZ plant — Zamioculcas zamiifolia

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 15 days

Light

Very little light is enough: in Florida they kept it making new leaves for over a year on corridor light. Indoors you can put it far from the window, even in a corner. In bright but filtered light it grows faster; direct sun scorches its leaves.

Min. temperature

15°C

Feeding

every 90-180 days

Overview

Family
Araceae
Native range
East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania — Zanzibar and Pemba included — Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It lives in shade, in evergreen forest and dense miombo, from sea level to little over six hundred metres, in places with a long dry season. In Zimbabwe it is red-listed as vulnerable.
Flowering
Indoors it does not flower: in low light it never starts, and it takes years anyway. Where there is enough light it flowers between spring and early summer, just above the compost: a leathery green spathe, a hand's length, folded around a fleshy cream or yellowish spadix. If pollinated it makes white berries.
Botanical synonyms
Caladium zamiifolium, Zamioculcas lanceolata, Zamioculcas loddigesii

Water

Summer
every 15 days
Winter
every 30 days
What you need · Water — Little and seldom, and a saucer to empty at once: the only way to kill it is to water it too much. Before giving it water, push a finger into the compost: if it is not dry all the way down, wait.

Light and climate

Light
It takes low light better than almost any other house plant: the Florida extension service kept it growing, with new leaves, for over a year on corridor light, and calls it more tolerant than the snake plant and the cast-iron plant. In bright but filtered light it grows faster — it stays extremely slow all the same. Direct sun, no: it scorches and browns the leaves. In the wild it lives in shade, inside evergreen forest and dense miombo.
Hours of light
Very little light is enough: in Florida they kept it making new leaves for over a year on corridor light. Indoors you can put it far from the window, even in a corner. In bright but filtered light it grows faster; direct sun scorches its leaves.
Min. temperature
15°C
Humidity
Medium. Dry indoor air suits it.

Soil and pot

Soil type
A peat- or coir-based compost, lightened with plenty of perlite and sand. The Florida nurseries make it with sphagnum peat, perlite and vermiculite; Clemson gives it as half peat or coir, a quarter perlite and a quarter sand. A cactus compost is not needed: what is needed is an ordinary compost that drains fast.
Ideal pH
The Florida extension service, which grows this species commercially, gives a compost of six to seven. The same service warns to avoid saline or alkaline water and soils. The RHS ticks all three boxes: acid, neutral and alkaline; the North Carolina extension service, on this record, has no pH field at all.
Drainage
High, to prevent root rot.
Repotting interval
every 2-4 years
Repotting, in words
When the rhizomes fill the pot and begin to lift the compost or push against the sides. No source publishes an interval: the Florida extension service only says to move to a wider pot as the rhizomes grow in number and size. Fully grown it reaches about a metre in height and as much across, so the weight of the pot counts too.
What you need · Pot — Ordinary peat- or coir-based compost, with plenty of perlite or coarse sand, and a pot with a hole. The rhizomes grow large: when they start lifting the compost or pushing against the sides, move to a wider pot.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 90-180 days
Formula (NPK)
Slow-release NPK 18-2.6-10, with trace elements.
Feeding detail
A balanced liquid fertiliser at low strength, once or twice a year and only from spring to late summer. In winter, stop entirely.
Recommended product
It grows extremely slowly and eats very little: a balanced liquid feed once or twice a year is enough, and only while it is growing. Feeding it more does not make it grow, it loads the compost with salts — and salts are something it takes badly: if burnt edges appear, flush the compost with plenty of water. Nurseries use a slow-release formula with trace elements.
What you need · Feed — A balanced liquid feed and very little of it: once or twice a year, in spring or summer. Nothing else is needed, and any more leaves salts in the pot.

Pruning

How to prune
It needs no pruning. Spent or yellowed leaves are removed by cutting them flush with the compost, not halfway up.

Safety

Toxicity
Dogs and cats — Moderate — serious symptoms
People — Moderate — serious symptoms
Toxicity details
The leaves contain needle-like calcium oxalate crystals, and possibly other substances not yet identified. The North Carolina extension service grades the severity as medium — higher than in philodendrons — and gives vomiting and diarrhoea as symptoms if the leaves are chewed in quantity; an Australian veterinary toxicology manual reports a dog with vomiting and bloody diarrhoea after eating some. The RHS warns that it is harmful if eaten and that it irritates skin and eyes, in people as in animals, and recommends gloves when handling it. On which parts, the sources diverge: North Carolina documents the leaves alone, a horticultural taxonomy manual says every part is to be considered poisonous, and North Carolina rules out the contact dermatitis the RHS reports. The ASPCA has no record for this species.

