Houseplant difficulty levels: a survey

16 years ago

I imagine this thread's been done before, but I haven't seen it lately, so:

Just four questions here, all kind of centering on the common theme of how difficult a plant is to grow, overall. Feel free to throw in even if you don't have a lot of plants, or a lot of experience with them. I'm more interested in the discussion (and especially in the answers to #2 and #4).

1) Name a supposedly easy plant that you have found to be really difficult.

2) Name a supposedly difficult plant that you have found to be really easy.

3) Name a difficult plant that was such a disaster that you will never try it again.

4) Name an easy plant that you find so rewarding that you collect them, or push them on everybody you meet, or otherwise get frighteningly enthusiastic about.

Featured Answer

jamilalshaw26

8 years ago

1. English ivy. It just sat there and never grew. So I put it outside. It just sat there and never grew LOL.

2. A lot of people think Diffenbachias are difficult but mine has fluorished with no problems since I bought it!!!

3.Persian Shield. I guess its better off outdoors. I tried everything possible and this plant just withered away. No more Draceanas either. Besides the three I have that are surprisingly living I'm closed off to them. And no more English Ivy. Waay too boring indoors.

4. I love Pothos and always give them away because I know they'll most likely live with beginners!!!

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Comments (78)

mr_subjunctive
Original Author
16 years ago
What I've been most amused by is the number of plants that end up in two different categories. There are even five plants that have been in *three* categories:

Hedera helix (English ivy)
Radermachia sinica (china doll)
Hibiscus spp.
Saintpaulia spp. (African violet)
Spathiphyllum spp. (peace lily)

The two things that have surprised me most are:

1) I had no idea that so many people were into holiday cacti (Schlumbergera / Zygocactus).
2) I almost can't believe how many people have trouble with Spathiphyllums. I mean, I knew that they could be tricky sometimes, but I would never have guessed. Makes me wonder, a bit, how they got the reputation for being easy in the first place.

I did a search last night for *easy* houseplants, and started counting up the number of sites (I wound up seeing maybe 25 lists) that listed each plant. (If anybody's interested, I can post the full list somewhere.)

Sansevieria trifasciata (snake plant) was the big winner, with 14, but Spathiphyllum (peace lily) was on 8 lists (tied for third-easiest). And there were some plants that had no business being anywhere *near* an easy-houseplant list, like poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima), fishtail palms (Caryota mitis), Azalea spp., and so forth. Who writes these things?

On the other hand, this thread is totally going to be my justification for buying anything I want now. ("I'm sure I'll be one of the people who finds this easy.")
plants4chris
16 years ago
I would love to see the list. This is a perfect example of why plants have kept me fascinated throughout my life when other interests have come and gone.

It figures the good 'ole snake plant would rate as number one. Maybe they were looking at poinsettias as growing just for the Christmas season, then tossing out as most people do and not including the "reblooming process". I wouldn't think they would be on an easy list either. Azaleas? Did they mean as a houseplant? I would think they would be bug magnets as houseplants, not easy at all. I am going to go take a cutting from one of mine and try it as a houseplant now to see what happens. I tried that last year with "Frost Proof" Gardenia and both 1 year rooted cuttings had a bloom this spring. I was shocked. A friend of mine is growing and blooming tropical hibiscus in the house. It's always worth experimenting!

~Chris
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micke
16 years ago
There is a indoor Azalea, They are called Florists Azalea.
My neighbor brought one home (long story short his wife died 2 years ago, she was a plant nut and he is trying to keep that going, however he knows NOTHING about plants, got to give him credit for trying however)
he brought it over to me and asked me how to care for it, I told him the best thing to do was keep it far away from me in order to better it's chances of survival, lol!!
I think it lasted him about 2 months before it died, he is on the road constantly, I knew when I seen it that the chances of it living were slim, but I think any of you guys that excell in the blooming plants have a good chance of making a go with one of those plants.
mr_subjunctive
Original Author
16 years ago
This is what various random sites around the net consider "easy" houseplants:

14 Sansevieria trifasciata (snake plant)
9 Chlorophytum comosum (spider plant)
8 Aloe spp. (especially Aloe vera/barbadensis)
8 Epipremnum aureum (pothos)
8 Spathiphyllum spp. (peace lily)
7 Aglaonema spp. (Chinese evergreen)
7 Philodendron spp. (especially P. scandens, P. selloum)
6 Aspidistra elatior (cast-iron plant)
4 Dracaena marginata (dragon tree)
4 Hedera helix (English ivy)
4 Zamioculcas zamiifolia (ZZ plant)
3 Beaucarnea recurvata (ponytail palm)
3 bromeliads in general
3 cactus in general (especially Echinocactus)
3 Chamaedorea elegans (parlor palm)
3 Crassula portulacea (jade plant)
3 Dracaena fragrans (corn plant)
3 Dracaena sanderiana 'Lucky Bamboo'
3 ferns in general (particularly Nephrolepsis, Boston fern)
3 Ficus elastica (rubber plant)
3 Tradescantia / Zebrina spp. (wandering Jew)
2 Azalea spp.
2 Cyperus alternifolius (umbrella plant)
2 Dieffenbachia spp. (dumb cane)
2 Dracaena deremensis 'Janet Craig'
2 Dracaena deremensis 'Warneckii'
2 Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (flaming katy)
2 Maranta tricolor erythroneura (tricolor maranta)
2 Rhapis excelsa (lady palm)
2 Saintpaulia spp. (African violet)
2 Schlumbergera / Zygocactus (holiday cactus)
1 Abutilon spp. (flowering maple)
1 Aeonium spp.
1 Caryota mitis (fishtail palm)
1 Chrysanthemum spp. (!?!?!)
1 Codiaeum variegatum (croton)
1 "Collinea" spp. (I don't even think this is really a plant: I couldn't find it.)
1 Crassula perforata (string of buttons)
1 Euphorbia obesa (baseball plant)
1 Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinsettia)
1 Ficus benjamina (ficus tree)
1 Ficus binnendijkii (long-leaf fig)
1 Gerbera spp. (gerbera daisy)
1 Hedera canariensis (Algerian ivy)
1 Howea forsteriana (kentia palm, sentry palm)
1 Hoya carnosa (wax plant)
1 Hoya kerrii (sweetheart plant, sweetheart hoya)
1 Lamiaceae spp. (mint family of plants)
1 Lithops spp. (living stones)
1 Monstera deliciosa (split-leaf philodendron)
1 Pachyphytum spp. (moonstones)
1 Peperomia caperata (emerald ripple peperomia)
1 Peperomia obtusifolia (baby rubber plant)
1 Phalaenopsis spp. (moth orchid)
1 Plectranthus nummularifolia / P. australis (swedish ivy)
1 Sedum morganium (burro's tail)
1 Syngonium podophyllum (arrowhead plant)
1 Yucca elephantipes
1 Zantedeschia spp. (calla lily)

Obviously a more thorough search, or different keywords, or whatever, would yield a different list, but still. Some of these I can totally see, and some of them baffle me. Calla lilies?
birdsnblooms
16 years ago
I agree with the above list minus: Gerbera Daisy, (which dies, I believe it's an annual,) I don't have problems with Ivy, but numerous ppl claim they'll never buy one again, since for one, they're mite magnets and need a cool/cold winterized room, Mum, Forget it..they'll last a while indoors, then die along w/flowers..they too are annuals, unless you buy hardy which belong outdoors. Calla Lily..No way..again, it'll last in the house till flowers die..they can grow as hardy bulbs/corms in warmer climates, they are tropical, but in cold areas, forget it..they can be planted outdoors in spring, then lifted in fall..(in cold zones) But I agree with the other plants...Nice list, Mr. Sub..

Chris, Azaleas can be difficult, but not impossible to grow indoors..I don't know if a hardy azalea will thrive indoors since they require a cold period in winter. If you want to try Azalea, buy Florist Azalias, like Micke suggested. They will not only last for yrs, but flower each winter/spring.
One problem keeping Azaleas in winter; they need a cool room..if too hot, they will develop mites. Fortunatly, I have this room available with south and east windows. After flowers fade, deadhead.
It's best keeping outdoors in summer in a semi-shady spot..dont' bring in until late fall,(or 1st frost) As soon as you see buds, or at first frost, bring inside..Place in bright area, room must be cool. I set azaleas in trays w/stones and water. You should start seeing blooms from Nov-Feb until March.
During growing season, mine are fed with Azalea fertilizer..just sprinkle and water..I also apply a doses of Iron 2-3 times per yr. If you're one who uses Superthrive, once a month is sufficient.
Azalea should be repotted every other yr. I use all purpose, peat and a bit of Builder's Sand. If top leaves look a bit spindly, do some pruning..a few inches. When repotting, increase by 1-2 sizes up. Repot soon after flowers fade and removed. That's all it takes..if you follow directions, you'll have beautiful foliage and flowers yr after yr..Toni
odyssey3
16 years ago
I'll play.
1) difficult for me: ferns (I'm a chronic underwaterer), ivies(spider mites).
2)easy for me: stromanthe tricolor. Pot within a pot works wonders
3)disaster: I'm with Toni on this one-miniroses. Never again. I'm hooked on Austins outside though.
4)obsessive: hoyas, begonias and peperomias. I have lots of each.
lil_green_thumb
16 years ago
Only my 2 cents....... Here Gerberas come back every year. Due to weather being screwy this spring I have 2 that are still small. I have one that is pretty good sized..it is on its 5th year (outside). I have 3 in a big pot that i do not bring inside either and they are on the 4th spring. So being annuals really depends on the zone i guess........

