Houseplants add oxygen, flair, and warmth year-round, and the right one in the right space can do just as much for a room as any painting or side table. The good news is that there’s a world of choice these days beyond the dusty Swedish ivy that has haunted so many kitchen sills and office cubicles. This look-book guide to online plants—with a focus on crisp-looking leafy greens (instead of spiky, trailing, or flowering  plants)—is for the helicopter horticulturist as well as the hands-off home decorator.

WHAT TO KNOW

Drainage. Every pot needs a hole and a place for water to go. If the soil can’t drain, the roots will rot. Don’t plan on being stingy with the watering can in the hope that everything will work out. (It won’t.) Use that attractive cachepot not as the pot itself but to cloak a cheap plastic container that drains. Invest in inexpensive clear plastic saucers to protect floors and furniture from water and condensation.

Light. Don’t kid yourself. Choose plants for the sunlight you get, not the sunlight you wish you got (or the sunlight you get once a month when the planets align). Windows that face the south get bright light; the north, low light; east and west, moderate light. Only a few plants can stand direct sunlight or complete shade.

Roots. Remember how summer favorites like basil and coleus grew by leaps and bounds once they were freed from their flimsy plastic starter pots? No matter whether they come from a garden center or an online vendor, most plants yearn to be free of their tight quarters. Rootbound specimens invariably benefit from repotting in a larger container, with additional soil.

Water. More water doesn’t mean more love, and dry soil isn’t a sign of neglect. overwatering is much more dangerous than underwatering, While a plant can usually recover from a bit of drought, overwatering can cause root rot, which is more challenging to overcome.Follow the care recommendations for each specific plant variety. Once you get the hang of what each plant needs, you can come up with a regular schedule for when and how much to water each one.

THE PLANTS

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema ‘Maria’)

Deep-green leaves splashed and speckled with swaths of creamy lighter green are the focal point of this practically indestructible variety, which needs little fertilizer and can go three weeks without water. Fluorescent light is fine, too. It is, however, toxic for pets and children.

Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)

The coin-shaped leaves add a pleasing counterpoint to any uptight room. Small offshoots appear in the soil and can be repotted and given away (it’s sometimes called the friendship plant). Pet-friendly, it does best in bright indirect sun and soil that drains easily. Rotate it once a week, mist it occasionally, and dust the leaves as needed.

Coffee Plant (Coffea arabica)

You won’t grow beans anytime soon—certainly not enough for an
entire pot of coffee—but this plant is nonetheless an attractive addition  to any brighter corner of the house. Occasional spritzing and pruning  and partial sunlight will ensure healthy, shiny leaves.

Croton ‘Petra’ (Codiaeum variegatum ‘Petra’ )

The bold, bright foliage in yellows, oranges, reds, and greens requires a mostly sunny spot or the colors will fade. Thorough watering before the soil gets dry, as well as occasional misting, will help the plant get used to its new home. Keep it away from pets and children.

Dieffenbachia ‘Compacta’

This popular houseplant has well over a dozen varieties, each with varying degrees of creamy yellow striping and speckling across deep- or pale-green leaves. Prized for its air-cleansing properties, ‘Compacta’ thrives in bright or moderate light but should be kept away from pets and children since its sap isn’t safe to ingest.

Ficus Audrey (Bengal or banyan fig/Ficus benghalensis)

For those who keep up with plant trends (or even knew they existed), this ficus is apparently making a bid among decorators to replace its showier fiddle-leaf cousin as the Big Green New Deal. It needs less light, tolerates inconsistent watering, and fits better in even smaller spaces. Watch out for the toxic sap, though.

Fiddle-Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)

Stunning green leaves clustered atop a slender trunk are the guest star of social media and the prop of choice for magazines, movies, and TV—a lot of drama for a relatively small investment of spaceThe plant is widely available in several sizes and shapes and almost qualifies as an architectural element in any room, though it is slightly finicky: Light should be indirect, humidity should be high, drafts should be avoided, soil should be kept moist but not saturated, and leaves should be monitored for pests and diseases. require a little bit of research and experience when it comes to plant care, and people are often disappointed when their glossy, lush plant starts to look less than its best in its new home  beautiful plantscan make an awesome statement when grown at tree-like proportions.

Nerve Plant (Fittonia)

Intricately patterned leaves with distinctive white, green, red, or pink veins sprawling across deep-green leaves make this pet-friendly plant a showstopper. The slight fuzz on the stem adds to the visual interest. Like many plants, it “faints” when it needs water but is easily revived. Place it in mild but not direct sunlight and keep it in a spot with moderate humidity.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

The peace lily’s shiny leaves send up dramatic white flowers, sometimes twice a year, and droop when they need water. Heralded by NASA as a household-air-purifying plant, it should be kept away from pets.

Prayer Plant (Calathea ‘Medallion’)

Patterned on the top and purple-burgundy on the underside, this houseplant is as satisfying as a bouquet of wildflowers—but lasts much longer. As its name suggests, it opens and closes throughout the day in response to the light it gets, which should be moderate. Nontoxic to cats and dogs, it needs water every seven to 10 days and appreciates humidity and misting.

Rattlesnake Plant (Calathea lancifolia)

Similar to ‘Medallion’ but with a definite Henri Rousseau jungle vibe, the so-called rattlesnake plant also has patterned leaves with a purple underside, but with ruffled edges. The plant benefits from regular misting, and the soil needs to stay moist, not soggy.

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica/‘Black Prince’ or ‘Black Knight’)

Glossy, substantial, purplish-black leaves with magenta flourishes will seem like a beacon of style in any room. Weekly watering and bright light at least five feet from a window are key to its success.

Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera)

The holes in the massive leaves give this Central American plant its nickname. The ones in Monstera adansonii are completely enclosed, while those in Monstera deliciosa grow toward the edge and open up with age. The ‘Thai Constellation’ variegated variety of Monstera is a hard-to-find mutation but sports creamy spots along with holes and lush leaves (and a price that can head toward $1,000 or more). Bright indirect light and weekly watering are key to their success.

ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

Go ahead and ignore it. The ZZ plant needs little water and light to flourish. Native to Africa and unfazed by droughts and floods, this semi-succulent has lots of glossy green leaves and can grow quickly. It also removes harmful chemicals from the air, though it is itself toxic.