Guides

Light first, then plants. Every guide links its sources.

• Are snake plants toxic to cats and dogs?

  Yes: the ASPCA lists snake plant as toxic to cats and dogs because of saponins. Symptoms, what to do, related plants to avoid and pet-safe swaps.

• How far should a grow light be from plants?

  Extension rules of thumb for grow light distance, why the inverse-square law misleads up close, and how to set height from a target DLI and a light meter.

• How much light your houseplants lose in winter

  Shorter days and a lower sun can cut window light by 60 to 90% from June to December. See the numbers by latitude and what to do about it.

• Is pothos toxic to cats? Symptoms, what to do and safe swaps

  Yes: the ASPCA lists pothos as toxic to cats and dogs. What its calcium oxalate crystals do, symptoms to watch for, who to call and pet-safe swaps.

• Pet-safe plants for low light

  Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs that still cope with low light, what low light means in numbers, and the toxic favorites to skip.

• Plants for a north-facing window

  What a north window really gives your plants: steady but dim light that drops fast with distance, plus which plants hold on at 1 ft from the glass.