I love this particular plant because it gives the vibes of a palm without the finicky characteristics. It is so incredibly low maintenance. Thank you for posting your beautiful specimen. 🌴
It’s beautiful! Looks so healthy and happy. I also have a few chop/props of them around. They’re so slow to get started but once they do it’s rewarding to watch them grow
Mine is also a dracaena! Surculosa Milky Way! Mine is just a wee baby but I can't wait for it to grow up like yours, it's gonna be a show stopper for sure.
I love this one! I was tempted to buy one a couple times but now I must. I’ve only seen photos of them as bb’s but you’ll definitely need to update us in the future with this one
Mine has already grown up a smidge since that pic was taken, it's putting out some huge new growth currently. It starts yellow and then fades to white. This thing is so easy to care for and such a stunner. Absolute 10/10
And I have to post twice to add African violets. Especially minis. They bloom constantly all year long for a pop of color, they are tiny enough to go anywhere, and tiny enough to collect tons. There are tons of types, leaf shapes, and colors in both leaves and foliage. Bonus, they are incredibly easy to care for. Put them where they are happy, and you can almost forget about them.
Not at all. These guys are so forgiving and extremely rewarding. For people who are trying to grow show winning plants there can be a lot of maintenance, but just for the home they are so easy. You keep them in small pots (minis should remain in 2.5 inches or smaller) and bottom water by just filling their tray and letting them soak it up. They'll flower more if you let them dry between waterings, and give them a weak dilution of fertilizer every other time. About every 6 months to a year you "repot" them because they will start to grow a long neck under their rosette of leaves, but that's easy too. Trim away the bottom 4th of the roots and pop them right back into the same pot, but lower so that the neck is buried, and job done till next year.
I have one and they're not difficult at all. Mine's basically blooming constantly, and I do a fair bit of neglecting it. Just bottom water it so the soil is consistently moist. Plus, they seem to enjoy being in small pots, so you don't gotta worry about repotting too much.
Let it dry between waterings. If you've got enough light on them and feed occasionally the slight stress of going dry in between watering will force them to flower. I got that tip from an old lady in our local gesnariad society group who's been growing them for 50 years. She was absolutely right because now they flower continuously.
Pointing up usually mean they would like more light, with enough light rosette lays more flat, with too much leaves can curl or bleach (not to be mistaken with crown variegation).
They look lush this close together but it's probably better to move them. You can also raise violet's pot to make it reach light better (you would probably need to turn the pot occasionally if you don't want it to grow tilted towards brighter side)
There is also one other possible reason for leaves not lying flat - they sometimes grow so called 'suckers' - secondary crowns under leaves which raises them up. For events like plant shows, it is recommended to remove them young to get more symmetrical rosette and less energy diverted from flowering but it is not stirctly necessary. If there is a secondary crown and you cut it off, you can use it for propagation and root it.
Many of more serious growers prefer to grow directly under led lights instead (and groom as needed) to get those perfectly symmetrical plants. With light from the side, they will always to tilt to get in better position to use it. Personally I don't mind it but I do admire those show plants some growers achieve
The platter I have them on (1st pic in this comment thread) is sloped very slightly towards the center and the light is centered above them. They are all symmetrical enough to fool you... until you take them off of the stand. Everyone around the outside is tilted ever so slightly towards the center. Platter and light problem probably. These guys were also getting a little leaf shy where they touched. It was so gradual, I hadn't realized any of it was happening till I went to repot. Now I turn them on Sundays. 😄 I'm always so impressed with the talent and knowledge at local meetings and the shows. If I had lots more time to dedicate to the hobby I might just focus 100% on gesnariads! Maybe when I retire for good. Maybe that's why most of the members are 15 to 20 years older than me. 😆
Another gorgeous plant! I love your string of turtles. How do you keep it so healthy? My string of (anything) always die on me. I think it’s a special skill certain people have keeping these plants alive and thriving
I haven’t had it that long. I keep it in an east facing window. Then I’ve bottom watered it. And I have its pot inside a bigger kind of net pot in there so it’s got plenty of ventilation
Crotons and Stromanthe Triostars. I think people are afraid of them because they require a little extra care. I have one of each and they are both some of my favourite.
I love my croton and i feel like it's very easy, but keep seeing people killing them. Maybe mine just likes me. I got it as small six leaf plant and now it's a majestic colorful tiny tree with multiple braches!
Oh, no. It's under a grow light. I'm in Finland, we get like five hours of daylight during winter (see all that white stuff outside the window lol), and the winter is long. It loves the grow light!
I can't kill mine, lol. Lots of sun and water. We went out of town for ten days in the heat of summer and I forgot one by a very sunny window in a very hot climate. I returned to find all the leaves shriveled and burned. I just pulled them off and watered it and it sprouted new leaves at the top. Easy to propagate, too.
