Water: Every 2-3 weeks. Let soil dry completely between waterings
Light: Tolerates low light to bright indirect. Very adaptable
Snake Plant 'Laurentii' care guide →Shop Snake Plant 'Laurentii'
Living with plants
Plant care in the UAE
Dubai apartments are a specific habitat: cold AC, hard tap water, hot glass. Master three rules and almost everything below survives. For variety and buying guides, read the plant journal or the UAE plant buying guides, or get a straight answer in plant questions answered.
Three rules for UAE plant care
Overwatering kills more than heat
Most plants here die from love, not neglect. When in doubt, wait two more days.
AC air is drier than you think
Mist humidity-lovers, or group plants together - they raise each other's humidity.
Hard tap water browns leaves
Calathea, ferns, and spider plants prefer filtered water. Brown tips are the giveaway.
Care guides by plant
Water: Every 2-3 weeks. Drought tolerant - roots store water
Light: Low to bright indirect. Excellent for offices
Water: Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Very forgiving
Light: Low to bright indirect. Grows faster in brighter light
Water: Water when the top 5cm of soil are dry, usually weekly
Light: Bright, indirect light. Tolerates some direct morning sun
Spider Plant
Pet-safeWater: Water when soil is dry. They like drying out slightly
Light: Medium, indirect light. Some direct morning sun is fine
Water: Water when the top inch is dry. A consistent schedule is key
Light: Bright, indirect light. Needs several hours daily
Premium Olive Tree - XL
Pet-safeWater: Deeply when the top few cm are dry: every 3-5 days in summer outdoors, every 7-10 days in the cool season
Light: Full sun. Needs an open garden, terrace or sunny balcony
Premium Olive Tree - XL care guide →Shop Premium Olive Tree - XL
Water: Deeply when the top 5cm is dry: roughly every 7-10 days in an AC room, 4-7 days outdoors in summer
Light: The brightest spot you have; a few hours of direct winter sun is fine, shade from harsh summer afternoon sun
Bird of Paradise - Large care guide →Shop Bird of Paradise - Large
Water: Deep soak twice weekly through the first UAE summer, then weekly
Light: Full sun. It will not flower in shade
Flame Tree (Delonix regia) — 30Ltr care guide →Shop Flame Tree (Delonix regia) — 30Ltr
Water: Weekly deep soak in the first summer, then fortnightly
Light: Full sun. Evergreen canopy in UAE conditions
Neem Tree (Azadirachta indica) — 30Ltr care guide →Shop Neem Tree (Azadirachta indica) — 30Ltr
Water: Daily for the first month, then twice weekly deep soaks
Light: Full sun. Grows leggy and thin in shade
Hopbush Hedge (Dodonaea viscosa) — 5 Plants care guide →Shop Hopbush Hedge (Dodonaea viscosa) — 5 Plants
Water: Every 2-3 weeks indoors, every 10-14 days outdoors in summer
Light: Bright indirect indoors, or full sun to part shade outdoors
Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra) care guide →Shop Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra)
Ruellia Blue Tray — 6 Plants
Pet-safeWater: Every 2 days while establishing, then twice weekly
Light: Full sun to part shade. Most flowers in full sun
Ruellia Blue Tray — 6 Plants care guide →Shop Ruellia Blue Tray — 6 Plants
Areca Palm
Pet-safeWater: Keep soil consistently moist. 2-3 times per week in summer
Light: Bright, indirect light
Calathea Orbifolia
Pet-safeWater: Keep soil consistently moist, never soggy. Filtered water only
Light: Low to medium indirect light. Avoid direct sun
Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy. Droops when thirsty
Light: Low to medium indirect light. Avoid direct sun
Water: Water when the top 5cm are dry. Reduce in winter
Light: Bright, indirect to medium light
Water: Deeply every 2-3 weeks. Let it dry completely
Light: Bright, indirect to direct light
Water: Water when the top inch is dry. Don't overwater
Light: Low to medium indirect light
Boston Fern
Pet-safeWater: Keep soil consistently moist. Never let it fully dry out
Light: Medium, indirect light. No direct sun
Water: Water when the top inch is dry. Likes consistent moisture
Light: Bright, indirect light for best flowering
Jasmine
Pet-safeWater: Keep soil evenly moist during the growing season
Light: Bright light with some direct sun for best blooming
Water: Only when the pot is dry through: every 7-10 days in winter, every 3-5 days in warm weeks
Light: Full sun, 6+ hours daily. Outdoors on a sunny balcony October to April
Water: Water when the top inch is dry. Don't overwater
Light: Bright, direct light for best growth
Orchid
Pet-safeWater: Soak and drain every 7-10 days in AC, when the roots turn silvery-grey
Light: Bright, indirect light
String of Hearts
Pet-safeWater: Sparingly. Let soil dry completely between waterings
Light: Bright, indirect light with some direct sun
Water: In a pot: deeply every 2-4 days May-September, every 5-7 days in the cool season. Rooted in the ground: a deep weekly soak once established
Light: Full sun, six hours or more. Grows thin and floppy with few plumes in shade
UAE plant care, answered
What plants can handle hard tap water and 45°C summers in the UAE?
For UAE hard tap water and 45°C summers, choose tolerant species like snake plant, ZZ plant, pothos, aglaonema, and olive trees. Water with filtered or rested tap water to reduce mineral build-up, flush the soil monthly to clear salts, and keep sensitive plants out of direct afternoon sun and away from hot glass.
Why do my plants get brown leaf tips in Dubai?
Brown tips usually mean dry AC air or mineral build-up from hard tap water. Move humidity-lovers like calathea and ferns away from AC vents, group plants to raise local humidity, and switch to filtered or rested water. Flush the soil monthly to wash out salts.
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