Wait, aren’t your houseplants supposed to be touched? We Asked Gardening Pros, and They All Agree

An artistic arrangement of houseplants can create a lush, jungle-like atmosphere in almost any space. but the best way out of the situation indoor plants Doesn’t just take aesthetics into account. For example, grouping plants close together may give you the look you want—but should those houseplants be touching?

To find out, we spoke to a plant expert to understand the differences between indoor plants.

Here’s everything you need to know about whether touching houseplants is a good idea or something to avoid.

Should house plants touch each other?

Grouping your houseplants closer together may seem more visually impressive than placing them far apart, but it’s better to give each pot a little personal space.

“Light contact between leaves is usually not harmful, but when leaves are constantly overlapping, it can cause problems,” says Kelly Funk, president and CEO of plant nursery Jackson & Perkins. “Restricted airflow around leaves can trap moisture, promoting fungal diseases like powdery mildew or leaf spot, and also makes it easier for pests to spread from one plant to another.”

Depending on your setup, crowding pots together may prevent some plants from getting enough light, potentially stunting growth and becoming leggy.

Funk says placing houseplants so close to each other that their leaves touch can actually make your job as a plant parent more difficult.

“When plants are packed too tightly together, it’s hard to cut off dead growth and water properly,” she says.

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How to keep houseplants in their proper place

Funk recommends keeping 2 to 6 inches of space between each small and medium-sized plant’s foliage and its neighbors. Give larger plants more space so their leaves can avoid touching other plants.

If you’re squeezing plants together because you lack surfaces for them to sit, consider using plant stands, shelving or hanging planters to take advantage. vertical space Add more visual interest.

Planting your potted plants so close that their leaves touch isn’t the best idea, but that doesn’t mean you can’t arrange them near each other in attractive groupings.

You will help your plants and make care tasks like pruning and watering easier on yourself by grouping together plants that require similar care and conditions. For example, keep succulents and other desert plants in a warm area of ​​the house that gets a lot of sunlight, but keep humidity-loving plants tropical plants Like ferns and calatheas together in a location that receives indirect light.

Just remember to use proper spacing within those groups.

Tips for Positioning Houseplants

• Consider other elements of the location that may touch the plant leaves. “You don’t want leaves constantly hitting furniture, walls, neighboring plants or seated guests,” says Funk.
• Use a small fan to encourage airflow. In addition to proper spacing, good airflow can help reduce the spread of plant diseases, especially in winter when fans are running on low power.
• Rotate plants regularly. Wherever they are located in your space, it’s a good idea to rotate indoor plant pots a quarter every few weeks to ensure balanced, healthy growth.
• Plan the future size of your plants. When you first purchase baby monstera or young fiddle-leaf figs they may not be very large, but those plants can reach several feet tall and wide when mature. If you give your soon-to-be-grown plant the space it needs now, you won’t have to rearrange things later.
• Aim for balance when arranging houseplants. “When you design with enough proximity, you’re still creating a lush, indoor jungle experience, but not so much that the plants struggle to breathe, grow, or stay healthy,” says Funk.