What should I read up on before getting my first houseplants?

I’d start by looking up care for the exact plant you’re considering, rather than trying to learn everything at once. Watching a couple of different videos can help, but check whether they agree on the basics and whether the advice matches your room. A nearby plant shop can also help you judge how much light your windows get.

For a first try, pothos, ZZ plants, and snake plants are often fairly forgiving. Put them in pots with drainage, and check the soil before watering instead of following a rigid weekly schedule. If you have pets, check whether a plant is safe for them before bringing it home.

Light is the thing I’d figure out first. A spot that looks bright to us may still be dim for a plant, and a few feet from a window can make a real difference. Start with plants near the window, then see how they do before filling shelves or darker corners. Low-light tolerant doesn’t mean no light.

I’d keep the first group small. It’s much easier to learn what a plant needs when you’re caring for two or three than when every shelf has a different one.

Simple setup is fine: plants you actually like, pots with drainage holes, and a basic potting mix suited to those plants. You don’t need a cupboard full of special products to begin. When reading care advice, be wary of exact watering calendars since drying speed changes with the room, pot, and season.

Let the soil condition guide you, and avoid leaving the pot sitting in water. If a plant struggles, change one thing at a time, like its position or watering routine, so you can tell what helped.