IDK about hard ones.......... mine have been easy so far.......
easiest ones......what some call arrowhead plants - i have the pink illusion and another one from last year. they are in the dining room and are 2 of the 3 plants i did not take outside back in april. lol. other easy ones are....pothos, philos.

I did manage to kill my Majestic Palm over the winter. I think because I let it go too long without water! lol I underwater too often! But it was in the guest room and I forgot about it! Oops!

Otherwise......i havent really tried difficult plants. at least not difficult as far as i know
mr_subjunctive
Original Author
16 years ago
Majestic palms are more or less impossible to keep indoors, from everything I've read, and really shouldn't be sold as indoor plants. If that makes you feel any better.
lil_green_thumb
16 years ago
ooooooo it does!!!!!!!!!
...... but it was about 6 foot high. and $5 .... so i wouldnt have passed it up anyway! lol
and i have re-arranged my living room so have the perfect spot for one if i find one like that again!!

LOL!
~Kim
greattigerdane
16 years ago
I love ferns, especially the bostons, have a 6" basket and a very large one in a 12" or larger pot sitting on a pedestal. Love hoyas too, never can get enough of those!

Dischidia's are out. I can't grow them to save my life! Hoyas, Dischidia's cousin do well for me though for some reason, some can be fussy than other though. Portulacaria afra, or Elephant Bush is another plant I will avoid. Twice is enough, leaves fall no matter what I do! I had four ficus trees, now I'm down to two, no more of them either!

I'm sure as time goes by I will have other favorite's and others to hate and to put on the, NOT to do again list!

Billy Rae
birdsnblooms
16 years ago
LilGreen, I assumed we were talking about plants growing indoors..sorry..(S) Oh you're right, it depends where we live for so many plants..Toni
bizzylizzy
16 years ago
I love these kind of surveys, here's my 2 cents:
1) easy plant that I found to be really difficult. Jade plants - all Crassula's. In my care they quickly succumb to mealy bug!!!

2) difficult plant that I found to be really easy. African Violets, I have found a lot of people around me don't like AV's because they don't know how to look after them, but I did some quick reading and now find them very easy.

3) A difficult plant that...I will never try again. False Aralia, that's the fastest dying plant I've ever seen. Second choice would be English Ivy's (my home is too dry for them).

4) An easy plant I ... get frighteningly enthusiastic about. I once was a caudiciform nutter (and even mail ordered into Canada from the U.S., back when border laws were less strict but still very expensive), but now mostly collect a lot of succulents, the more odd a plant looks, the better (I wonder if that says something about me - lol).
lalibellule
16 years ago
I am pretty new to plants, so I don't have a lot of history from which to draw, but this is a great survey so I've got to try.

1. Name a supposedly easy plant that you have found to be really difficult.

In my youth, I killed a pothos. Hindsight (ten or so years of it) tells me that the water-rooted cuttings given to me were rather long and not sufficiently established to be plunked in a hanging basket, and in trying to perk them up, I overwatered. I will place some blame on the adults for failing to mention this during my enthusiastic potting process.

2. Name a supposedly difficult plant that you have found to be really easy.

I don't try difficult plants (yet). I have some eight-month-old poncirus trifoliata seedlings, but they're probably more "uncommon" than "difficult", and I hesitate to call them successful when they're this young.

3. Name a difficult plant that was such a disaster that you will never try it again.

Norfolk Island pine and Venus fly trap - I killed two of each (possibly three fly traps) as a child. They are probably not that hard if one is over the age of twelve, but I am traumatized. I'm sure there is something better suited as a live Christmas tree, should I try to do that again, and if I wanted something carnivorous, probably a pitcher (although if I were feeling very brave, I might try a sundew).

4. Name an easy plant that you find so rewarding that you collect them, or push them on everybody you meet, or otherwise get frighteningly enthusiastic about.

I don't really have one yet, although I have been distributing the baby poncirus and have purchased a calamondin, so if I do not kill them over the winter, citrus (and relatives) may take that title.
ines_99
16 years ago
1 - easy plant i have found difficult?
I can't even tell you how many ficus trees I have killed. I buy them, within 6 weeks they are bald and near death, I give them to my mom, in another 6 weeks they are gorgeous.

2 - difficult plant I have found easy?
Marantas love me. So does Hoya linearis. Who knows why!

3 - My personal disaster plant:
Gardenias. I love them but I have given up. Too depressing.

4 - Easy Plant I am crazy for?
Hoyas! I can't get enough, have given away many I have started from cuttings. Most people have no idea what they are, unless they are true plant people, and even then they are not always aware of all the varieties and the diversity within the Hoya family.
koicool1
16 years ago
1. I find china doll to be dreadfully hard to keep from getting lanky and ugly.

