Categories: Outdoor

9 Unbelievably Fragile and Delicate Houseplants to Care For

Published by

James marcus

1 year ago

If you’re a beginner plant owner, there are some plants you should steer clear of in your early gardening journey. Some require specific air, attention-to-detail, and some are just plan fussy. But if you’re up for the challenge, I wish you luck!

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Oh and if you guys are looking to see if any of these plants can hold up inside with an indoor heater during the cold season, this article with our original experiment and data may interest you: Can You Put Indoor Plants Near a Heater? We Tested 19 Houseplants

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Here are 9 indoor plants with some of the most demanding needs you’ll encounter:

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1. Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium Nidus)

What is this plant? With large, narrow, and green leaves that have wavy edges, this plant unfurls from the center in a languish manner. I’d like to think that its basic shape makes it easy for large birds to settle on the plant and lay an egg.

What are its basic care needs?

Sun: 6 to 8 hours of indirect sunlight.
Soil: Moist, well-draining soil filled with nutrients.
Water: Weekly to biweekly watering, after the soil has dried out halfway through.
Fertilizer: Feed monthly in spring and summer with a diluted liquid fertilizer.
Special Care: Place a humidifier near this plant as it requires high humidity to thrive.

Any precautions about taking care of this plant? None!

2. Calathea

What is this plant? This plant comes in an array of patterns and colors, from green, silver and purple stripes to a peacock kaleidoscope of hues. The leaves are often medium to large and heart-shaped.

What are its basic care needs?

Sun: 6 to 8 hours of indirect sunlight.
Soil: Well-draining, loamy soil filled with nutrients.
Water: Weekly watering, after the soil’s surface has dried out.
Fertilizer: Feed monthly in spring and summer with a diluted liquid fertilizer.
Special Care: Place a humidifier next to this plant as it thrives on high humidity levels to grow better.

Any precautions about taking care of this plant? None!

Where can I read more about this plant?

Calathea Houseplants – How to Care for Them, Varieties & Helpful Tips

3. Croton (Codiaeum Variegatum)

What is this plant? If you like colorful leaves that looks like it came off a psychedelic peacock, then this plant will add splashes of color in your home. They are also fairly fussy and will readily wilt if you don’t give them enough water.

What are its basic care needs?

Sun: 6 to 8 hours of direct or indirect sunlight.
Soil: Moist, well-draining soil.
Water: Weekly to biweekly watering, after the soil’s surface has dried out.
Fertilizer: Yearly application of compost into the soil or potting media.
Special Care: None!

Any precautions about taking care of this plant? Keep Croton far away from the reaches of children and pets as it is toxic upon ingestion and may even cause skin irritation.

4. Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus Lyrata)

What is this plant? Tall and trendy, exotic and lovely, the large billowy dark leaves which may be variegated with cream markings, is a coveted plant every collector wants to own in their home. But they do come with a hefty price and very demanding care regimen.

What are its basic care needs?

Sun: 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight.
Soil: Well-draining, loamy soil.
Water: Biweekly watering, after the soil’s surface has dried out.
Fertilizer: Feed monthly in spring and summer with a specially formulated fertilizer for Fiddle Leaf Figs. I know; they are so extra.
Special Care: Rotate this plant every week so it gets even exposure and the leaves grow out balanced. If it starts getting too tall, prune the top off the let it grow from the sides to obtain the bushy look.

Any precautions about taking care of this plant? Wear gloves and protective clothing when pruning this plant as the milky sap is not only sticky but may irritate your skin. Also, keep your children and pets away from this plant as it is toxic for curious nibblers.

Where can I read more about this plant?

Why Do Fiddle Leaf Figs Get Leggy? & How to Fix It.
What Happens If You Cut The Top Off A Fiddle Leaf Fig? – With Helpful Tips

5. Miniature Roses (Rosa spp.)

What is this plant? They’re basically a rose bush, but tiny with less leaves and more flowers.

What are its basic care needs?

Sun: 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight.
Soil: Well-draining, loamy soil filled with nutrients.
Water: Twice in a week, after the soil’s surface has dried out.
Fertilizer: Feed when it starts growing leaves and after each time it flowers with a specially formulated Rose fertilizer.
Special Care:
- Place a humidifier next to this plant as it requires medium to high humidity levels to thrive.
- Deadhead/remove spent flowers to encourage the next blooms to grow.

