When your home bound by 12 to 18 inches of snow and below zero temperatures, you can still enjoy gardening. Indoor gardening has brought pleasure to people for thousands of years. Most are plants that typically we cannot grow in our zone area, such as unusual tropical plants. Here are a few facts to consider when selecting an indoor plant.
First and for foremost inspect the plant. Make sure that the foliage is free from disease and insects. If you are adding to a collection of plants you certainly do not want to bring problems into the collection. Don’t forget to check the underside of the foliage.
Next make sure the plant appears sturdy, clean and potted well. Stand back and take a good look at the shape. It should have good coverage with leaves. Avoid plants with any yellow or brown on them. 
A
lso watch that the plant has not been over watered or wilted from the lack of water. Feel free to pull the plant from its container and inspect the roots.
They should be a healthy root system. The roots should appear fibrous with white root tips.
If a plant is pot bound you may choose to re-pot it in a larger container or root prune and repot in the same container. Roots that are circling the inside of the container are looking for air. In heavy extreme cases you may see the soil missing from the bound plant. When pruning the root leave enough root to sustain the plant. It may show some signs of shock for a few days after planting but the plant will perk back up in a few days.
If you already have houseplants and are adding to them, remember that plants do better together if they have the same environmental condition requirements. Make sure light requirements and humidity requirements are the same. Group them with like kind. Most homes have filtered light and the humidity fluctuates. Another consideration is drafts. You may not want to put a tender tropical plant near your entry door or drafty window. A plant that requires humidity might best be placed in the kitchen or bath, where the humidity of cooking or the shower will help. Plants such as succulents can be added to the drier zones of the home. Although succulents like bright light they do not require heavy watering. Soil should dry completely before watering.
Unglazed pots work best to drawn out the moisture after watering. 
Make sure you protect the plant during transporting during these sub-zero temperatures. Make sure that the plant is bagged fully and no foliage is exposed to the harsh temperatures. Put the plant in the car, not in the trunk. Most trunks are too cold to store a plant for the time it will take you to bring it home.
Other considerations include:
Ventilation required
The media to use for the plant type
Type of container
Fertilizing,
Insect control
How often will it need re-potted.
There are great benefits from houseplants. Remember that they are filtering the air quality of your home. They add some humidity to an area of the house. Most of all, they are good for our mood. They give us the pleasure of a bloom now and then, along with that green we so miss this time of year. Enjoy your interior garden. Here is a list of some favorites: Aloe Vera, Croton, Jade plant, Parlor Palm, Maidenhair fern, Snake plant, Spider Plant, Norfolk Island pine, Rubber plant, Fig, Swedish Ivy and the ever popular Philodendron.
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Monroe County Master Gardener Association 