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Light and Moisture Requirements
For Selected Indoor Plants

The following list includes most of the indoor plants that you will be growing. This list contains information on how large the plant will get at maturity, which light level is best for good growth, how much you should be feeding your indoor plants and how much water is required for healthy growth. The list gives the scientific name and, in parenthesis, the common name. Always try to remember a plant by its scientific name, because some plants have many common names but only one scientific name.

The following descriptions define the terms used in the following material.

Light Levels

Low - Minimum high level of 25-foot candles, preferred level of 75- to 200-foot candles.

Medium - Minimum of 75- to 100-foot candles, preferred level of 200- to 500-foot candles.

High - Minimum of 200-foot candles, preferred level of 500- to 1,000-foot candles.

Very High - Minimum of 1,000-foot candles, preferred level of over 1,000-foot candles.

Water Requirements

Dry - Does not need very much water and can stand low humidity.

Moist - Requires a moderate amount of water and loves some humidity in the atmosphere.

Wet -- Usually requires more water than other plants and must have high humidity in its surroundings.

Fertility

General Rule - One teaspoon soluble house plant fertilizer per gallon of water or follow recommendations on package.

Low - No application in winter or during dormant periods.

Medium - Apply every other month during winter and every month during spring and summer.

High - Apply every month during winter and twice each month during the spring and summer.

NAME

MATURE
SIZE

LIGHT 
LEVEL

FERTILITY

WATER
REQUIREMENTS

Aechmea fasciata
(Bromeliad)

pot plant

medium 

medium

moist

Aeschynanthus- species
(Lipstick Fine)

pot, basket

medium

low

moist

Aglaonema commutatum
(Chinese evergreen)

pot plant   

low

medium

moist

Aglaonema "Pseudobracteatum"
(Golden Aglaonema)

pot plant   

low

medium

moist

Aglaonema roebelinii
(Pewter Plant)

pot plant   

low

medium

moist

Aloe variegata    

pot plant

very high

low

dry

Aphelandra squarrosa (Zebra Plant)

pot plant 

medium

medium

moist

Araucaria excelsa 
(Norfolk Island Pine)

tree, floor,
pot plant

high

medium

moist

Asparagus sprengeri
(Asparagus Fern)

pot plant, basket

medium

high

moist

Aspidistra elatior
(Cast-Iron Plant)

pot plant

low

medium

moist

Begonias, other than
metallica and rex basket

pot plant,

very high

high

moist

Brassaia actinophylla
(Schefflera) pot plant

tree, floor

medium

high

dry

Bromeliads (many species)

pot plant

medium

low

moist

Cactus (many species)

pot plant

very high

low

dry

Calathea (many species)

pot plant

medium

medium

moist

Chamaedorea elegans 
(Neanthe Bella Palm)

floor, pot plant

low

medium

moist

Chamaedorea erumpens
(Bamboo Palm)

tree, floor pot plant

low

medium

moist

Chamerops humilis
(European Fan Palm)

tree, floor plant

high

medium

moist

Chlorophytum elatum
(Spider Plant)

pot, basket

high

medium

moist

Cissus antarctica
(Kangaroo Vine)

pot plant, basket

high

medium-high

moist

Cissus rhombifolia
(Grape Ivy)

pot plant, basket

medium

medium

dry

Citrus mitis
(Calamondin)

pot plant

high

medium-high

dry

Codiaeum species
(Croton)

pot plant

very high

medium-hgih

dry

Coleus blumei

pot plant, basket

very high

high

wet

Columnea species

pot plant,
basket

medium-high

medium

moist

Crassula argentea
(Jade Plant)

pot plant

very

high medium

dry

Dieffenbachia amonena
(Dumb Cane)

floor, pot plant

medium

medium

dry

Dieffenbachia "Exotica"
(Dumb Cane)

pot plant

medium

medium

dry

Dizygotheca elegantissima
(Spider Aralia)

floor, pot  plant

high

medium

moist

Dracaena deremensis
(Green Dracena)

floor, pot plant

medium

medium

moist

Dracaena dermensis
"Warneckei"
(White Striped Dracaena)

pot plant

   medium

medium

moist

Dracaena fragrans
massangeana
(Corn Plant)