2. African violets, ferns,palms, and trop. hibiscus are fairly easy keepers for me.

3. Love false aralia for about 3-4 weeks then all of the leaves drop and it dies. I don't know what I do wrong with mini roses but they die.

4.wandering jew! I had always heard the phrase" you never can kill a wandering jew" growing up but it seems people have.I did some reading on them and the phrase is probably referring to the southern states where it is a weed in places. AVs, hibiscus and most recently I have fallen for the poinsettias.
plantastic
16 years ago
To Ines 99 about ficus dropping leaves: They don't like to be moved and will do this BUT they recover! Your mom has been reaping the benefit of this! So next time you buy one and get it home and the leaves fall off, just wait around a bit, new leaves will come. Just put them in a permanent place.
minflick
16 years ago
1) Name a supposedly easy plant that you have found to be really difficult. ** Schefflera - I gave up trying to keep them alive YEARS ago...

2) Name a supposedly difficult plant that you have found to be really easy. ** I've seen Ficus benjemina rated as difficult, but I've only lost them to frost when I had them out on a porch. Indoors, I got my last one to 7+ feet, fine and full. I've even moved them without leaf loss.

3) Name a difficult plant that was such a disaster that you will never try it again. ** I'm not that brave, so I have no entry for this category.

4) Name an easy plant that you find so rewarding that you collect them, or push them on everybody you meet, or otherwise get frighteningly enthusiastic about. ** Asiatic lilies. Flowers for dummies! Give them enough dirt and enough sun, and leave them alone - and you get flowers upon flowers - more every year. I've got a bulb I bought at a flower show for $1 back in 2002. It's in a large pot (16" diameter, 16"+ deep), and last year it had over 3 dozen blooms. When I unpotted and thinned out the bulbs to share, I had at least 2 dozen that were golf ball size and sent up leaves. I can't wait to see what happens when the day comes and I can plant this thing outdoors in the ground!!
dissident
15 years ago
1: Peace lily .. killed mine off.. nothing seemed to work to keep it alive.. might have just been the variety I purchased

2: don't really have any yet that are considered "difficult"

3: dieffenbachia, english ivy, palms... spider mite messes

4: chinese evergreens, particularly the "jewel of india" ... philodendrons
Bumblebeez SC Zone 7
15 years ago
1) Name a supposedly easy plant that you have found to be really difficult. Pothos- the ugliness hurts my eyes

2) Name a supposedly difficult plant that you have found to be really easy. Ivy -all kinds

3) Name a difficult plant that was such a disaster that you will never try it again. Fuchsia

4) Name an easy plant that you find so rewarding that you collect them, or push them on everybody you meet, or otherwise get frighteningly enthusiastic about.
African Violet
plantmasterm
15 years ago
I love this thread
1. Jade
  2.Calathea,Ferns,Syngoniums(all),Philos(all)
  3.China Doll
  4.Syngoniums,Pothos &all Philos
rhizophora
15 years ago
1) Ficus elastica-It is such a miserable plant and it grows so slowly!

2)Amorphophallus titanum(!)-Germinated quickly, im growing it hydroponically, I accidentally knocked it off the table it was on and it snapped. I planted the broken off leaf and it grew a tuber!

3) Phalaenopsis-If you go on holiday for just 2 weeks, they'll be dead by the time you come back!

4) Pandanus veitchii-the offsets just keep on coming!
lexie1397
15 years ago
1) Name a supposedly easy plant that you have found to be really difficult.... african violet. I just can't get the stupid things to root when I want them to.

2) Name a supposedly difficult plant that you have found to be really easy.... Cyclamen. Everytime I see someone mention it, seems like they preface with the idea that it's not an easy plant to grow but mine flowered almost constantly for two years under novice care, poor soil and little light.

3) Name a difficult plant that was such a disaster that you will never try it again.... lucky bamboo. Grew roots like crazy, then the water got moldy no matter what I did, shoot turned yellow and all the leaves fell off. Such a discouraging experience when i was brand new to the world of houseplants

4) Name an easy plant that you find so rewarding that you collect them, or push them on everybody you meet, or otherwise get frighteningly enthusiastic about.... Angelwing begonia. I was given one for my birthday in October and it's been putting out two or three 12" leaves per week ever since... It was my saviour during the long gloomy winter. I just need to figure out how to trim it and give cuttings away before it takes over my living room.

This is a great survey. It's neat to see what others find easy, what their challenges are and what gets them excited. When I can find more space, I'll have to come back to this thread and see what I should add to my collection!
User
15 years ago
Reading this has been a lot of fun. Here's my $.02!

