Story Highlights

  • Wallitsch Gardens says early spring is a great time to refresh indoor gardening skills as temperatures are still too cold for many outdoor tasks.
  • Beginner‑friendly plants like ZZ and Snake plants require low light and minimal watering, while Ficus and split‑leaf philodendron need brighter indirect light and more frequent care.
  • Experts recommend methods to reduce gnats—such as bottom‑watering and using gnat‑trapping Ping plants—to keep indoor plants healthy and pest‑free.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — It's almost time to get outside in the garden, but until then you can dust off your gardening skills inside.

We met up with Jeff Wallitsch, of Wallitsch Gardens, inside the garden center's original greenhouse. It’s 80 years old and filled with an array of house plants.

"It's a great time to get into spring mode. It's still a little too cold to do some things outside," Wallitsch said.

If you're new here, you can start with the ZZ plant.

"It’s very easy. It’s low light. Water about every maybe three to four weeks," he said.

Snake plants also have the same requirements, with added benefits.

"All the plants clean the air, but there are several that will clear the air a little bit more. But the Snake plant is one of those," said Wallitsch. "They always say to put it next to your nightstand. It's going to help purify the air during the night and give you a better night sleep."

If you already have house plants and want to add some new additions, you could go with the Ficus or Split-leaf Philodendron. Both need the same type of tender loving care.

"You’re going to go medium to high indirect light. And then water, probably maybe every week to two weeks," Wallitsch said.

While there are many benefits to having plants inside you home, one big complaint is that they cause gnats. There are some solutions to that problem as well as a plant that will go to work for you.

"We have the Pings here. And they even have a little flower on it," Wallitsch said.

The Ping plant has a sticky texture to trap the gnats and fruit flies. But they do need bright, indirect light and distilled water.

Another way to keep the bugs at bay is to water the roots from the bottom.

"Where you put the water in the saucer as opposed to watering on top," said Wallitsch. "That’s going to help keep the gnats down because the gnats are going to lay their eggs in the moist soil and that’s usually on the top layer."

If you water from the bottom, that will keep the top layer of soil more dry so the gnats won’t lay their eggs.

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