Philodendron Pink Princess is not hard to keep alive, but it is easy to disappoint if you buy it for the pink and then put it in a dim corner. The real care question is simple: can you give it bright indirect light, a pot that drains, and a soil check once a week? If yes, it can fit a normal indoor routine. If you want a plant you can water on a fixed schedule and forget, choose a tougher green philodendron instead. ...
If you are trying to keep a monstera adansonii alive indoors, the main question is simple: can you give it bright indirect light and resist watering before the soil starts to dry? If yes, this is usually a manageable plant for a normal home routine. Monstera adansonii, also called Swiss cheese vine, is a fast-growing trailing or climbing houseplant with naturally holey leaves. It is smaller and lighter than the monstera thai constellation and the larger monstera deliciosa, so it fits shelves, hanging baskets, and moss poles more easily. The care challenge is not complicated botany. It is reading the plant’s signals before small issues turn into yellow leaves, curled leaves, brown tips, or root rot. ...
By KnowYourPlant Editorial Team, updated June 24, 2026. This version keeps the guide aligned with extension and IPM guidance reviewed for the June 18, 2026 evidence refresh. Start Here if You Need the Gnats Down Fast If you are standing over the pot right now and just want the first three moves, do these before you try anything fancy: Put a yellow sticky trap in every suspect pot so you can see which container is actually feeding the outbreak. Let the top 1 to 2 inches of mix dry as much as the plant safely allows, then empty every saucer, cachepot, or reservoir holding leftover water. If adults return after the next watering, add a labeled larval treatment such as BTI or beneficial nematodes and focus on the wettest source pots first. If the plant is a seedling, fresh cutting, or already recovering from root stress, keep the dry-down gentler and lean harder on monitoring plus larval control. ...
You notice a faint dustiness on the leaves. Maybe some tiny yellow speckles, or a leaf that looks a little washed out. You lean in closer and see the faintest threads of webbing in the crook where the stem meets a leaf. That’s when you know: spider mites have found your plant. Knowing how to get rid of spider mites is one of the most useful things you can learn as a plant person, because these pests move fast and they don’t announce themselves loudly. The good news is that if you catch them early, they’re very manageable. And even if the infestation has gotten ahead of you, there’s still a clear path back. ...
Philodendron Brasil is a good fit if you want a trailing plant that can forgive the occasional late watering, but it is not a great fit for a dark corner. Its yellow-green streaks need brighter indirect light than a plain heartleaf philodendron, and its roots need time to dry between waterings. The short version: put it near a bright window out of harsh direct sun, water when the top few centimetres of soil feel dry, and watch the newest leaves. Curling usually means the plant is too dry, yellowing often means the soil has stayed wet too long, and brown tips usually point to dry air, fertilizer buildup, or inconsistent watering. ...