Identifying houseplants: How to recognize your plant

If you want to identify your houseplant, it’s not always easy. We’ll show you how.

Identifying houseplants is important and helpful

Knowing what plants you have at home can be very helpful. Not only to determine the optimal location and the correct amount of water and fertilizer, but also when it comes to determining the toxicity of plants. For example, if you have small children or pets.

• The easiest way to identify houseplants is, of course, to find out when you buy them. The gardener can provide information, as can the variety label.

• If you already have the plant at home, you can also take one or more good photos of it. You can then show these to your gardener. The expert will be happy to help you identify the plant.

• Identification books are also helpful when it comes to finding out which plants you are caring for at home. Common houseplants in particular are usually described in detail with words and pictures.

• To ensure you don’t forget which plants you have on your windowsill, you can label them with plant tags after purchasing or identifying them. This way, you will still know which plants you are dealing with even after weeks or months.

The internet as a tool for identification

It’s not just gardeners and books that can provide information about indoor plants. The internet now offers numerous possibilities to help identify plants. Here are a few examples.

• Use relevant forums for plant lovers. Here you can upload photos of your plant and have them identified by the community. The advantage is that several plant lovers can view your pictures at once and the use of such plant forums is usually free of charge.

• Smartphone apps can also be helpful in identifying plants. However, please note that not all apps are free. You may be charged a fee for using or downloading them.

• Social networks also allow you to share photos with a large number of people who can help you identify the plant. Here, it is particularly worthwhile to search for relevant groups that deal specifically with plants and their identification.