1.) Supposedly easy, but actually difficult. I've been trying to root one of those logs for a Ti plant, and it's just not happening for me. Don't nursery school kids do this in class sometimes?

2) Supposedly difficult, but actually easy. Hibiscus. Well, okay, that's actually a lie. When I first got a couple, me and the spider mites had a three-month-long knock-down-drag-out fight, but I won and since then it's been a walk in the park.

3) Such a disaster that you will never try it again. Oh, that's easy--I think at least five people already said it. GARDENIA. Oh, you know you're thinking of trying it. Yes, you. Don't do it.

4) Name an easy plant that you find so rewarding. I believe I've waxed poetic several times on this forum about my aglaonema "Silver Queen." Well, actually, it's the only houseplant my wife chose, it might be the one we've had the longest, and its offspring have been widely distributed.
emisanwald
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Late response! It was 2008 the last time this was posted on? 2015, let's bring this post back.

1) Name a supposedly easy plant that you have found to be really difficult.

Cyclamen. I had got it from a neighbor who meant to plant them but never had time for them, and they were getting very sunburned. It's lost way to many leaves, and was a little droopy looking. It seems to be doing better than a few weeks ago...It even has a bloom! Praying for it...

2) Name a supposedly difficult plant that you have found to be really easy.

Maiden Hair Fern. Yep. Thriving little bugger.

3) Name a difficult plant that was such a disaster that you will never try it again.

Parlor Palm and Wandering Jew. The Parlor Palm just fell over and croaked, and the Wandering Jew I've been messing with since two years. Once this thing dies, NO MORE!

4) Name an easy plant that you find so rewarding that you collect them, or push them on everybody you meet, or otherwise get frighteningly enthusiastic about.

Ferns, Spider Plants, Orchids, and any Philodendron. I always offer cuttings, and get way to happy when I see them anywhere, whether at a Restaurant, a Library, or a Waiting Room!
jentsu926
8 years ago
1) Name a supposedly easy plant that you have found to be really difficult.

English ivy. I don't understand, because this mess is invasive as all heck outside, even down here in the Southeast. I give it everything it needs, but it just hangs out and does nothing, like some deadbeat relative you mistakenly offered to stay at your place for a month rent-free. It shows up on numbers of "easy plants" blogs, and I have no idea why.

2) Name a supposedly difficult plant that you have found to be really easy.

I haven't killed my sweet little watermelon peperomia yet, but I also don't want to curse myself. Peperomias seem to be these Goldilocks-type plants, where everything has to be just right.

3) Name a difficult plant that was such a disaster that you will never try it again.

I had one of those spiky looking Dracaenas, am unsure of the exact variety. The cat had the best time chewing that one up and vomiting on a daily basis. I don't think I necessarily killed it, but I think the plant was like "to heck with living with these cats" and just bowed out.

4) Name an easy plant that you find so rewarding that you collect
them, or push them on everybody you meet, or otherwise get frighteningly
enthusiastic about.

None, yet, but I get compliments on my lucky bamboo and Chinese Evergreen. I recommend the bamboo to those who are willing to take a little extra time to change out the water frequently, and to (eek!) pay attention and not use chlorinated tap water. If someone doesn't seem conscientious enough to do that, then I don't even mention it. The number of lucky bamboo casualties, either due to abandonment or neglect, just makes me sad. I have to look out for them! : )
MrBlubs
8 years ago
1) Name a supposedly easy plant that you have found to be really difficult.

Tillandsias/Airplants. Everywhere says there easy to grow, even people at the nurseries said they're really difficult to kill. Yet, I've killed 3 and counting.... I think I've gotten the care somewhat down but that's a hopeful statement. But I love the little buggers!

2) Name a supposedly difficult plant that you have found to be really easy.

Majesty Palms. I got mine in Febuary of 2013 and it's still going strong. It started out looking pretty crappy with about 4 fronds between 3 trunks. I've never had any problems at all. Except for a spider mite infestation that was brought upon by my Pygmy Date palm. Yet, it was extremely east to get rid of them. It's one of my favourite plants!

3) Name a difficult plant that was such a disaster that you will never try it agai

Never have owned a difficult plant per say....... My most 'difficult' is my Majesty. I guess I'm still on the basics!

4) Name an easy plant that you find so rewarding that you collect them, or push them on everybody you meet, or otherwise get frighteningly enthusiastic about.

Gotta be my heart leaf philodendron! Though I've never tried pushing any cuttings on anyone... That sucker is mine and only mine!
bunnygurl
8 years ago
1) Name a supposedly easy plant that you have found to be really difficult.

