Background information
Welcome to the (urban) jungle: the hype surrounding houseplants
by Maike Schuldt-Jensen
Pretty, but a total pain: houseplants worth avoiding
30.10.2023
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Looks aren’t everything. Granted, many exotic houseplants are head-turners, but they’re also demanding and susceptible to disease. Marie Henze from the online plant shop Mary & Plants has easy-care alternatives for you – and they’re just as attractive.
Popping colours, patterned stems, twisted leaves: unusual houseplants are in demand. Especially with plantfluencers who share pictures of their plant babies on social media. It seems the more colourful your plant, the better. My workmate Maike wrote about the trend a while ago:
Marie Henze from the online plant shop Mary & Plants confirms this development. «Things really kicked off with the pandemic,» she says. «Many people in isolation were bored, but not about to take on the responsibility of getting a pet. Instead, they drew inspiration from plantfluencers and got themselves trendy houseplants, the challenge being to make the exotic plants thrive. But many underestimate the care some of them require.»
When you don’t have the know-how
The result? The plants don’t thrive; they get sick, are returned or disposed of. Marie Henze knows why this happens: «Many people simply lack the know-how. They place their plants in spots with no daylight, put tropical plants in the blazing sun or want to grow a cherry blossom tree in the living room.»
Sometimes, the problem is also a lack of infrastructure. Many people are unaware of the fact that plantfluencers construct entire terrariums and greenhouses to create the perfect conditions for their plants. «The majority of unusual plants stem from tropical regions and need high humidity. In a dry room, they’ll never thrive as well as in a greenhouse.»
According to Marie Henze, the effort you need to put in to make a Monstera Variegata happy is often underestimated. That’s the plant with the white spots on its leaves, which has been hyped for years. «The spotted one requires more care than the green version. You need a lot of knowledge and experience to keep those white spots going.» A lack of knowledge is also often the issue with the Aglaonema, Alocasia and the Pink Princess. They all need a lot of moisture, are susceptible to pests and need to be fertilised on a regular basis. «Unlike cactuses, these plants die if you neglect them,» says Marie Henze.
Source: Darina Schweizer
According to various plant platforms, the following are also princesses on the pea:
- Calathea
- Fiddle-leaf fig
- Umbrella plant
- Arrowroot
- Ficus
Four fancy, but undemanding plants
Thankfully, there are alternatives out there; low-maintenance plants that are beautiful nonetheless. Marie Henze recommends the following four houseplants:
Source: Darina Schweizer
Moonshine Snake
She’s the hip, glowy make-up-wearing sister of the mother-in-law’s tongue. The leaves of this houseplant, which is also known as bow hemp, shimmer mysteriously – as if they were reflecting moonlight. The plant only needs to be watered about once a month and is quite forgiving if you make mistakes.
Desert Candle
The Desert Candle isn’t just a standard cactus. Its unusual shape and size make it a total eye-catcher, but it’s still easy to care for. It hardly needs any water. After all, it’s still (just) a cactus.
Mikado Snake
Here’s another snake (a subspecies of the bowstring hemp) for you. One that’s reminiscent of Mikado sticks. This houseplant’s a real jack-of-all-trades: not only can it be placed anywhere in your home – even in places with hardly any daylight – but it also only needs water about once a month. What’s more, it’s said to absorb and neutralise pollutants in the air.
Black Raven
The Black Raven, ZZ plant or Zansibar gem is, just as one of its many names suggests, a true gem. With its shiny leaves, it looks classy and can also cope with almost any lighting conditions. Black Raven is perfect for you if you don’t have green fingers.
From high maintenance to easy care
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with getting a Pink Princess or Monstera. If you’ve read up on them, have time and patience, these plants have a great chance of thriving. I just wanted to point out that there are unusual houseplants out there that aren’t as needy.
Do you have houseplants you look after? Which ones have been a success and which ones a disaster?
Header image: Darina Schweizer
Darina Schweizer
Senior Editor
Darina.Schweizer@digitecgalaxus.chI like anything that has four legs or roots. The books I enjoy let me peer into the abyss of the human psyche. Unlike those wretched mountains that are forever blocking the view – especially of the sea. Lighthouses are a great place for getting some fresh air too, you know?
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