Caring for tropical plants: water, light and substrate

Organise care for a tropical plant around its species and your setup. Regular checks are more useful than one recipe for every pot.

Establish a baseline

Identify the plant, its substrate, pot volume and location. Note what has changed: a move, a new light, repotting or the season. Photograph the foliage so you can compare new growth.

Three complementary checks

• Watering: mix moisture, pot weight and drainage.
• Light: location, mounting height and foliage coverage.
• Substrate: structure, volume and drainage.

Also check both sides of the leaves and look for visible pests.

Choose equipment for an identified need

The indoor plant equipment section includes lights, substrates and other accessories. Do not add fertiliser or a humidifier solely because growth has slowed. The guide to plant deficiencies can help check a possible cause before taking action.

Editorial review: 3 October 2026 · TerraLED. Set up your equipment according to its instructions and the needs of the species.