Record notes

It is an African forest plant that behaves like a succulent. It keeps its water in the swollen leaf stalks and in the rhizomes below ground, transpires very little, and a 2007 study measured that under drought it even changes the way it photosynthesises: it opens its stomata at night instead of by day, like a cactus. The authors write that it is the only aroid in which this has been documented. The practical consequence is a single one: nurseries have seen plants survive three or four months without a drop, while excess water rots the rhizomes silently, and by the time the leaves yellow the damage is done. It grows extremely slowly even when perfectly happy: if it makes two new leaves in a year there is nothing wrong. In drought it drops its leaflets and the upper part of the stalk and keeps only the swollen base, waiting for rain. The scientific name says «leaves like a Zamia», which is a cycad unrelated to it — hence the nursery names that confuse the two, cardboard palm and African coontie, and the North Carolina extension service warns that it is mistaken precisely for Zamia integrifolia. Queried against the world name archive, the genus holds her alone. It is propagated by detaching a rhizome or by rooting a single leaflet. Pests: practically none, at most a little scale insect.

Photo: User:WeFt · CC BY-SA 3.0 · from Wikipedia

Aloe vera

Aloe vera · Asphodelaceae
Aloe vera — Aloe vera

Record verified at the source

Summer water

every 10-15 days

Light

Six hours or more of direct sun.

Min. temperature

10°C

Feeding

every 30-40 days

Overview

Family
Asphodelaceae
Native range
The Arabian peninsula, no longer known for certain in the wild
Flowering
In summer, mature plants can produce a tall flower spike with tubular yellow or orange flowers, though flowering indoors is rare.
Botanical synonyms
Aloe barbadensis, Aloe chinensis, Aloe elongata, Aloe flava, Aloe indica, Aloe lanzae, Aloe rubescens, Aloe vulgaris

Water

Summer
every 10-15 days
Winter
every 25-30 days
What you need · Water — Let the soil dry all the way down before watering again, and in winter water with an eyedropper. Here too much water does not make a tired plant: it rots the roots, and from there is no way back.

Light and climate

Light
Full sun, six hours or more a day. It tolerates partial shade, but that is not its condition.
Hours of light
Six hours or more of direct sun.
Min. temperature
10°C
Humidity
Low (below 40%)

Soil and pot

Soil type
A cactus and succulent substrate, or a mix of general-purpose compost with about 50% coarse sand or perlite to help water run through.
Ideal pH
It is not fussy: acid, neutral or alkaline are all fine.
Drainage
Essential and excellent. Waterlogging is the main cause of trouble for this species.
Repotting interval
every 2-3 years
Repotting, in words
Separate the offsets at the base, in spring or early summer.
What you need · Pot — Terracotta with more than one hole in the base — the source names it exactly so — and succulent compost. In a plastic pot with a single hole, rot is a matter of time.

Feeding

Feeding frequency
every 30-40 days
Formula (NPK)
NPK 5-10-10
Feeding detail
Use a balanced liquid fertiliser for succulents, diluted to half the recommended strength, only during the spring and summer growing season.
Recommended product
A succulent feed at half strength, once a month from April to August. These are plants of stony, poor ground: with too much nitrogen the leaves turn watery, splay out like a star instead of staying compact, and the rosette loses its shape.

Pruning

How to prune
Remove only dry or damaged leaves by cutting them at the base. Pruning is not needed for the plant's shape.

Safety

Toxicity
Dogs and cats — Mild — discomfort
People — Mild — discomfort
Toxicity details
Ingestion and contact, low severity: cramps, diarrhoea, red urine; the yellow latex under the skin irritates the skin. The principle is an anthraquinone glycoside, in the leaves.

Record notes

A full-sun succulent, not an indirect-light one: six hours or more of direct sun are its condition, not something it merely tolerates. Everything else turns on water — let the soil dry all the way down, and in winter almost nothing. The yellow latex that runs from under the skin is the irritant part: eating it causes cramps, diarrhoea and red urine, contact irritates the skin. It propagates itself with offsets at the base.

Photo: Forest & Kim Starr · CC BY 3.0 · from Wikipedia