Question 1

Why do my houseplants keep dying?

Accepted Answer

Almost always one of two things: too little light or too much water. Light is the single most essential factor for indoor plants, and most homes have far less than plants want. Overwatering is the other big killer — soggy soil starves roots of oxygen and rots them. Fix light and watering first; most other problems are downstream of those two.

Question 2

Do houseplants actually clean the air?

Accepted Answer

Not really — this is a well-loved myth. The famous 1989 NASA experiment was run in a small sealed chamber, not a real home. A peer-reviewed 2020 review found you'd need 10 to 1,000 plants per square meter to match the air exchange a normal building already provides; ordinary ventilation does the work. Grow plants for the joy and greenery, not to purify your air.

Question 3

How do I know when to water?

Accepted Answer

Check the soil, not the calendar. Most houseplants want the top inch or two to dry out before the next drink; water thoroughly until it runs from the drainage hole, then empty the saucer. Watering on a fixed schedule is a top cause of overwatering. And drainage matters more than any gadget — a pot with a hole beats a fancy meter.

Light, water, love — in that order.

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