Wax Plant

bright indirect light (3-6 feet from a south or west window, or right next to an east window. Under a grow light, 6-10 inches away works well) year-round. Good light encourages blooming; low light (more than 8 feet from a window, or a north-facing room. A grow light 10-12 inches away works great if your windows are not cutting it) means fewer or no flowers. Avoid moving the plant once buds have formed, as even a small location change can cause bud drop.

Prefers 50-70% humidity. Use a pebble tray or group plants together if your home is dry. Tolerates average indoor humidity but grows and blooms better with extra moisture in the air.

Loose, fast-draining potting mix high in organic matter, as it grows as an epiphyte in the wild. A mix of perlite, bark, and standard potting mix works well. Good drainage is non-negotiable.

Mealybugs, aphids, fungus gnats, and spider mites. Never cut the flower spurs after blooming -- they will re-bloom from the same spur each year. Root rot from overwatering is the primary cultural problem.