Seconding this with crotons! They are gorgeous plants. Mine is about ten years old, but possibly older. It’s hard to know exactly because I can’t remember when I got him, just that he lived a lot of years in my old apartment and it’s been almost four years since moving into my house.
I neglected mine for a lot of those years, and he got leggy and lost all of his middle and bottom leaves. But, he gets great care now and is absolutely gorgeous on the top. These guys are actually more resilient than we give them credit for. Here’s what mine looks like today, he also flowered somewhat recently.
I’ve heard their care is intimidating, but can I ask why? Your specimen is a beaut. I love seeing those rare photos of them in their large form, it’s a showstopper for sure
Haha I should’ve included “overrated” plants in the description as well, though I don’t actually consider them overrated! Aka just more common.
Pileas are beautiful, I love those leaves as well. I actually don’t see them that often either. Micans are also awesome, definitely a staple to have around 😎
I love my Micans too! I bought a tiny one from Palmstreet in the summer, and it's really taken off even in a room with only a skylight! I love it so much I just bought another larger hanging pot. I'm going to prop and give to friends. They're so easy and forgiving, while still having beautiful texture and color.
Syngoniums are amazing! There are so many types with different colors, they grow fast, and are forgiving if you let them dry a little and need to cut some leaves off and wait for the new baby leaves to quickly pop up.
My favorite plant is an old re-grown Ficus. You know the kind of Ficus that was an office plant and needed some love. I personally love woody trunks and unique characteristics.
I’m a huge ficus fan and one of my favs is a benjamina like you’re describing! I actually fused 4 smaller benjaminas to get the trunk to look like this
I am referring to the classic ficus benjamina that is harder to find these days but i am only interested in the older ones that have developed a wabi sabi value. The Audrey is truly a beautfiul plant but I would want a wild-one... not something brand new from the nursery. The secret to keeping all Ficus trees alive is providing enough light, you have the light, it will live.
I’ll look into that, I’m curious. I figured light was my problem. I only have a couple spots in my house that work with my plants but to avoid overcrowding I have to be selective haha. I kept my Audrey in my north facing room next to the window but alas, it instantly revealed its unhappiness. One day I’d love to get some more ficus when I have the right spot for it. Do you have a photo of your Benjamina?
Omg I love this display!! I have had two of those fluffy ones - tillandsia tectorum Ecuador I think? Sadly both died, but I’m still tempted to buy a third every time I see one. Just scared it’ll have the same outcome and the guilt over killing the first two is real :( any tips?
Tectorum can't be soaked, just dunked and then laid upside down to dry. I put a little fan on mine to dry it faster. But, that one has since died as well, it just disintegrated one day out of nowhere. No idea why.
All ficus are underrated imo, but this benghalensis aka Audrey is my fav! It was the plant that began my plant obsession, and I grew it from basically a twig lol
Thank you! I give it the brightest light I can (it lives outside during the summer) and water it when the soil is almost completely dry. I put foliage pro in every watering. The substrate is a super chunky mix
Haha that’s basically identical to my reflexa’s care, except for the putting it outside (unless it’s raining here in AZ). I feel like we have twin trees. Makes me feel like I’m doing something right! Your Audrey is my ficus goal someday 🙏 thanks for sharing
Yes you must! I’ve had some trial and error with caring for them over the years but I think the best care tip I can suggest is to leave them alone and love them from a distance lol
i LOVE dracaena reflexa 'song of india'! i got a really sad looking one at a plant store about a year ago and its grown alot since then. in the past couple of weeks it has started dropping a few leaves for some reason but hopefully it's nothing bad because it's so pretty.
Something about a heartleaf philo is so elegant looking. These things are so resilient too. I might get downvoted for this but heartleafs > pothos all the way
I'm jealous! I searched everywhere for a reflexa and only found a green one. It's kind of finicky though in my home so it's probably better mine isn't variegated though.
Edit: and my underrated plant is philodendron tortum. The leaves are so cool and they're so easy to grow!
I’m not sure why they’re so hard to find. The ones I see in nurseries are usually super overpriced, like $50+ for 1-3 stalks in a 6” pot or smaller.
I live in AZ and mine is in ambient conditions but in a south window. It seems to love that spot. Anywhere else and it would start to drop leaves 🤷♂️ definitely finicky, but as far as pests they seem pretty resilient
I paid like $200 for mine but I bought it huge already because i wanted a tree like one and only 1 specialty shop nearby had these anyways. It ended up growing a foot in the year I've had it (store told me it would grow like 3in...). This is before I pruned it recently. Grew up into the light too much but now it's kinda funny looking while it grows out it's new hair. I normally don't spend this much but it's one of my 2 big pots i keep.
