Many varieties of indoor plants, such as tropical plants will require good amounts of sunlight and heat in their developing stages. These plants may be difficult to raise on one's own, and should be purchased in a more mature state unless the gardener has extensive knowledge and the means to properly raise them.

Ideally these plants should be obtained after the need for artificial heat is no longer necessary for their development. They will still need a good amount of heat after this point, but keeping them in a room with a fireplace or near another heat source will be enough to suffice. This coupled with a healthy dose of fresh air will serve to harden the foliage of the plant and prepare it for the conditions present in a heated and dry room.

Other plants however will have a more difficult time adjusting to an indoor environment, especially one that is well heated, and will be short-lived as a result. Many Christmas gift plants fall under this category such as Begonia Gloirc de Lorraine, Erica, Azalea and Primula Obconica. They plants are raised in a moist environment and cannot long withstand the shift to a dry, heated environment. For best results and longer life, keeping them in a room with more moisture such as a bathroom should keep them healthier for longer.

Most house plants function best in rooms that are neither too hot nor cold. Room temperature is good enough for most plants, though a few degrees below is perfect. Most should be kept away from any heat sources, as it will have the effect of the plant being in a much warmer environment. By the same token plants should not be kept in rooms that dip below 65 degrees Fahrenheit at any time. On cold night if the heat is turned down or off while you sleep, some rooms may become too cold for your house plants. Move them to the room that is likely to be the warmest during the night.

For larger plants like a Howea forsteriana that may be inconvenient or all but impossible to move, covering them with newspapers on cold nights should be enough to keep them in good shape.

On warm days it's a good idea to move your plants outdoors for a few hours and let them breathe in the air. Take this opportunity to spray the leaves down as well, which will cleanse them and remove any clinging dust particles. On days with warm, light showers you can also place your plants out in the open for a short time for this same effect. The leaves should block most of the rain from reaching the soil, but if it begins raining too heavily or the soil is taking on too much water, bring the plants back inside.