Troubleshooting
Fungus Gnats in Houseplants: How to Get Rid of Them for Good
Fungus gnats in houseplants mostly come down to wet soil. Here is a budget-ranked plan, from free watering fixes to traps and Bti, based on UC IPM guidance.
Sill & Soil: Houseplant care that works in real homes
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The windowsill in November
Move plants away from heater vents and cold, drafty glass. Group them to raise humidity.
Latest from the potting bench
Troubleshooting
Why Are My Houseplant Leaves Turning Yellow? 7 Causes and Fixes
Yellow leaves can mean wet roots, dry soil, dim light, hunger, pests, a draft or old age. How to tell which one you have and what to do first.
Light & Placement
How to Read Your Windows: A Light Guide for Every Direction
What south, east, west and north windows really deliver for houseplants, when a south window is too bright, and when sheer curtains help or hurt.
Light & Placement
Low-Light Houseplants That Actually Grow in North-Facing Rooms
What low light means in foot-candles, what a north-facing room really delivers, and which houseplants extension services place in the low-light class.
Watering & Soil
How to Tell When a Houseplant Needs Water (Without a Moisture Meter)
Skip the calendar. Use the finger test, pot weight and a few plant signals to water houseplants when they actually need it, plus how to water so roots stay healthy.
Plants & Pets
Pet-Safe Houseplants: How to Read the ASPCA List (and Which Plants to Keep Away From Cats)
What 'non-toxic' really means on the ASPCA plant list, popular houseplants that are listed as safe for cats and dogs, the ones to keep out of reach, and why true lilies are an emergency.
Care cards
Fungus gnat control
- Generation time
- about 17 days at 75°F
- Adult lifespan
- about 7 to 10 days
- Bti repeat interval
- about every 5 days for potting media
Yellow Leaf Causes
- Most common cause
- overwatering (Clemson Extension)
- Healthy roots
- generally white
- Leaf drop after a move
- about three weeks
Window Light Guide
- Direct sun
- over 1,000 foot-candles at unshaded south glass (UF/IFAS)
- South window, low light
- 15 to 20 feet back (Illinois Extension)
- East or west, low light
- 3 to 10 feet back (Illinois Extension)
Low-Light Houseplants
- Low light
- about 75 foot-candles (Illinois Extension)
- North windowsill
- medium light, about 150 foot-candles
- Low-light spot
- a few feet back from a north window
Browse by topic
- Watering & SoilWhen to water, how much, and the potting mixes that make it easier.
- Light & PlacementReading your windows and putting each plant where it can grow.
- Plants & PetsWhich houseplants are safe around cats and dogs, checked against the ASPCA list.
- TroubleshootingYellow leaves, pests, root rot and what each symptom really means.