Hmm maybe try watering with distilled instead. It’s not about the cleanliness of the water, it’s about the minerals and chlorine used to treat tap water. My understanding is that it takes a day or two to evaporate the minerals/chlorine, and even after a few days there can still be some left in the water. Your water may have a higher mineral content. See if distilled water makes a difference!
I use a couple of drops of water conditioner in every watering to remove the chlorine and chloramine. I actually do this for all my plants except for my stromanthe, which gets only distilled or rain water.
How do you keep these green? I choped mine a while ago amd it grew 2 head back, but after a few month I get brown leaves again. And the old top part is in water, has nice roots but also started to get crispy brown edges again...
Dracaena hate tap water. Eventually, the fluoride in the water builds up over time and it causes the leaves to brown. Use RO or distilled and add a smidge of fertilizer to the water, it'll stop happening
Our tab water doesn't has much fluoride in it naturaly. What we do have is very hard water. Maybe the pritta filter will help a bit. Guess I give her another chance.
Since african violets were already mentioned, I will say pelargoniums are very underrated since mostly you see P. zonale or P. peltatum hybrids used as annuals when they can be easy longlived houseplants and bloom much of the time. There is also a big variety of some lesser known ones with more varied needs for different tastes - from various fragrant ones that would appreciate summer outside and can grow into huge bushes (with all kind of scents from punget to delicious), to regal ones to newer varieties with different shaped and colored flowers (rosebud, tulip or stellar ones) to succulent, caudex-like species.
Honorable mention to just as varied genus of plectranthus that also contains some easy plants with nicely scented leaves that you can brush by for an instant mood boost.
Another 'grandma plant' that is in african violet family - so called 'florist gloxinias' - Sinningia speciosa hybrids deserve to be brought back into popularity too and as bonus there are dozens of other species and hundreds of hybrids in the genus with very varied appearance and needs if one wants to explore further https://gesneriads.info/gesneriad-genera/sinningia/
And those two for sheer adaptability and beeing almost indestructible - Billbergia nutans, Haemanthus albiflos.
I love my curry leaf plant. I got it about 8 years ago because I wanted to use the leaves for cooking, but it's grown on me as a houseplant instead. The leaves have a strong pleasant spicy smell when you brush past it, the flowers have a strong, fill up the room jasmine smell and it's growing fruit atm.
It’s gorgeous! Kinda reminds me of a polyneura the way the leaves grow. The fact that it smells reminiscent of jasmine also peaks my interest haha. Is it easy to care for indoors?
It's been a very easy going plant. It likes to be near my plant lights but not directly under them and I water it a couple of times a week. I had it beside an east facing window for years and it did okay, but it didn't flower until I added some lights.
All of these are so beautiful! Ficus benjamina is my favorite ficus, and I can't find them anywhere in the state! They're just not popular enough. I also love callisia repens and asparagus fern. I have an asparagus fern on my nightstand and it grows so fast! :)))
I'm really loving my hanging and climbing pothos and philodendrons right now. Especially my Neon pothos, Heart leaf, and Brazil.
I also found an epipremnum pinnatum Silver Streak at big box store on clearance, and it was a little sad when I brought it home, but with a good watering, it perked right up! Absolutely gorgeous find for $6.20!
*
Yes I love a trailing plant! Those are always staples to have, they bring so much depth to any space they’re in.
Also I love pinnatums! I just bought one recently as well. The silver streak is gorgeous and another wishlist plant. Congrats on the find 😎
Thank you! You will love it when you have one! I had to upsize the pot a couple months ago so it no longer fits in that terracotta pot lol. I used to think it was slow growing until it had the right conditions and now it’s taking off. I’m slowly training it to be wiggly and wild. Do yourself a favor and get a song of India!
Purple passion! I feel in love with this plant about 8 years ago and a coworker gave me a cutting of his. Unfortunately, it died last year and I've yet to find another to replace it. I can't wait to get another. 💜
It kinda reminds me of solanum uleanum. They look deep purple when the light hits them right. I’ve heard these grow okay in ambient but I’ve killed two of them on accident. I put them on a high shelf and then forget they’re there so they die from neglect lol. Out of sight out of mind
I have 1 of either side of my kitchen sink, a rattlesnake and a peacock, and they are amazing! The rattlesnake doesn’t have the best shape, kinda looks like someone with a severe case of hat hair, but that one is secretly my favourite of the two.
As an added bonus, they are the only 2 plants in my house that the cat has never been interested in eating.
She’s beautiful, I love calatheas! Their colors and patterns are what initially made me purchase my first houseplant years ago. They will always be underrated regardless of their dramatics, they know we love em.
I love this particular plant because it gives the vibes of a palm without the finicky characteristics. It is so incredibly low maintenance. Thank you for posting your beautiful specimen. 🌴
Thank you! I’d love to see one of those huge outdoor specimens in Florida eventually
https://preview.redd.it/pjyym9u50scg1.jpeg?width=2296&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6ab275faf72416f8c5a54277dbfeff8cd1f51bef
Here's mine, but I have chopped and propped her how many times.I think I will let her grow now 🪴
It’s beautiful! Looks so healthy and happy. I also have a few chop/props of them around. They’re so slow to get started but once they do it’s rewarding to watch them grow
So pretty!!
