Editorial Policy & Standards

At LeafyPixels, we take the quality of our content seriously. Our writers create original, accurate, and practical content that is free of ethical concerns or conflicts of interest. If you ever come across a page that you think needs to be improved, please reach out by emailing [email protected].

This page explains who creates our content, how it is reviewed, the standards it must meet before publication, how we handle errors, and how we keep published pages current.

Our content integrity promise

LeafyPixels is committed to the quality and trustworthiness of its content and editorial processes. Our writers, editors, and reviewers research and check every guide, plant profile, problem explainer, tool page, and plant list on an ongoing basis to make sure the information is up to date, accurate, and written with a real indoor grower in mind.

Every page on LeafyPixels is produced by humans, for humans. Each guide displays the name of the writer, the name of the reviewer, the date the page was first published, and the date it was most recently reviewed or updated. A 'How this page is reviewed' or methodology note explains the standards that were applied to that specific page.

We correct factual errors in a transparent manner and make it easy for readers to bring errors to our attention. All of our writers, editors, and reviewers are responsible for disclosing any potential conflicts of interest.

Human-written content

It is against LeafyPixels editorial policy to publish automatically generated content. Every page on LeafyPixels is researched, drafted, and edited by a human writer. Drafts are produced through our internal editorial workflow, reviewed by a member of the LeafyPixels Review Board, and revised by the writer before the page is published.

We do not use AI (artificial intelligence) writing tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or any other large language model to draft, generate, or rewrite the body of any guide, plant profile, problem explainer, tool, plant list, FAQ, or other reader-facing copy on LeafyPixels.

Our writers may use AI-assisted tools for limited, non-writing tasks such as gathering and collating research, summarising source material, organising references, and internal fact-checking support. Every sentence, recommendation, and piece of reader-facing copy on LeafyPixels is still written, edited, and approved by a human writer. AI tools are a research and resource-collating aid, not an author on the page.

Original illustrations, photos, and graphics used on LeafyPixels are produced by our editorial team or licensed for use. We do not edit photos in a way that could make a plant, symptom, or product appear different from what a reader would actually see in their home.

Fact checking

Every major guide, plant profile, problem explainer, tool, and plant list on LeafyPixels is fact checked before publication. Fact checking is performed by the LeafyPixels Review Board, which is selected and vetted for subject matter expertise in houseplant care, pest and disease identification, plant propagation, and pet safety.

Fact checkers research every statement of fact on a page to confirm that the information is accurate, complete, and current. Statistics, dosage references, toxicity claims, and care ranges are verified against the original source. Pages that have completed fact checking display a 'How this page is reviewed' methodology section, a reviewer name, and a 'reviewed on' date at the bottom of the page.

If you have noticed an issue you would like to bring to our attention, please email [email protected] with the page URL and a description of the claim in question.

Accuracy and corrections

Our editorial team is committed to producing high quality, factual content. If there is an error in a page, we will correct the error as quickly as possible. All corrections are clearly labelled, and the corrected page shows an updated 'reviewed on' date so readers can see when the change was made.

When a page is factually correct but the language is not as clear, complete, or specific as it should be, the page may be updated without a public editor's note. Substantive changes to diagnosis, treatment, ranking, tool logic, or safety advice are always reflected in the 'reviewed on' or 'updated on' date on the page.

Our library of evergreen care content is reviewed on a rolling basis. High-risk topics such as pest treatment, root rot, fertilizer use, light stress, humidity management, and pet toxicity are reviewed more often, especially when extension guidance, pesticide labels, plant naming, or toxicity references change.

If you would like to report an error, please email [email protected] with the page URL, the sentence or recommendation in question, and the reference or observation that should be reviewed.

Sourcing

Our writers and editors follow strict sourcing standards. We rely on current and reputable primary sources, such as university cooperative extension publications, botanical garden references, horticultural society fact sheets, peer-reviewed plant science publications, and established veterinary toxicology references.

Every factual claim that influences care decisions, diagnosis, treatment, ranking, or safety is backed by at least one reputable source. Major guides include a 'Sources used' section at the end of the page that lists the references that informed the writing.

We avoid using unnamed or anonymous sources. We do not quote or rely on personal social media posts, forum threads, or anonymous blog content as the sole support for an important care or safety claim. If a topic only has weak public sources, we say so on the page and recommend the reader contact a local expert.

Independence and impartiality

LeafyPixels is committed to independent, impartial content. Our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers, affiliates, sponsors, or product partners. Every writer, editor, and reviewer is held to a high standard of honesty and transparency.

We maintain a strict separation between advertising and editorial content. Sponsored placements, affiliate links, and partner recommendations are clearly labelled so readers can tell the difference between editorial writing and a paid placement.

Product and tool recommendations on LeafyPixels are made on the basis of fit for the topic, quality of the underlying horticultural or safety information, and usefulness to a real indoor grower, not on the basis of a commercial relationship. When LeafyPixels uses affiliate links, the affiliate relationship does not change what we recommend.

All of our writers, editors, and reviewers are responsible for disclosing any potential conflicts of interest, including any financial, personal, or professional relationship with a source, brand, or product that could compromise fair and impartial information. Writers and editors must not solicit gifts, free products, or services from brands for personal use.

Originality

Our goal at LeafyPixels is to provide original, useful, and unbiased content. All information must be verified, properly attributed, and may not infringe the copyright or intellectual property of anyone else. Any suggestion of plagiarism is investigated fully and is grounds for removal of a contributor.

We expect every contributor to follow all applicable laws and accepted journalistic practices, including:

• Copyright law and fair use

• FTC guidelines on disclosures and endorsements

• Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics

• Applicable privacy and data protection rules

How we work with our Editorial Review Board

Major care, problem, tool, and list pages are reviewed by a member of the LeafyPixels Editorial Review Board, who is selected for their subject matter expertise in indoor plant care, pest and disease identification, propagation, or pet safety. The reviewer checks the page for accuracy, completeness, and practical usefulness before publication, and the page is updated when a reviewer's feedback requires it.

You can read more about who sits on the review board, which topics each member covers, and the life cycle of a LeafyPixels article on the Editorial Review Board page.

Corrections and contact

We welcome corrections and better sources. If you find an error on any page, email [email protected] with:

• The page URL

• The sentence or recommendation in question

• The plant, problem, or topic the page covers

• The reference, observation, or correction we should check

• Relevant photos, if the issue is diagnosis-related

We review every correction request and update pages when the evidence supports a change.