Looking for a plant that brings both color and character to your indoor jungle? Meet the newest member of the Peperomia family, Peperomia albovittata. This cutie is compact, eye-catching, and surprisingly easy to care for.

Like most peperomias, this plant started off in the jungles of Ecuador, although this specific cultivar was developed in the Netherlands. As an epiphyte, it naturally grows on trees or other surfaces, absorbing moisture and nutrients from the air and rain. Like others in the Peperomia genus – a group with hundreds of diverse species – this variety boasts unique foliage with distinct care preferences.

The deep green leaves with silver striping and red to burgundy undersides make this peperomia a standout on any plant shelf. Its compact size and slow growth habit make it ideal for small spaces, desks, or grouped with other houseplants for an eye-catching display.

Care Guide for Peperomia albovittata

Light – Thrives in bright, indirect light, but can actually adapt to medium light as well (it might grow a little slower though and its unique markings might not be so vivid).

Water – This is a semi-succulent, so does not need as much watering as other houseplants. Let about half the soil dry out before giving it a big drink. But be careful not to overwater and make sure you use an airy, well-draining soil mix. Ensure your pot has proper drainage holes to prevent root rot.

Fertilizer – Feed your peperomia with a well-balanced fertilizer once to twice a month during the spring and summer.

Although it is more commonly a fabulous fragrant shrub in your garden, it is possible to cultivate Gardenias as an indoor plant. But regardless of whether you have it inside or outside your home, this beauty requires a little bit of protective behavior on your part.

Why? Because Gardenias tend to be susceptible to all manners of pests. But if you can manage that (and it really isn’t that hard), it’s certainly worth it.

With it’s dark waxy leaves and snow white flower, Gardenias are handsome houseplants, but let’s face it – it’s that phenomenal perfume that is their real calling card. Which is part of what makes them such fabulous indoor plants; imagine being able to move them around to wherever you are so you can enjoy that captivating scent?

Caring for Your Gardenia

Let’s get the basics done before we talk about pests:

• Light: Gardenias love bright light, but avoid direct sunlight, especially during summer.
• Water: Keep your Gardenia moist, but reduce watering in the winter.
• Temperature: They love their heat. Please no indoor temps lower than 60 degrees. Keep out of the way of cold drafts.
• Soil: Most potting soils will do, but know that Gardenias prefer slightly acidic soil, so a non-alkaline mix is best.
• Fertilizer: Feed every couple of weeks with a non-alkaline fertilizer. If you want to lower the pH level in the soil, a teaspoon of agricultural sulfur will do the trick.

Okay, now about those pests. Mealybugs can be a problem, but what you really want to avoid is aphids, those nasty suckers that cluster below the leaves. Not only are they awful by themselves, they can also cause a secondary blight called sooty mold, which turns the leaves black. That in itself won’t kill the plant, but it keeps the plant from being able to absorb sunlight through its leaves, which in turns inhibits photosynthesis.

Fortunately, sooty mold is caused by the honeydew excreted by aphids, so if you control the aphids, you prevent sooty mold. Your best bet is neem oil. It will kill some pests, like mealybugs, on contact. It also attacks the larvae of other insects and repels pests feeding on plants because it has a bitter taste.

Repotting Your Gardenia

You should repot your gardenia every couple of years in the spring. If it isn’t as healthy as it had been, but you find no insects or diseases, it usually indicates that it needs to be repotted. Again, use a low-pH (non-alkaline) soil.

Maidenhair Ferns are one of the many subspecies of the genus Adiantum, which means “unwetted,” a reference to the plant’s delicate, fan-like leaves, which naturally repel water.

It’s kind of ironic, however, because if Maidenhair Ferns love anything, it’s their moisture.  They thrive when they have moist (but not soggy) soil, moist air and a high level of humidity in their space.

So how to keep a Maidenhair Fern happy in high and dry northern Arizona? 

• First of all, keep it in a spot with indirect sunlight. Naturally, these plants are found in forests, where they are covered by a canopy of trees. Direct sunlight will fry those delicate leaves. 
• Also keep it away from heating or cooling vents in your house, which could dry it out.
• Check on it every day or every other day to make sure the soil is moist. You do not want it to dry out. In fact, you might want to incorporate something like moss into the soil to help it retain water.
• If daily misting is something you can’t do, consider setting your plant on a water-filled pebble tray.

You’ll be rewarded with a plant that is beautiful in all stages with its grey-green leaves providing a graceful addition to your home.

Some other things to keep in mind is that this is a slow-growing plant; most don’t reach full maturity until two or three years. Also, don’t panic when your plant’s fronds die. New ones will emerge to take their place – it’s a normal part of the process.

The Philodendron ‘Brandi’ – a shortening of its scientific name Philodendron Brandtianum – is also known as the Silver Leaf Philodendron, thanks to its heart-shaped leaves that are distinctly dominated by white or silver variegation.

This philodendron is a climber – in its native South America its an epiphyte that is found hugging trees – and as a houseplant it works well as a potted plant or a hanging plant. Either way, it will grow about four to five feet quite quickly.

Caring for Your Philodendron Brandi

• Light: The philodendron brandi enjoys bright, indirect light.
• Water: Give your plant a good drink of water when the first couple of inches of soil are dry.
• Humidity: Like most philodendrons, this plant prefers warm and humid conditions. In low humidity northern Arizona, it’s a good idea to use a pebble tray.
• Soil: Well-draining soil is essential for this plant to avoid root rot.
• Fertilizer: While this plant doesn’t necessarily require feeding, a well-balanced indoor plant fertilizer during the spring and summer growing season will help with leaf development and overall growth.

