Caring for Desk Plants

Desk plants are small and live on desks, shelves and sills. Many are easy. Their small pots dry out quickly, so a routine helps. Haworthia, snake plant and small peperomia are good choices.

Light

Office light is often weak. Most desk plants like bright indirect light, so place them close to a window. Snake plant and ZZ plant also cope with partial shade. Small succulents want a sunny sill. Far from a window, plants slowly fade. Turn them now and then so they grow evenly.

Water, soil and feeding

Small pots hold little soil, so they change quickly. Check the soil with a finger every week. Water when the top layer is dry. Succulents and snake plant want water rarely. Use a pot with drainage, or take the plant to the sink and let it drain. Do not leave water standing in a cachepot. Use a light potting mix. Feed lightly once a month from spring to late summer. Small plants need little. Repot when roots grow out of the holes, usually every year or two.

Common problems

• Yellow leaves: too much water. Water less often.
• Stretched, leaning growth: too little light. Move the plant closer to the window.
• Dry, crispy leaves: a forgotten watering, or a spot next to a heater or air vent.
• The plant tips over: the pot is too small for the top growth. Repot into a slightly bigger pot.

Seasonal tip

Winter heating dries small pots fast. Keep them off the radiator and check the soil more often. Before a long holiday, water well and move the plant out of direct sun.