Tillandsia

Size: Depends on the variety of the species.

Light: Bright, indirect or filtered light is ideal for most tillandsia.

Water: Weekly soakings or baths for 20 minutes to an hour is the best way to keep your air plants well watered.

Humidity: While most like a certain amount of humidity, adequate air circulation is a must for air plants.

Air plants don't need soil, which allows us to display them in more interesting ways than other plants.

Jasminum sambac

Size: Large, up to 10' tall.

Light: Bright light.

Water: They appreciate consistent moisture in well-draining soil. If the top 2" of the soil is dry, it is time to water.

Humidity: Room temperature is okay.

These plants have a sweet, aromatic fragrance and have been used in perfumes and beauty products for centuries.

Dypsis lutescens

Size: Large, slowly growing up to 6-8′ indoors.

Light: Bright, indirect light, but does not like direct sun.

Water: Keep evenly moist. Does not tolerate soggy soil and prefers distilled water.

Humidity: High humidity to keep fronds looking fresh.

Palms like to be a little root-bound, take your time on re-potting.

Cactaceae Family

Size: Varies by species

Light: High light, at least 2-3 hours of full sun a day.

Water: Water lightly on a regular basis while actively growing, water sparingly in winter. Do not drench soil. Very susceptible to root rot. Prefers distilled water.

Humidity: Average to dry humidity.

Performs best in a cacti potting medium. Typically flowers if given enough light.

Radermachera sinica

Size: Medium, up to 4′ tall indoors.

Light: Bright, indirect light.

Water: Keep soil evenly moist. Do not allow to be soggy or completely dry out. Will drop leaves if too dry. Leaves will yellow and drop if too wet.

Humidity: Average household humidity. Benefits from occasional misting.

Pinch back at leaf node to encourage bushy habit.

Euphorbia milii

Size: Medium, up to 2′ tall.

Light: Bright light to full sun. Plants not receiving enough lights will not bloom. Prefers about 4 hours of direct sun every day. Rotate to promote even growth.

Water: Allow top 1″ of soil to dry out before watering. Water sparingly in winter. Avoid watering foliage and stems, they can rot easily.

Humidity: Average room humidity.

Performs best in a cacti potting medium. Can bloom almost year-round.

Dizygotheca elegantissima

Size: Large, slowly reaching about 6′ tall indoors.

Light: Bright, indirect light. Keep out of direct sun.

Water: Allow top 1″ of soil to dry out before watering. Wilted leaves are a sign of over-watering.

Humidity: Prefers moderate to high humidity. Try to mist every morning.

Moving to a new location can cause leaf drop.

Ficus lyrata

Size: Large, up to 10′ indoors.

Light: Prefers bright, indirect light. Rotate slightly once a week to keep all sides exposed.

Water: Keep evenly moist. Drooping yellow leaves indicate over-watering.

Humidity: Average room humidity. Brown leaf tips indicate humidity is too low.

Drops leaves easily if moved to new location suddenly.

Rhapis excelsa

Size: Small to large depending on container. Slow growing and will bonsai well, reaching only 12″ high.

Light: Bright, indirect light.

Water: Keep evenly moist during growing season. Allow top 1″ to dry out between watering in winter. Sensitive to treated water. Prefers distilled water.

Humidity: Moderate to high humidity.

Upright growth habit, does not take up a lot of horizontal space.

Polyscias fruticosa

Size: Medium, up to 3′ tall. Slower growing and can be grown as a bonsai tree.

Light: Prefers bright light, will tolerate low light to full sun.

Water: Allow top 2″ of soil to dry out between watering. Very sensitive to over-watering. Out of caution, it is good to air on the dry side, especially during winter months.

Humidity: Moderate to high humidity. When air is dry, mist every morning.

Over time Ming aralia drops lower leaves, revealing an eye-catching, gnarled tree-like trunk.

Phalaenopsis species

Size: Medium, up to 2′. 

Light: Best in bright, indirect light, can tolerate medium, but may not bloom. Can be grown under fluorescent lights.

Water: Allow top inch of soil to dry out before watering. Do not let the potting mix get soggy.

Humidity: Prefers high humidity. 

Plant in orchid mix, and keep in small pot, prefers to be root bound.

Araucaria heterophylla

Size: Large, up to 6′ tall.

Light: Bright light, even some direct sun. Bottom branches will fall off if light is too low. 

Water: Keep evenly moist while actively growing. Lightly moist in winter.

Humidity: Tolerate basic household humidity. Dry, yellowing needles can indicate air is too dry.

Does not respond well to pruning

Beaucarnea recurvata

Size: Small to large. Very slow growing to 6′ if given space. Easily grown as a bonsai specimen.

Light: Bright light to full sun.

Water: Allow soil to dry out partially between watering. Water only enough to prevent complete dry out in winter months. Water only the soil, prone to rot if trunk gets wet.

Humidity: Average, but will tolerate dry air.

Quite drought tolerant by storing water in swollen base making them a good choice for the busy or more forgetful plant owners.

Cycas revoluta

Size: Small to large depending on container. Extremely slow growing, up to 6′ if allowed.

Light: Bright light with some direct sun. Will lean toward light source if not regularly rotated.

Water: Allow soil to dry out a bit between watering, but not completely. Be careful to water just the soil and not the crown of the plant. Yellow leaves are often caused by over-watering.

Humidity: Average room humidity.

Roots do not like to be disturbed, so repot only when necessary.

Yucca elephantipes

Size: Medium to large, growing up to 5′ tall.

Light: Prefers bright light, to full sun. Will tolerate lower lights though.

Water: Keep evenly moist during growing season. Water just enough to keep soil from drying completely in winter.

Humidity: Average to dry humidity.

Very adaptable plant and tolerant of changing conditions, except soggy soil.

Senecio Rowleyanus

Size: Large, up to 2' tall.

Light: These plants are best grown in direct light.

Water: String of pearls are very drought tolerant and require infrequent watering.

Humidity: Can handle drier humidity because they are similar to succulents.

It is a relatively easy plant to grow and enjoy year-round as long as its cultural needs are met.

Echieveria, Sedum, and Kalanchoe Species

Size: Varies by species, typically small to medium.

Light: Bright light with some direct sun.

Water: Keep lightly moist during growing season. Water sparingly in winter. Avoid water rosettes or crowns of plants. Wrinkled foliage indicates too dry.

Humidity: Average to dry room humidity.

Prefer to be planted in a cacti potting medium.

Drosera

Size: Small, up to 7" tall.

Light: Drosera capensis and drosera spatulata thrive indoors on a bright, sunny windowsill. They also do very well when grown under bright artificial light.

Water: All sundews require mineral free water. Keep the soil wet at all times, preferably in standing water.

Humidity: Constant water provides the plant with plenty of humidity.

Sundews grow very well in terrariums.

Dionaea muscipula

Size: Small, up to 10" tall.

Light: Venus flytraps need full, direct sun to perform well. Place them on a bright sunny windowsill somewhere they can receive direct light.

Water: Venus flytraps need pure water, such as rainwater or distilled water to perform well. These plants appreciate being watered from the bottom like African violets in water filled trays.

Humidity: Above 50% humidity is best.

The traps are trigged by two tiny hairs within. When the hairs are triggered the trap shuts around its prey.

Ficus benjimina

Size: Large, growing up to 10′ indoors.

Light: Bright light.

Water: Allow to dry out slightly between watering. Keep drier in winter months. Does not tolerate soggy soil. Prefers distilled water.

Humidity: Moderate to high humidity.

One of the best plants for improving air quality.