This vibrant plant with its lemon and light green wavy leaves glows with a radiant brightness. Compact and eye-catching, its elegant, arching foliage adds charm and color to any indoor space and is ideal for tabletops, shelves, or bright corners.

Like most philodendrons, this variety is easy to care for, making it ideal for beginners. 

Here are some guidelines when cultivating your Golden Saw.

Light: While her golden-lime leaves tolerate lower light, your Golden Saw would prefer bright indirect light. No direct sunlight, however, or those leaves will burn.

Water: Water when the first inch of soil dries out. During the dormant winter months, reduce watering frequency. Make sure the pot has proper drainage to prevent waterlogging and root rot.

Feeding: Feed once a month during the growing season (spring to summer) using a balanced liquid fertilizer applied at a weak strength. Avoid fertilizing during the winter months when the plant’s growth slows.

Ah, the sensitive plant. Reader of romantic poetry, easy to upset, spending long hours in its room obsessing over comments in its Instagram feed . . .  oh wait, no, that’s a sensitive teenager.  Sorry, got them confused.

The fabulously named Mimosa Pudica (which sounds like an alcoholic beverage and a dessert all rolled into one) is commonly called the “sensitive plant” or the “touch-me-not.” Why? Well as you can see in the video above, it features this intriguing trick: at the slightest touch, its feathery leaves will quickly close together. The name is a Greek/Latin hybrid term meaning “bashful mime.”

And while they’re sensitive, there not too sensitive. Leaf closing aside, mimosa pudica is pretty easy to grow and lovely to look at. Here’s the basics:

Caring for Your Sensitive Plant

• Mimosa pudica likes soil that can hold enough water to remain consistently moist while providing good drainage to prevent root rot. Self-watering pots are a good choice for this plant.
• Our sensitive plant loves light and if it doesn’t get enough, it will close those fern-like leaves and fail to bloom with pretty pale pink and purple flowers. East facing windows that get lots of morning light will keep it happy.
• This is a native of the tropics and it likes its humidity. Placing it near a humidifier or misting periodically will help it feel at home even in our high desert.
• A diluted high-potassium fertilizer (like you would use for tomatoes) is a great choice because the plant’s movement requires energy.
• Often sensitive plants are houseplant annuals because they decline after blooming in the summer. However, it is easy to propagate new plants from their seeds.

You probably think of junipers as being outdoor plants, those trees and shrubs that grace your garden with their trailing blue-green needle-like foliage. And while you can plant Dwarf Japanese Garden Juniper outside, they are also highly prized as a bonsai specimens that can be grown indoors.

Well known for their low-maintenance needs and slow growth rate, these plants will thrive inside as you get the light, water and temperature right.

Caring for Your Dwarf Japanese Juniper

• Light: This is a plant that loves its sun, so make sure that you position your plant where it will receive full sun for at least part of the day.
• Water: Getting the balance right for Dwarf Japanese Junipers involves making sure they get enough water without overwatering. Make sure they are in well-draining soil to avoid root rot. Saturate thoroughly and then allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
• Humidity: Juniper bonsai like higher levels of humidity, so you can supplement your watering scheduled by misting the leaves every few days.
• Temperature: This plant needs warmth as well as sunlight. Typically room temperature is ideal, but avoid placing your plant near a window or door when the temperatures drop.

Pilea Mollis is better known as Pilea Moon Valley, a name inspired by the deep dimples in its leaves that look like craters on the moon. It’s bushy leaves only grow a few inches and the plant remains relatively small, making it perfect for window sills.

Caring for your Moon Valley:

• This plant likes bright, direct light and will tolerate medium light, but no direct sunlight, please.
• Water up to two times a week, keeping the soil evenly moist.
• This plant prefers high humidity, so consider a location where it will get lots of moisture (like a bathroom) or use a pebble tray or humidifier to keep it happy.

Petite and pretty, ‘Pink Paradise’ is a colorful cultivar of the tradescantia “zebra” plant – except this time the zebra’s stripes are bright pink and green.

The foliage gently cascades over the edge of pots, making it perfect for elevated containers or hanging planters, which accounts for one of its nicknames, the “Wandering Dude.”

In addition, this plant is easy to care for and grows quickly (up to 12 inches high and 24 inches wide).

Here are some guidelines for cultivating your Pink Paradise:

Light: Part of the succulent family, Pink Paradise needs bright, indirect sunlight when grown indoors. As with many plants, you should avoid direct sunlight, which could damage those beautiful leaves.

Water: Give your plant a good watering, but then let it dry out before watering again.

Soil: A specialized succulent potting soil is ideal, but any good, fast-draining mix will work.

Temperature/Humidity: Warm and cozy are the watchwords for Pink Paradise, which also likes humidity, so a pebble tray or humidifier is a good idea for your plant.

Showy, beautiful and easy to care for, Dieffenbachia can make a super indoor plant. The Amy variety features green leaves with bold splotches of yellow and white.

Its tolerance for low light and numerous varieties make it a favorite houseplant for homes and offices. 

One word of caution, however. If you have small kids or pets, you’ll probably want to make sure you place this plant out of reach. Diffenbachia’s milky sap is a mild irritant and should be kept from bare skin. The sap can even result in temporary loss of speech if ingested by causing swelling of the tongue and throat! That’s how Dieffenbachia came by it’s other name, “dumb cane.”

Caring for Your Dieffenbachia

• Light: It likes bright but filtered light, particularly in the spring, when it’s tender new leaves can get easily burned. Make sure to rotate your dieffenbachia so they don’t pull to one side of the planter.
• Water: Keep your Dieffenbachia moist, but be careful not to overwater.
• Fertilizer: Feed every couple of weeks with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to encourage growth.