How to choose the right houseplant for your space

Before you look at the shape of the leaves, take a look at the room. Light is the main constraint: a sun-loving plant in a dark corner will always struggle, no matter how well you care for it.

Make a simple assessment based on which way your windows face:

• South-facing windows (lots of light): suited to plants that want intense light, such as many succulents and cacti, or broad-leaved plants kept a couple of metres from the glass.
• East- or west-facing windows (medium light): the most versatile situation, where most houseplants do well, including pothos, monstera and ficus.
• North-facing windows or dimly lit rooms: here it's better to go for tolerant species, such as sansevieria, zamioculcas or pothos, which cope with low-light conditions.

A practical test: in the middle of the day, using only natural light, try reading a book in the corner where you want to place the plant. If you can do it without switching on a light, there's enough brightness for many indoor species. If you have to strain your eyes, choose among the plants that tolerate shade. If those are exactly what you're after, you'll find more detailed suggestions in the guide to easy plants that survive in low light.

Be honest with yourself about how much you'll tend to the plant. The most common cause of death at home is too much water, often from people who water out of affection rather than real need.

If you have little time or travel often

Look for plants that forgive forgetfulness and store water:

• Sansevieria (Dracaena trifasciata): tolerates drought and low light, needs watering only rarely.
• Zamioculcas zamiifolia: extremely hardy, it can go weeks without water.
• Pothos (Epipremnum aureum): vigorous and forgiving, it clearly signals when it's thirsty.

These are excellent, easy-care houseplants, ideal for anyone short on time: generally you just need to water them when the soil is dry deep down.

If you enjoy taking care of them

If tending to plants relaxes you, you can be more adventurous with species that ask for more attention, such as calatheas (which love constant humidity) or orchids. Either way, the golden rule stays the same: check the soil moisture with a finger before watering, instead of following a fixed schedule. On this point, the guide on how often to water plants comes in handy.

A plant won't stay the way you see it in the shop. Think about where it will be in one or two years, not just today.

• Shelves and desks: compact or trailing plants such as small pothos, succulents or a small fern.
• Free corners on the floor: here you can go for specimens that grow bulky, like a monstera, a ficus or a kentia.
• Narrow spaces or passageways: avoid plants with broad, protruding leaves, which get damaged if they're constantly knocked.

Also consider the air: a room with poor ventilation and little light encourages waterlogging and rot, while too much dry air from radiators tends to dry out the leaf tips. Bear in mind that in winter the heating greatly changes conditions at home, as I explain in the guide on plants and radiators.

The living room is usually the brightest and most lived-in room, so it lends itself to plants that make a statement and become a focal point of the décor.

Some reliable choices for a beautiful plant at home:

• Monstera deliciosa: large, fenestrated leaves, very striking; it grows a lot and loves bright indirect light. If you choose it, take a look at the guide dedicated to monstera.
• Ficus lyrata or Ficus elastica: elegant, upright habit, perfect for filling a corner.
• Kentia (Howea forsteriana): a palm with a classic, relaxing air, tolerant and long-lasting.
• Strelitzia: broad, tropical leaves for anyone looking for volume and character; note it is toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA), so keep it out of their reach.

If the living room isn't very bright, fall back on more tolerant species such as pothos or a bulky zamioculcas, or read what science really says about plants that purify the air to avoid inflated expectations.

Many common houseplants are toxic if eaten. Curious dogs and cats, and young children, may nibble on them, so it's worth checking before you buy.

According to the ASPCA classification, widely grown plants such as pothos, monstera, ficus, philodendron and many species in the Araceae family are considered toxic to dogs and cats. Among the safer plants, on the other hand, are kentia, calathea, maranta and many ferns.

A bit of perspective helps: for aroids such as pothos, monstera and philodendron, the ASPCA documents mainly oral irritation, drooling and vomiting, caused by insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that burn immediately and usually stop the animal before it eats much. Serious cases are rare, but it's still worth calling the vet or a poison control centre about your specific case.

If you live with pets:

• Favour the non-toxic species on the ASPCA list.
• Keep the plants out of reach anyway, because even a non-toxic plant can cause digestive upset if eaten in quantity.
• If you suspect ingestion, contact a poison control centre or the vet without waiting for symptoms to appear.

For a complete overview, see the guide to plants that are safe for cats and dogs.

Giving a plant is a lovely gesture, but the risk is entrusting someone with a species that's too demanding for their conditions or their experience.

Some useful criteria for choosing a plant to give as a gift:

• For someone starting from scratch: go for hardy, forgiving plants such as sansevieria, zamioculcas or pothos. They rarely disappoint and are rewarding even for someone who has never cared for anything.
• For a special occasion: a flowering Phalaenopsis orchid always makes an impression and lasts a long time if well cared for (see how to care for Phalaenopsis).
• For those with experience: a calathea with patterned leaves or a well-shaped monstera.

A tip: pair the gift with a couple of lines on the essential care (how much light and how often to water), or suggest downloading a reminder app. If the person receiving the plant is a beginner, the basic guide on how to care for houseplants may come in handy.

Bringing together light, space, free time and any pets at home can seem complicated when you're standing in front of dozens of plants. This is exactly where Greenkeep lends a hand.

Enter your real conditions (which way your windows face, the size of the space, how much time you can devote and whether you have pets) and the app suggests the species best suited to your situation, ruling out those that would be unlikely to survive. For the plant you choose, Greenkeep instantly generates a tailored care plan, with watering reminders designed around its needs and your environment.

It's a way to avoid the most common mistake, namely choosing with your eyes and ending up with a plant that demands care you can't possibly provide. If, despite everything, things do go badly, the diagnostic guides help you work out what went wrong, from yellow leaves to the 7 mistakes that kill plants at home.