floor, pot plant

low

medium

moist

Dracaena marginata
(Dragon Tree)

tree, floor plant

medium

medium

moist

Dracaena godseffiana

pot plant,

very high

medium-high

moist

Episcia species
(Flame Violet)

pot plant, basket

very high

medium-high

moist

Eriobotrya japonica
(Japanese Loquat)

tree

high

medium

moist

Fatsia japonica (Japanese Aralia)

floor, pot plant

medium

medium-high

moist

Fatshedera lizei
(Tree Ivy)

floor, pot plant

mediumt

medium-high

moist

Ficus benjamina "exotica"
(Weeping Java Fig)

tree

medium

medium

moist

Ficus elastica "Decora"
(Rubber Plant)

tree, florr, pot plant

medium

medium

moist

Ficus lyrata
(Fiddle Leaf fig)

tree, floor plant

medium

medium

moist

Hedera helix
(English Ivy)

pot, basket

high

medium

moist

Howea forsteriana
(Kentia Palm)

tree, floor plant

low

medium

moist

Ficus philippinensis
(Philippine Fig)

tree, floor plant

medium

medium

moist

Ficus retusa nitida
(India Laurel)

tree

medium

medium

moisti

Gynura species
(Purple Passion Plant)

pot, basket

medium

medium

moist

Hoya carnosa
(Wax Plant)

pot plant,  basket

medium

low

dry

Ligustrum lucidum
(Wax Leaf Privet)

tree, floor plant

medium

medium

dry

Maranta leuconeura
(Prayer Plant)

pot plant,  basket

medium

medium

moist

Monstera deliciosa
(Split Leaf Philodendron)

pot, floor  plant

medium

medium

moist

Nephrolepis exaltata bostoniensis)
(Boston Fern)

pot plant

medium

medium

moist

Orchids (many species)

pot plant

very high

medium

moist/dry

Pandanus veitchii
(Screw Pine)

pot, floor plant

medium

medium

moist

Pelargonium species
(Geranium)

pot plant, basket

very high

high

dry

Peperomia carperata
(Emerald Ripple)

pot plant, basket

low

medium

dry

Peperomia (many specimens)

pot plant, basket

low

medium

dry(

Philodendron hybrida
(Self-Heading Philodendron)

floor, pot plant

medium

medium

moist

Philodendron oxycardium
(Heartleaf Philodendron)

pot plant, basket

low

medium

dry

Phoenix roebelenii
(Dwarf Date Palm)

floor, pot  plant

medium

medium

wet

Pilea species
(Aluminum and plant
Artiller Plant, etc.)

pot

high

high

moist

Pittosporum tobira
(Mock Orange)

floor, pot plant

high

medium

dry

Plectranus species
(Swedish Ivy, etc.)

pot plant

high

high

moist

Pleomele reflexa
(Green Pleomele)

floor plant

medium

medium

wet

Podocarpus macrophylla 
"Maki" (Podocarpus)

tree, floor, pot plant

high

medium

moist

Polyscias guilfoylei
(Parlsey Aralia)

floor, pot  plant

medium

medium

moist

Rhaphidophora
(Pothos - Devil's Ivy)

pot plant, basket

low

medium

moist

Rhapis excelsa
(Lady Palm)

tree, floor plant

medium

medium

wet

Saintpaulia species
(African Violets)

pot plant

Sansevieria species
(Snake Plant or Mother-in-Law's Tongue)

pot, floor

low

low

moist

Sinningia species
(Gloxinia)

pot plant

very high

medium-high

moist

Spathiphyllum clevelandii
"Mauna Loa"

pot plant

medium

medium

dry

Syngonium podophyllus
(Nephthytis)

pot plant, basket

low

medium

moist

Tradescantia species
(Wandering Jew)

pot plant, basket

medium

medium

moist

Zygocactus truncactus
(Christmas Cactus)

pot plant, basket

high

medium

moist/dry

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University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture
All rights reserved.
Last Date Modified 01/03/2008
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University of Arkansas • Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
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Little Rock, Arkansas 72204 • USA
Phone (501) 671-2000 • Fax (501) 671-2209
 

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