Mine is also a dracaena! Surculosa Milky Way! Mine is just a wee baby but I can't wait for it to grow up like yours, it's gonna be a show stopper for sure.
https://preview.redd.it/7bq3dwri3scg1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=340060dd6f0a27641bd6e6022c9d352f22f38c79
Wow gorg!
I love this one! I was tempted to buy one a couple times but now I must. I’ve only seen photos of them as bb’s but you’ll definitely need to update us in the future with this one
Mine has already grown up a smidge since that pic was taken, it's putting out some huge new growth currently. It starts yellow and then fades to white. This thing is so easy to care for and such a stunner. Absolute 10/10
https://preview.redd.it/w3fcsxahgscg1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=46ec73c72c69c3f5a2b3b0823cb77a520c00543f
Wow that thing is so gorgeous. You sold me 😵 do you know what their growth habits are like?
If staked, it'll keep growing up but if you don't then the stems will get heavy and bow down in an arch. I prefer the look of it when staked
Awesome!
And I have to post twice to add African violets. Especially minis. They bloom constantly all year long for a pop of color, they are tiny enough to go anywhere, and tiny enough to collect tons. There are tons of types, leaf shapes, and colors in both leaves and foliage. Bonus, they are incredibly easy to care for. Put them where they are happy, and you can almost forget about them.
https://preview.redd.it/8gupqtyv9scg1.jpeg?width=2340&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fe627353b51b8697b01a3f09f410ccd6601de152
Are African violets as intimidating as they’re made out to be? Similar to begonias?
Not at all. These guys are so forgiving and extremely rewarding. For people who are trying to grow show winning plants there can be a lot of maintenance, but just for the home they are so easy. You keep them in small pots (minis should remain in 2.5 inches or smaller) and bottom water by just filling their tray and letting them soak it up. They'll flower more if you let them dry between waterings, and give them a weak dilution of fertilizer every other time. About every 6 months to a year you "repot" them because they will start to grow a long neck under their rosette of leaves, but that's easy too. Trim away the bottom 4th of the roots and pop them right back into the same pot, but lower so that the neck is buried, and job done till next year.
I have one and they're not difficult at all. Mine's basically blooming constantly, and I do a fair bit of neglecting it. Just bottom water it so the soil is consistently moist. Plus, they seem to enjoy being in small pots, so you don't gotta worry about repotting too much.
Any tips with mine? It's a small dwarf version but it's never blossomed
Let it dry between waterings. If you've got enough light on them and feed occasionally the slight stress of going dry in between watering will force them to flower. I got that tip from an old lady in our local gesnariad society group who's been growing them for 50 years. She was absolutely right because now they flower continuously.
My leaves have recently started pointing up. I will be checking it tomorrow morning but it is the weirdest thing to look across and see stems.
Pointing up usually mean they would like more light, with enough light rosette lays more flat, with too much leaves can curl or bleach (not to be mistaken with crown variegation).
https://preview.redd.it/pfacfyhcxxcg1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d308bac9eb0c983bf5d41cea430e340c100e97c5
Well that checks out, thank you! I had moved it to get the peperomia more space. Looks like one of the 4 needs to move.
They look lush this close together but it's probably better to move them. You can also raise violet's pot to make it reach light better (you would probably need to turn the pot occasionally if you don't want it to grow tilted towards brighter side)
There is also one other possible reason for leaves not lying flat - they sometimes grow so called 'suckers' - secondary crowns under leaves which raises them up. For events like plant shows, it is recommended to remove them young to get more symmetrical rosette and less energy diverted from flowering but it is not stirctly necessary. If there is a secondary crown and you cut it off, you can use it for propagation and root it.
Oh this is important advice that I didn't get, and I'm still trying to correct a few of mine. 🫡
Many of more serious growers prefer to grow directly under led lights instead (and groom as needed) to get those perfectly symmetrical plants. With light from the side, they will always to tilt to get in better position to use it. Personally I don't mind it but I do admire those show plants some growers achieve
The platter I have them on (1st pic in this comment thread) is sloped very slightly towards the center and the light is centered above them. They are all symmetrical enough to fool you... until you take them off of the stand. Everyone around the outside is tilted ever so slightly towards the center. Platter and light problem probably. These guys were also getting a little leaf shy where they touched. It was so gradual, I hadn't realized any of it was happening till I went to repot. Now I turn them on Sundays. 😄 I'm always so impressed with the talent and knowledge at local meetings and the shows. If I had lots more time to dedicate to the hobby I might just focus 100% on gesnariads! Maybe when I retire for good. Maybe that's why most of the members are 15 to 20 years older than me. 😆
Peperomias! I adore the watermelon and string of turtles!
