

“We think of plant buying a bit like matchmaking,” says Blank. Assessing your home’s light situations serves as a guide for which plants you should choose to populate your sill (or mantle, shelf or desk). “You should be able to estimate if your apartment is relatively low light, medium light or high light at midday,” she explains. She suggests standing near the window in your house or apartment around noon and noticing how hot and bright it feels. “Fertilizer offers extra nutrients and water helps, but your plant needs light to survive,” says Marino. Keep these elements in mind as you consider different plant types.

Indoor plants require special care and maintenance that their outdoor counterparts don’t need. We also read reviews from real customers to better understand how these plants thrive in homes across the country. We also hunted down some of the most popular options on the market and whittled the field based on elements like hardiness, aesthetic, care requirements and cost. To choose the best indoor plants, we spoke with five different plant experts for their advice on what to look for in indoor greenery, along with the plants they prefer.