Hmmm....just about everything that can't handle being dry for weeks at a time as I'm a terrible underwaterer. More specifically I'd say Hoyas. They are hard core mealy bug magnets for me and I just can't keep them alive.
1. Name a supposedly difficult plant that you have found to be really easy.
Orchids. I bought my very first Orchid about 6 years ago and it's green and lovey and flowers and so I bought 5 more and they're all looking great and flower regularly.
1. Name a difficult plant that was such a disaster that you will never try it again.
Ivies. I just don't have the humidity to keep the spider mites away and they claim them every time. Never again.
1. Name an easy plant that you find so rewarding that you collect them, or push them on everybody you meet, or otherwise get frighteningly enthusiastic about.
I really really like my Draceana marginatas and my Spathiphyllum. They put up with so much from me and they still look so wonderful. Not picky about lighting (to a certain degree without going to either end of the spectrum), don't seem to care about the lack of humidity here and are very 'talkative' about telling me when they would like some water. If I didn't like variety I'd have nothing but these plants.
minflick
8 years ago
Schefflera. Always been Bug Hell Death for me, without fail, for decades. Diffenbachias - thrived next to my stove top, died out in the living room.
wildhyacinth
8 years ago
Not sure if Mr. S. is still following this post, but if you are, hi! I have enjoyed perusing your blog this summer as the house plant bug has taken hold of me. Haha.

1) Name a supposedly easy plant that you have found to be really difficult. English ivy! The spider mites and I have been having it out. I may have beat them, too soon to tell really, but...oy! Beautiful plant, tho. Breaks my heart.

2) Name a supposedly difficult plant that you have found to be really easy. My fittonia seems very happy. I *am* a little worried about what I'll do with her when I travel, though. I left her for a week once and she had quite a fainting spell. I'm thinking of rigging a little humidity tent with some plastic wrap before I leave for winter break. But anyway, yeah. I mist her attentively and she is putting out new leaves and filling out her open terrarium nicely. I'm quite pleased. High maintenance, yes, but beautiful and easy as long as I meet her water and humidity requirements.

3) Name a difficult plant that was such a disaster that you will never try it again. Ugh, my Selaginella kraussiana was a disaster. It was fine until I divided it to put some in the terrarium. I put the remainder back in its pot. Well, I guess I didn't do a good job with the dividing/repotting. I removed this moldy, dying plant from the terrarium and was sad. Luckily, the other plants grew well and covered the gap left very quickly. Don't think I would try this plant again, too delicate and fussy.

4) Name an easy plant that you find so rewarding that you collect them, or push them on everybody you meet, or otherwise get frighteningly enthusiastic about. I am always trying to find people who want an easy plant, so I can have an excuse to pot up my spider plant's babies and give them away. As it is, I usually just chop off the reproductive stalk when I get tired of looking at it and within days, my plant puts out another one. It has two on right now!! I've been really impressed with the kind of abuse he's survived over the years. My mom would forget to water him for months and I'd come home from college and give him a soaking. Boom, baby plants! Just like that. I recently finally repotted him and he was SO potbound! I couldn't loosen the tight rootball without destroying a bunch of roots. Repotted him and within days, put out a huge reproductive stalk. Wasn't even phased!! So yes, spider plants are pretty amazing.
oxford_pictionary
8 years ago
1) African violets. I keep reading that they're so easy to make flower and yet mine refuse to flower.

2) not sure if I have any that are considered difficult that I don't also find difficult!

3) cycas revoluta, aka sago palm (as an indoor plant).

4) aloe!
laticauda
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
1) this would have been Pothos, but I guess I was just having soil problems before. Ah, this creeping fig (it was only a dollar!). I don't know what it wants from me but it's supposed to "grow like a weed' but mine is just barely hanging on. Also, i can only keep an AV alive...have yet to make one bloom.

2) most difficult plants are due to high humidity needs....I know my climate doesn't do too well with those so I guess I don't have any "difficult" plants that are easy for me which leads me to my next....

3) Croton

4) Aloe vera, NOID Haworthia sp. MINT! And a couple NOID Plectranthus.....those were recently generously thrust upon me though

and of course three different types of spider plant.

Agloanema cvv.

Sansevieria spp.
ubro
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
1) african violets, never bloom, never thrive I would love to have these in any colour but alas--- it is not to be, they hate my house.

2) I am not sure if this is a difficult plant but my grapefruit for some reason likes me. I started it from seed 10 years ago and it grew well. I even would prune it to keep a nice shape,no fruit but a wonderful plant for indoors. Alas, this spring I brought a plant home with bugs and it infected EVERYTHING including my grapefruit. After a long battle and no success I ruthelessly cut it back to 6 inches, banished it outside in the spring where it froze (more than once) and voila! it sent up new leaves and a new plant in the same pot. It is back to healthy green, bug free, and coming on great. It is now back in it's place.