https://preview.redd.it/0f7fbxtj5scg1.png?width=2973&format=png&auto=webp&s=41127c49f616a53b83bd9cbdbad052aa9b59b2cd
https://preview.redd.it/1ho3sjh36scg1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e8d5934ae05c9138509d6c23aed5375534d7e9d0
Another gorgeous plant! I love your string of turtles. How do you keep it so healthy? My string of (anything) always die on me. I think it’s a special skill certain people have keeping these plants alive and thriving
I haven’t had it that long. I keep it in an east facing window. Then I’ve bottom watered it. And I have its pot inside a bigger kind of net pot in there so it’s got plenty of ventilation
I love my peperomias! Pet safe and not too fussy once they’re established. Here’s my pep quadrangularis:
https://preview.redd.it/wkfguj8hutcg1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0715d8a5c98fe1601c44394b1698d26be6e430e3
I really want that one!! Love it!
https://preview.redd.it/8wv101sq6scg1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1152555c458d38fbda20c8780c52cb729c22f727
Crotons and Stromanthe Triostars. I think people are afraid of them because they require a little extra care. I have one of each and they are both some of my favourite.
https://preview.redd.it/y1h8pksi6scg1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f32df69134d27cb1c965d8b71e73350109b4425d
I love my croton and i feel like it's very easy, but keep seeing people killing them. Maybe mine just likes me. I got it as small six leaf plant and now it's a majestic colorful tiny tree with multiple braches!
It looks like it's getting plenty of sunlight there. I'm sure that's what it loves, mine have never done well under grow lights.
Oh, no. It's under a grow light. I'm in Finland, we get like five hours of daylight during winter (see all that white stuff outside the window lol), and the winter is long. It loves the grow light!
Well. That means the problem is me in that case 😆
I just cannot keep a croton alive to save my life
I must have a horseshoe up my ass lol. Mines thriving.
I can't kill mine, lol. Lots of sun and water. We went out of town for ten days in the heat of summer and I forgot one by a very sunny window in a very hot climate. I returned to find all the leaves shriveled and burned. I just pulled them off and watered it and it sprouted new leaves at the top. Easy to propagate, too.
Seconding this with crotons! They are gorgeous plants. Mine is about ten years old, but possibly older. It’s hard to know exactly because I can’t remember when I got him, just that he lived a lot of years in my old apartment and it’s been almost four years since moving into my house.
I neglected mine for a lot of those years, and he got leggy and lost all of his middle and bottom leaves. But, he gets great care now and is absolutely gorgeous on the top. These guys are actually more resilient than we give them credit for. Here’s what mine looks like today, he also flowered somewhat recently.
https://preview.redd.it/n5oeoxyl5scg1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c258f8571bb637bbf241bd1388dc12a5fe1f8f8f
It’s so pretty and it’s flowering for you!
Thank you! And yeah, I was so stoked when I first saw the flowers! In all the years I’ve had him, I’m pretty sure it’s the first time he bloomed.
I’ve heard their care is intimidating, but can I ask why? Your specimen is a beaut. I love seeing those rare photos of them in their large form, it’s a showstopper for sure
Well someone just posted one, but a Pilea Mollis or Moon Valley Plant. I just love the texture and how vibrant the green is and the red undertone.
I also appreciate a nice small green and white fittonia
I have to say, I neglect my micans to a ridiculous level and she barely even notices lol. I can appreciate that
Haha I should’ve included “overrated” plants in the description as well, though I don’t actually consider them overrated! Aka just more common. Pileas are beautiful, I love those leaves as well. I actually don’t see them that often either. Micans are also awesome, definitely a staple to have around 😎
That's funny, when you said underrated, my mind went to common plants it seems like people don't get as excited for anymore!
That’s what I meant! But I could see how it might sound confusing possibly lol
Philodendron micans is probably my favorite "common" houseplant. It's easy, and it's classy.
I love my Micans too! I bought a tiny one from Palmstreet in the summer, and it's really taken off even in a room with only a skylight! I love it so much I just bought another larger hanging pot. I'm going to prop and give to friends. They're so easy and forgiving, while still having beautiful texture and color.
https://preview.redd.it/zep3mg663scg1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e8632254db74ad530728da131a06cf33f83d7d76
Syngoniums are amazing! There are so many types with different colors, they grow fast, and are forgiving if you let them dry a little and need to cut some leaves off and wait for the new baby leaves to quickly pop up.
I love that, is it a syngonium? I’ve never had one so I don’t know what their care is like 😅
They love to be left alone. As long as servant remembers to keep their soil moist. Reasonably easy plant, I recommend.
