Sourced, tested, cited.
My name is Thomas Joseph. I edit indoorplantcare.com — an independent houseplant care directory built around primary sources.
I write the guides on this site. The ones about plants I have grown are first-person; the ones about plants I have not are sourced entirely from primary horticultural literature. Either way, every claim cites a source — ASPCA for pet toxicity, NC State Extension and UW Extension for species care, UC IPM and UF IFAS for pest identification, Kew POWO for botanical nomenclature.
When I do not know something, I say so. When primary sources disagree, I say so. When I learn an article was wrong, I update it and note the change date.
This site exists because most houseplant content I had read contradicted university extensions, cited nothing for toxicity claims, or recommended products no one had clearly tested. The standard here is: sourced, tested, cited.
Where to verify my work
Every primary source I cite, and the methodology for verifying claims against them, is documented on the sources & methodology page. If you find a claim that contradicts the underlying source, contact me and I will correct it within 7 days.
What I cover
- Species care guides for 21 of the most-grown houseplants, focused on light, water, propagation, and pet safety.
- Pest identification and treatment for the six most common houseplant pests, cited to UC IPM and Penn State Extension.
- Pet-safety lookups for every plant in our verified database — short answers cited directly to the ASPCA entry.
- Honest gear roundups for soil, fertilizer, pots, grow lights, moisture meters, humidifiers, and pest treatments.
- Comparison and decision content — monstera vs. philodendron, terracotta vs. plastic, when to repot, when to propagate.
What I do not cover
- Outdoor landscaping or hardiness-zone guidance. University extensions in your specific region do this better than I can.
- Edible or medicinal plant guidance. Too consequential to cover without specialized expertise.
- Veterinary care. If your pet ate something, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or your vet — not a website.
What this site is
An independent houseplant care directory. Species care guides, pest and problem diagnostics, comparison articles, monthly seasonal guides, decision tools, and a verified plant database. Every claim cites a primary source so you can check my work.
Editorial standards
Toxicity claims cite the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database. Where ASPCA has no standalone entry, I cite NC State Plant Toolbox or the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine instead. Care guidance cites university extensions — UW Extension, UF IFAS, and Iowa State Extension. Pest identification cites UC IPM. Botanical nomenclature follows Kew Plants of the World Online.
How I review gear
Amazon affiliate links earn a small commission if you buy through them — full affiliate disclosure covers the details. Commission rates do not influence which products I recommend. When a product is overrated or marketed misleadingly, I say so by name.
How the site is made
I write every page. I use AI tools for research support and outline drafting, then write the prose myself. No page on this site is published as raw AI output. The full process is documented in the editorial process page.
Corrections
If you find a factual error, email me at tom [at] indoorplantcare.com. I correct errors and date the change at the top of the affected article.
Reach out
Same email — tom [at] indoorplantcare.com — for topic suggestions, partnership inquiries, or to argue about whether the pink princess philodendron is worth its price. (It isn't.)