Not all houseplants require the same care, and so it is not possible to give one set of instructions as to how to care for them. The general rule of thumb is that you should only water a houseplant if the top of the soil feels dry. Watering this way is correct for most indoor houseplant care. For houseplant maintenance, you can fertilize them by using a water soluble fertilizer (Miracle Grow) to the plant’s water about once a month in warm weather and once every two months in cooler weather. You can also use a slow release fertilizer, add it to the soil once every two to three months. Succulents have different levels of hardiness – but as a general rule will thrive in well-draining soil such as cactus soil, sand, gravel or volcanic rock. You’ll want to let the soil dry between watering's, as succulents hate to have “wet feet”. Many succulents are dormant in cooler weather, so if you receive a succulent in spring that is a bit dull around the edges, place it in sunlight and it should perk up. Most succulents need a half to a full day of sunlight.