Yeah indeed
Yeah moist soil and dont fuss to mutch they hate it
What’s this? I’ve never seen it before!
https://preview.redd.it/xjxhm2gasscg1.jpeg?width=806&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7156462aa1212938a7ee1d17cac24598b91fe2e4
Madagascar jewel😊
yea draceanas of all types are honestly so lovely, i got a small one in like 2014, one stem that broke into 3 and now its taller than me and thriving
Maranta red vein. They are gorgeous, and sooo easy going. Prolific growers too.
https://preview.redd.it/4zewdzeb8scg1.jpeg?width=4228&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=15f87c8cb57a58d659fa503b777a04d18bffbcc4
Nematanthus aka goldfish plant!
I adore mine too!
I love the goldfish plants!
They're so cute. Mine always looks like a person in need of a haircut, tho. Kinda perpetually unkempt.
My favorite plant is an old re-grown Ficus. You know the kind of Ficus that was an office plant and needed some love. I personally love woody trunks and unique characteristics.
I’m a huge ficus fan and one of my favs is a benjamina like you’re describing! I actually fused 4 smaller benjaminas to get the trunk to look like this
https://preview.redd.it/6xylq5tksscg1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=63f3d4e4f177d1f46aaf23af2e0a53c54ae99fca
Beautiful and you have some good new growth too.
Ah yes the classic TLC ficus 😎 I can’t keep an Audrey alive for the life of me but I love them so much. Which kind of ficus are you referring to?
I am referring to the classic ficus benjamina that is harder to find these days but i am only interested in the older ones that have developed a wabi sabi value. The Audrey is truly a beautfiul plant but I would want a wild-one... not something brand new from the nursery. The secret to keeping all Ficus trees alive is providing enough light, you have the light, it will live.
I’ll look into that, I’m curious. I figured light was my problem. I only have a couple spots in my house that work with my plants but to avoid overcrowding I have to be selective haha. I kept my Audrey in my north facing room next to the window but alas, it instantly revealed its unhappiness. One day I’d love to get some more ficus when I have the right spot for it. Do you have a photo of your Benjamina?
Air plants!
YES. They're so easy and so amazing
https://preview.redd.it/lwk0zc8l5scg1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6c0e89c2c9bf77e7992cd93e285dc47f563a4ba9
Omg I love this display!! I have had two of those fluffy ones - tillandsia tectorum Ecuador I think? Sadly both died, but I’m still tempted to buy a third every time I see one. Just scared it’ll have the same outcome and the guilt over killing the first two is real :( any tips?
Air plants - I keep mine inside my kitchen window and mist with a spray water bottle about once a week
Tectorum can't be soaked, just dunked and then laid upside down to dry. I put a little fan on mine to dry it faster. But, that one has since died as well, it just disintegrated one day out of nowhere. No idea why.
Air plants are definitely underrated! I’ve wanted to dive into this world at some point but not sure where to start lol
Gorgeous plant! So whimsical-looking, like something out of Dr. Seuss!
Thank you! I love the Dr Seuss plants. Dracaena marginatas are another favorite of mine for that reason
All ficus are underrated imo, but this benghalensis aka Audrey is my fav! It was the plant that began my plant obsession, and I grew it from basically a twig lol
https://preview.redd.it/yhenzww5uscg1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9e6e1602acb27b5785a71127fbf7be11b4c375d8
Here is her baby pic! I still laugh at the soil I used to use back when I didn’t know what I was doing 🤣
https://preview.redd.it/47ccq648uscg1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=68ca65b48e0e602615ff96d40c4a3a06d8116f51
Dang what a glow up lol. I love it
Your Audrey is amazing, what the heck. It looks so full and vibrant. What are your care tips?
Thank you! I give it the brightest light I can (it lives outside during the summer) and water it when the soil is almost completely dry. I put foliage pro in every watering. The substrate is a super chunky mix
Haha that’s basically identical to my reflexa’s care, except for the putting it outside (unless it’s raining here in AZ). I feel like we have twin trees. Makes me feel like I’m doing something right! Your Audrey is my ficus goal someday 🙏 thanks for sharing
I don’t have a picture, but money trees are my favorite! Very sentimental🥹🌱
That's a beautiful plant and you guys are saying easy maintenance I must get one
Yes you must! I’ve had some trial and error with caring for them over the years but I think the best care tip I can suggest is to leave them alone and love them from a distance lol
Thank you so much that actually is best selling point I can love it from a distance lol. I just don't have patience to do finicky plants anymore.
Definitely Euphorbia Knuthii. That or E. Hedyotoides.
Euphorbias are definitely a cool choice. So many unique variations and more forgiving in care than their cacti cousins
i LOVE dracaena reflexa 'song of india'! i got a really sad looking one at a plant store about a year ago and its grown alot since then. in the past couple of weeks it has started dropping a few leaves for some reason but hopefully it's nothing bad because it's so pretty.