3) boston fern, I assume there is not enough humidity in my house but this plant, which I love and have bought more than once, is just too demanding. To mist or not to mist? I find it fickle. It browns with too little moisture and browns with too much and always looks like it is on the verge of death.

4) succulents, I am always picking off a few leaves and letting them sprout in the pot, it is just so rewarding to watch them grow with almost no moisture.

definitely a fun thread to read, good choice of topic.
CK (Singapore)
7 years ago
After lurking on this forum for the longest time, I have decided to post my first comment on this fun thread!

1) Name a supposedly easy plant that you have found to be really difficult.

Don't laugh, but I had a hard time with kalanchoes.

2) Name a supposedly difficult plant that you have found to be really easy.

Diffenbachia! It's good for now, though it has a leaf turning yellow every now and then.

3) Name a difficult plant that was such a disaster that you will never try it again.

Kalanchoe, for now...

4) Name an easy plant that you find so rewarding that you collect them, or push them on everybody you meet, or otherwise get frighteningly enthusiastic about.

Peace lilies! They are really easy to keep (here in the tropics). Just catch on to the individual cultivar's watering needs and keep them moist without allowing them to droop. The big and long leaves are beautiful.
Danielle N
7 years ago
1. wandering Jew (over watered to death) and calathea (kept dying until I put in enclosed jar)

2. anthurium

3. orchid if I can't keep the ones I have now happy

4. Schefflera or Pothos
Kim
7 years ago
1. Philodendron, I don't know why but they hate me.

2. Not sure, carnivorous plants maybe?

3. Ming aralia, I love them but just can't kill off another one. Not sure this fits either. :)

4. Hoyas, Hoyas, and more Hoyas. Did I mention I grow Hoyas?
Kristine Buentello
7 years ago
Fun thread!

1) Probably succulents in general. I just find it so hard to get the balance between watering too much and watering enough.

2) Croton. Once I figured out how much they hate to be moved it's been smooth sailing.

3) Boston ferns. I love them so much but it is just not humid enough in my house and misting never seems to be enough.

4) Pothos and snake plants. Very easy to see new growth which is encouraging for new growers like myself, and both are super tough plants that can spring back from a surprising amount of abuse.
Mentha (East TN, Zone 6B-7A)
7 years ago
It's amazing that this thread is almost 9 years old (two weeks or so shy) and my tastes haven't changed all that much.
Laurie (8A)
7 years ago

Fun post to read!!!

easy but not for me:

Kalancho, air fern

Hard but easy for me: Ferns, Ficus, China doll.

Gardenia, Had a china doll for (above) years and she just died so fast and so helplessly, I guess I got too attached.

Pothos, Ponytail Palms, Asperagus ferns.
thenaturalist
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
1) Name a supposedly easy plant that you have found to be really difficult.
— Spider plants. They need more light than advertised, turn brown and wilt easily.

— Terrariums. Maybe not easy, but popular. The humid, semi-enclosed variety. Only thing I've ever been able to grow in a terrarium is moss. Otherwise, they've all become gnat havens. The perfect microclimate for those things to breed. I really want to have a successful one but it's harder than it seems and nobody has a straight answer about how they address the gnat issue.

— Plants designated as "house plants" and commonly sold as such at Big Box stores, in general (again, spider plant). I've found them to be no easier nor more well-adapted than plants that aren't traditionally grown indoors.

2) Name a supposedly difficult plant that you have found to be really easy.

— Rare rainforest/tropical plants. Varieties of anthurium, philodendron, monsteras, medinillas, etc.

3) Name a difficult plant that was such a disaster that you will never try it again.

— Begonia chlorosticta and pavonina. I would love to try it again, but so far I've done nothing but kill them despite doing my best to provide the right conditions. Also growing food indoors on a window sill: strawberries, herbs, etc. Way too easily infested and hard to treat if you want to stick to organics. Not worth it.
— Ferns. Even with relatively high humidity, they seem to die. I really want to try again but I've killed every single one so far, even if they lasted a few months.

4) Name an easy plant that you find so rewarding that you collect them, or push them on everybody you meet, or otherwise get frighteningly enthusiastic about.

— Philodendrons. A nice, green philodendron hederaceum should probably be everybody's starter pokemon. Plant. I mean plant.
CK (Singapore)
7 years ago
@thenaturalist I feel that spider plants need to come with a warning label that says "This plant will turn brown no matter how hard you try. Do not panic."

And yes, I agree that ferns are hard too! Laurie, how do you make them easy?
minflick
7 years ago
Isn't if funny how some things are hard for some of us and easy peasy for others? I think it speaks to the needs of the plant more than our own skill levels! I don't have house plants right now because my house is far too dark, I'm under a large oak, pine, and several redwood trees.

Spider plants here will grow on my baking hot porch where they get scorched and many things DO die, but I also have them in a hanging basket in tree shade, and in bare dirt in more tree shade (where they NEVER get watered) and they thrive! Pretty much care free.

