Which Houseplant Matches Your Home?

Most houseplants do not die because their owners are careless. They die because they ended up in the wrong home. A plant that loves a bright, steamy bathroom will sulk in a dark office. A plant that wants to be left alone will rot in the hands of someone who waters every Sunday. Picking the right plant is mostly about being honest with yourself about your space and your habits.

What this quiz looks at

The ten questions ask about your home and your routine, not your taste in leaves. How much light reaches the spot you have in mind? How often are you away? Do you share your home with a cat that chews anything green? Do you like to check on plants, or would you rather forget they exist? Each answer points toward one of six common, easy houseplants that suit that kind of life.

The six plants you could get

You could land on pothos, snake plant, spider plant, peace lily, parlor palm, or ZZ plant. All six are sold almost everywhere and forgive the odd mistake. They are not the same, though. Some are toxic to pets and some are not. Some grow fast enough to see change every week, and others take a year to add a few leaves. Some want water often, and some would rather you stayed away for a month.

How to get the most out of your result

Answer for the home you have now, not the one you plan to have. If your only free spot is a dim corner, say so, even if you dream of a sunny window. Think about a normal month, too. If you travel for work twice a month, that matters more than the one quiet week you had last spring.

When you get your result, read the plant page before you buy. Every plant has a weak spot, and it helps to know it from day one. A good match is a plant whose needs line up with what you already do, so caring for it feels easy instead of like a chore.

If you get a plant you already killed

It happens more than you would think. Most of the time, the plant was fine and the spot or the watering was off. The plant page shows the most common mistakes and how to avoid them, so a second try often goes much better than the first.