They drop leaves on the bottom as they continue to mature! Usually a slow drop rate but hopefully that’s the case with yours
Also plain green heartleaf philodendron is so absolutely beautiful! 💚💚💚
Something about a heartleaf philo is so elegant looking. These things are so resilient too. I might get downvoted for this but heartleafs > pothos all the way
I’m with you 1000%. They are more delicate, elegant, all that!! (No offense, Pothos!)
I'm jealous! I searched everywhere for a reflexa and only found a green one. It's kind of finicky though in my home so it's probably better mine isn't variegated though.
Edit: and my underrated plant is philodendron tortum. The leaves are so cool and they're so easy to grow!
I’m not sure why they’re so hard to find. The ones I see in nurseries are usually super overpriced, like $50+ for 1-3 stalks in a 6” pot or smaller. I live in AZ and mine is in ambient conditions but in a south window. It seems to love that spot. Anywhere else and it would start to drop leaves 🤷♂️ definitely finicky, but as far as pests they seem pretty resilient
I paid like $200 for mine but I bought it huge already because i wanted a tree like one and only 1 specialty shop nearby had these anyways. It ended up growing a foot in the year I've had it (store told me it would grow like 3in...). This is before I pruned it recently. Grew up into the light too much but now it's kinda funny looking while it grows out it's new hair. I normally don't spend this much but it's one of my 2 big pots i keep.
https://preview.redd.it/fj5p4b4m5tcg1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=c075481c95202e023457034641bf1bc88fb0b671
Every dracaena I've ever owned gets brown tips. What are you doing so right?
Most prefer distilled water or tap that’s sat out for 24 hours!
I always leave it out for a day. I live in a city with really clean water too.
Hmm maybe try watering with distilled instead. It’s not about the cleanliness of the water, it’s about the minerals and chlorine used to treat tap water. My understanding is that it takes a day or two to evaporate the minerals/chlorine, and even after a few days there can still be some left in the water. Your water may have a higher mineral content. See if distilled water makes a difference!
I use a couple of drops of water conditioner in every watering to remove the chlorine and chloramine. I actually do this for all my plants except for my stromanthe, which gets only distilled or rain water.
How do you keep these green? I choped mine a while ago amd it grew 2 head back, but after a few month I get brown leaves again. And the old top part is in water, has nice roots but also started to get crispy brown edges again...
Dracaena hate tap water. Eventually, the fluoride in the water builds up over time and it causes the leaves to brown. Use RO or distilled and add a smidge of fertilizer to the water, it'll stop happening
Our tab water doesn't has much fluoride in it naturaly. What we do have is very hard water. Maybe the pritta filter will help a bit. Guess I give her another chance.
Are you on a well or something?
No, but German water doesn't just have much of it naturaly and its not added
Oh interesting! No idea in that case. They're pretty sensitive to minerals and salts too. You might be on to something with the water hardness
I think it’s mineral buildup too that they dislike. They’re ~sensitive~ creatures.
I water mine with tap and it seems indifferent to it haha
I would say currently blooming plants in general.
Since african violets were already mentioned, I will say pelargoniums are very underrated since mostly you see P. zonale or P. peltatum hybrids used as annuals when they can be easy longlived houseplants and bloom much of the time. There is also a big variety of some lesser known ones with more varied needs for different tastes - from various fragrant ones that would appreciate summer outside and can grow into huge bushes (with all kind of scents from punget to delicious), to regal ones to newer varieties with different shaped and colored flowers (rosebud, tulip or stellar ones) to succulent, caudex-like species.
Honorable mention to just as varied genus of plectranthus that also contains some easy plants with nicely scented leaves that you can brush by for an instant mood boost.
Another 'grandma plant' that is in african violet family - so called 'florist gloxinias' - Sinningia speciosa hybrids deserve to be brought back into popularity too and as bonus there are dozens of other species and hundreds of hybrids in the genus with very varied appearance and needs if one wants to explore further https://gesneriads.info/gesneriad-genera/sinningia/
And those two for sheer adaptability and beeing almost indestructible - Billbergia nutans, Haemanthus albiflos.
What a stunning specimen. Has it ever flowered?
No but that would awesome if it did eventually 🤞
I bet it will one year. It's mature and very happy.
This plant is gorgeous!!
This is gorgeous and now I need it.
Yes you do!
string of turtles !!!
https://preview.redd.it/72xeegykwscg1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=57a5602b9f9e0c4f719d24206552ae74a8adecf1
I love my curry leaf plant. I got it about 8 years ago because I wanted to use the leaves for cooking, but it's grown on me as a houseplant instead. The leaves have a strong pleasant spicy smell when you brush past it, the flowers have a strong, fill up the room jasmine smell and it's growing fruit atm.
https://preview.redd.it/mais4bjkxscg1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a10f995e2ff3b3fdc40b5ca68458602f6b5d2a01
I also love my aquarium pothos. I've never had one before and it grows so fast <3
It’s gorgeous! Kinda reminds me of a polyneura the way the leaves grow. The fact that it smells reminiscent of jasmine also peaks my interest haha. Is it easy to care for indoors?
