Plant expert Darryl Cheng, of the popular Instagram account @houseplantjournal, teaches us how to keep those pothos and monsteras alive. He also reveals a few tips from his most recent book, The New Plant Collector, for helping various plants thrive. 

Then senior staff writer and plant collector Rose Maura Lorre shares her insider secrets for scoring cheap or totally free houseplants.

Things We Recommend: 

• Rose likes: Who Gives a Crap 100% Recycled Toilet Paper
• How to use your phone as a light meter

More from Darryl Cheng: 

• His first book The New Plant Parent (2019)
• His latest book The New Plant Collector (2024)
• His website: houseplantjournal.com

Additional Reading

• Fill Your Home with Houseplants for Practically No Money
• The 2 Best Places to Buy Plants Online of 2025
• 25 Best Gifts for Plant Lovers of 2025
• The 7 Best Fake Plastic Trees and Artificial Houseplants of 2025

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The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast