Explore plants by need

Low light is the most common reason houseplants struggle, so these are the ones that cope with a north-facing room or a spot well back from the window. They grow slower than they would in brighter light, but they keep going.

Forgiving plants that tolerate the odd missed watering and don't need fussy conditions — a sensible place to start if you've lost a few before. None ask for more than a reasonable spot and an occasional drink.

These shrug off neglect: low water needs, easygoing temperaments, and no fuss about light. If you travel, forget to water, or just want a plant that survives you, start here.

A bathroom is warm and humid, which suits plants that like moist air and would get crispy leaf tips in a dry room. These thrive on the steam from a shower.

Want to eat something soon? These crops go from sowing to first harvest in roughly six weeks or less, which makes them satisfying first grows and easy to slot between seasons.

Fresh herbs are the cheapest, most rewarding thing to grow on a windowsill, and these are the forgiving ones. Most regrow as you pick them, so one plant keeps giving for months.

Edible or not, these plants would rather be left a little dry than kept wet, so the occasional missed watering does them no harm. Overwatering kills far more plants than drought.

Which of our plants are non-toxic to cats and dogs (per ASPCA) — and which to keep out of reach.

Which scraps regrow into new food — green onion, lettuce, herbs and more — with the method for each.