I'm making a fern experiment. In that same shady corner (bright shade, but very little direct sun, and only for moments) I have a few different fern plants, and we shall see how well they do.

My bet noir is schifflera. Can't grow them to save my live, and I gave up years ago.
User
7 years ago
1) Name a supposedly easy plant that you have found to be really difficult.

Jade. They are fine on the west coast, but east coast where I've been, just not enough light. And a braided money tree. Finnicky beyond belief.

2) Name a supposedly difficult plant that you have found to be really easy.

Hoya carnosa Krimson Queen. Super happy. I just leave it be.

3) Name a difficult plant that was such a disaster that you will never try it again.

English Ivy. Was so pretty until.......(cue the Jaws theme song).....spider mites.

4) Name an easy plant that you find so rewarding that you collect
them, or push them on everybody you meet, or otherwise get frighteningly
enthusiastic about.

Pothos, but I don't try to get anyone else to buy plants. I find it's better to check out forums. Everyone has their own hobbies.
minflick
7 years ago
I visited St Petersburg FL over Labor Day weekend last year. There, as municipal plants, were croton. A plant so needing humidity that out here in dry California, it's ONLY an inside plant, in a foggy greenhouse, or under the tender loving care of a maniac with a mister, and they were growing out and about as municipal plants, and you KNOW they got next to no care. And, they didn't need the care, because Florida is humid, no maniac misters needed for the plant to be happy.

Jade plants - In Los Angeles I've seen them 5 feet tall out in front of apartment buildings, getting no care at all, looking like hell, but huge!
mat68046
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
1) Name a supposedly easy plant that you have found to be really difficult.
Radermachera sinica "china doll"

Plant is very prone to drying out too much at certain times and root rot at other times, will not take full sun well but stretches indoors

2) Name a supposedly difficult plant that you have found to be really easy.

Ficus Benjimina "weeping fig" i have found these plants extremely easy to grow, drought tolerant, tolerates overwatering well, tolerates low light and dry air well

3) Name a difficult plant that was such a disaster that you will never try it again.

Any kind of fern

4) Name an easy plant that you find so rewarding that you collect them, or push them on everybody you meet, or otherwise get frighteningly enthusiastic about.

Dont really have one. Love china dolls but they are really picky.

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jamilalshaw26
7 years ago
Yes China Dolls are very finicky. I'm not sure what to do with mines! It was in a West window but it dried out too fast so I put it on a east facing one and its still sulking. I wanna put it outside but it'll probably die of thirst out there. Smh. If it ends up croaking at least I'll know I tried!
Alyssa (Zone 6)
7 years ago
Reviving this threa, what a great discussion!

1) Easy plant that you found really difficult - bird of paradise. my absolute favorite flower, gorgeous plant, but I can't seem to grow it in my area. rotted the roots of my largest, and I have 4 seedlings hanging in suspended animation... don't know, I just can't get them right.

2) Difficult plant that you found really easy - Persian carpet flower, Edithcolea grandis. I've heard they rot very, very easily (almost overnight) even at room temperature... I've had mine for a few months now and it's doing just fine. Hopefully I'm not speaking too soon, as it has not flowered yet.

3) A difficult plant that was such a disaster you will never try it again - Desert Roses. I was gifted a dozen seeds, and bought 3 six month old seedlings. Every seed germinated, but they all shriveled out of nowhere and dropped their leaves. The larger plants leaves yellowed and now they're a little shriveled and kind of doing nothing... very disappointing, won't be buying any more :(

4) An easy plant that you find so rewarding that you collect them/push them/get too excited about them - cacti, specifically Gymnocalyciums. Love love love their flowers, and most are just interesting to look at. Easy to care for f given the right conditions and very rewarding in the springtime!
Laurie (8A)
7 years ago

I will never ever grow english ivy and 8 million spider mites again. Ever. They are just such bug magnets for me they give me the heebie jeebies just looking at them, and I have heard too many here say the same thing.

Just looking at a rope Hoya gives me nighmares of well hidden crawly things pooing and chewing out of site. Those plants just look like mealy condos to me. I really have not ever been too level headed regarding plant bugs.

I have read on several sites now, and in several of my books that wandering jew should be grown for a year or less, as they get leggy and sparce and pruning diligently does not rejuvenate the plant. They recommended whacking off the stems and rooting in water or soil to making a new plant and discarding the old; roots and all. like you might a swedish ivy.

Nice posts all.
minflick
7 years ago
English ivy - despised indoors AND out! Giggle.
Keith Kaminski
4 years ago
1. Song of india, diffenbachi,

2. Wandering jew

3. Croton

4. , algonemia, dracaena

Houseplant difficulty levels: a survey

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