Identify houseplants: You can recognize your plant with these options

If you want to identify the species of your houseplant, it’s not always easy. We’ll tell you how to do it

Identifying houseplants is important and helpful

Knowing which plants you have at home can be very helpful. And not only to determine the optimal location and to dose water and fertilizer correctly, 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 about them when you buy them. The respective gardener, but also the variety label, can provide information on this.

• If the plant is already in your home, you can also take one or more good photos of it. You can then present these to your nursery. The specialist will then be happy to help you identify it

• Adequate identification books are also helpful when it comes to finding out which plants you keep at home. Common houseplants in particular are usually described in detail in words and pictures.

• So that you don’t forget which plants you have on your windowsill, you can label them with plant tags even after you have bought them or after they have been identified. This way, you will know which plants you are dealing with even weeks or months later.

The Internet as an aid to identification

It’s not just gardeners or books that can provide information about houseplants. The internet now also offers numerous ways to help identify plants. Here are a few examples.

• Use the forums of plant friends. Here you can upload photos of your plant and have them identified by the community. The advantage is that several plant friends can view your photos at the same time and the use of such plant forums is usually free of charge.

• The use of apps for smartphones can also be helpful in identifying the respective plant. Please note, however, that not all apps are free of charge. There may be a charge for using or downloading them.

• Social networks also allow you to share photos with a large number of people, which can be helpful in identifying the plant. Of course, it is particularly worthwhile to search for relevant groups that deal specifically with plants and their identification.