It's been a very easy going plant. It likes to be near my plant lights but not directly under them and I water it a couple of times a week. I had it beside an east facing window for years and it did okay, but it didn't flower until I added some lights.
I love yours!
This is my form of Dracaena
https://preview.redd.it/r53z2twt4tcg1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=76a86792e416c710ece1079a36666441720fdc61
https://preview.redd.it/4t2w5mcmetcg1.jpeg?width=1650&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9c88687fa8d11c8c903d3ec4a75610dfa63713a7
All of these are so beautiful! Ficus benjamina is my favorite ficus, and I can't find them anywhere in the state! They're just not popular enough. I also love callisia repens and asparagus fern. I have an asparagus fern on my nightstand and it grows so fast! :)))
https://preview.redd.it/3tt1gf4petcg1.jpeg?width=2701&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e7f2ea99f1e9d8bd5f18d42dde7878d9a776b822
She's grown so much 😭💖
Your song of India is super nice 👍
Beautiful
wow i didn't know that plant, thank you for posting it! it's beautiful
I'm really loving my hanging and climbing pothos and philodendrons right now. Especially my Neon pothos, Heart leaf, and Brazil.
I also found an epipremnum pinnatum Silver Streak at big box store on clearance, and it was a little sad when I brought it home, but with a good watering, it perked right up! Absolutely gorgeous find for $6.20! *
Yes I love a trailing plant! Those are always staples to have, they bring so much depth to any space they’re in. Also I love pinnatums! I just bought one recently as well. The silver streak is gorgeous and another wishlist plant. Congrats on the find 😎
Thanks! I was with friends when I found it. They don't understand why I was so excited. But that's okay, it was a memorable moment for me.
Songs of India is in my wish list, but I had no idea it would turn out the way yours has. Stunning!!
Thank you! You will love it when you have one! I had to upsize the pot a couple months ago so it no longer fits in that terracotta pot lol. I used to think it was slow growing until it had the right conditions and now it’s taking off. I’m slowly training it to be wiggly and wild. Do yourself a favor and get a song of India!
I love these. So graceful.
This thing is GORGEOUS!!! Wow! It looks so happy and healthy! Really beautiful!
https://preview.redd.it/818ogsy68tcg1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b02690b333e288ead472523a38ee1081a9ad101b
Purple passion! I feel in love with this plant about 8 years ago and a coworker gave me a cutting of his. Unfortunately, it died last year and I've yet to find another to replace it. I can't wait to get another. 💜
That’s so cool, I’ve never seen one before 😮 I love the pop of purple. It almost looks like a terrarium plant cause it’s so unique and beautiful
The fuzz on them is purple and absolutely stunning in every light. And the greenery underneath it all is chef's kiss
Second favorite is probably my string if bananas, which I nearly killed three times but is now literally thriving from a mild case of neglect haha
It kinda reminds me of solanum uleanum. They look deep purple when the light hits them right. I’ve heard these grow okay in ambient but I’ve killed two of them on accident. I put them on a high shelf and then forget they’re there so they die from neglect lol. Out of sight out of mind
https://preview.redd.it/a7ptylk09ucg1.jpeg?width=794&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b355823cbb66e76b634458abed8fc91609cb3a7b
I’m glad your bananas are doing better in neglect
I'm going to have to look into this one! Gorgeous!
https://preview.redd.it/augdpzbkzxcg1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7b466c6d7ae9a80a86f89936204152263a95bd89
They’re known more for their dark foliage but the undersides are more deep purple in the right light. Rousseau has the best specimen 👌
Wow
That plant is beautiful!
https://preview.redd.it/xwk66uwmwucg1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c755f9c66699e02479fa6f4d36b37f9a77c32e09
Calatheas. People on here always talk about how finicky they are but they're so pretty and once you get a routine down they're pretty easy!
Ignore the yellow spots, my grow light fell on her and she got burnt.
I have 1 of either side of my kitchen sink, a rattlesnake and a peacock, and they are amazing! The rattlesnake doesn’t have the best shape, kinda looks like someone with a severe case of hat hair, but that one is secretly my favourite of the two.
As an added bonus, they are the only 2 plants in my house that the cat has never been interested in eating.
She’s beautiful, I love calatheas! Their colors and patterns are what initially made me purchase my first houseplant years ago. They will always be underrated regardless of their dramatics, they know we love em.
https://preview.redd.it/vb6tsk0nsxcg1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=655fc04d9f941a34784536dd87b86bec8452e0ac
your calathea after the grow light incident