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The survival guide for new plant dads.

Studies show houseplants boost productivity and relaxation. But they can feel like a project. Plant stylist (real thing!) Hilton Carter helps you pick the right one for any home.

This huge tropical plant pulls a room together, even if it requires near-daily attention. A space with lots of light and humidity is key.

If you travel frequently and/or forget to water plants, go with a low-maintenance one, Carter says. Just pop the thing next to a window. It needs at least six hours of sunlight daily.

Also known as devil’s ivy, this plant grows in low light. Put one near a window in your humid bathroom—the steam will help it thrive even if you fail to water it.

Don’t let its delicate look fool you: This flowering plant is durable and can grow in most environments. Place it in indirect to low light and fertilize it once or twice a year.

Plants, like people, get sick when neglected. Diagnose what’s happening, then treat it.

The Fix: Stop watering your plant so much. It’s better to water it less and give it more light.“If your leaf turns yellow, that leaf is dead. It’s not coming back,” Carter says. Just trim it off so energy goes to the healthier parts of the plant.

The Problem: Dark-Brown Edges Around the Leaves

The Fix: Now you aren’t watering it enough. “If it starts to curl up or droop, you need to water it right away,” Carter says.

The Problem: Um, It's Dying?

The Fix: Try a different pot. For plants like ferns that dislike dry soil, stick to metal and glazed pots, which retain moisture. If your plant prefers to stay dry (like succulents do), opt for pots made of clay or stone, which pull moisture away from soil faster.

Read more: Best Indoor Plants