Any precautions about taking care of this plant? Sadly, miniature roses aren’t meant to be indoor plants for long. Eventually, you’ll need to plant them outdoors where it’ll grow in a small shrub and flourish better.

Where can I read more about this plant?

Everything You Need to Know About How to Take Care of Indoor Roses

6. Orchids (Orchidaceae)

What is this plant? A flowering plant that is well-known for its delicate and gorgeous blooms that grow on a single stalk, orchids are incredibly finicky to grow but well-worth the effort. I salute your patience if you are able to grow this plant.

What are its basic care needs?

Sun: 6 to 8 hours of indirect sunlight.
Soil: Well-draining, chunky soil filled with barks, wood chips, and sphagnum moss.
Water: Weekly to biweekly watering, after the soil has dried out halfway through.
Fertilizer: Feed monthly in spring and summer using a specially formulated Orchid fertilizer.
Special Care:
- Place a humidifier near this plant to encourage better development as it does best in high humidity levels.
- Repot this plant every 2 to 3 years once the roots start growing out of its current pot.

Any precautions about taking care of this plant? None!

Where can I read more about this plant?

Here’s What You Need to Know About Double-Spike Orchids

7. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

What is this plant? The white bloom on this plant is the main focal point of the whole plant, but trying to keep it thriving is a challenge. While the glossy green leaves are pretty nice on their own, it isn’t the same without the flower.

What are its basic care needs?

Sun: 6 to 8 hours of indirect sunlight.
Soil: Moist, well-draining soil.
Water: Weekly to biweekly watering, after the soil’s surface has dried out.
Fertilizer: Feed every 2 months in spring and summer using a diluted liquid fertilizer.
Special Care: Wipe the leaves down every 2 weeks with a damp cloth to remove accumulated dust.

Any precautions about taking care of this plant? Keep Peace Lily plants far away from the reaches of children and pets as it is toxic upon ingestion.

Where can I read more about this plant?

Peace Lily Flowers Turning Brown: The Why & How to Save It
Peace Lily Root Rot – How to Treat & Prevent it

8. String of Hearts (Ceropegia Woodii)

What is this plant? Tiny, green, heart-shaped leaves with dark green-gray colors dotted across the thin, purple stems that trail down from the plant’s center. On paper, it’s a pretty plant; in reality, it’s the equivalent of trying to untangle Christmas lights every time.

What are its basic care needs?

Sun: 6 to 8 hours of indirect sunlight.
Soil: Well-draining, gravelly soil.
Water: Biweekly watering, after the soil has completely dried out.
Fertilizer: Feed once every 3 months in spring and summer using a diluted liquid fertilizer.
Special Care: Prune the plant back if it gets too tangled up and prolific in its pot. Alternatively, let it grow over a pot in a trailing fashion from a high shelf.

Any precautions about taking care of this plant? None.

9. Venus Flytrap (Dionaea Muscipula)

What is this plant? Nothing about this plant screams Venus but it is indeed a Flytrap which can come in green, red or both in color. On rare occasions, it will shoot out a flowering stalk way far up for pollinators to spread its pollen.

What are its basic care needs?

Sun: 6 to 8 hours of direct and indirect sunlight.
Soil: Acidic, loamy or sandy soil.
Water: Weekly watering, after the soil’s surface has dried out.
Fertilizer: Weekly feeding of insects or arachnids, alive or dead, directly to the plant’s maw.
Special Care: Do not play around with the plant’s flytrap if you’re not going to feed it. It uses a lot of energy to just close its maw, and even more so to open up again.

Any precautions about taking care of this plant? None!

References:

Asplenium nidus (Birds Nest Fern, Nest Fern) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. (n.d.). Plants.ces.ncsu.edu. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/asplenium-nidus/
Bird’s Nest Fern – University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. (n.d.). Gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu. https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/birds-nest-fern.html
Crotons – University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. (n.d.). Gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/croton.html
Dionaea muscipula (Meadow Clams, Venus Flytrap, Venus Fly Trap) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. (n.d.). Plants.ces.ncsu.edu. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/dionaea-muscipula/
ENH413/ST254: Ficus lyrata: Fiddleleaf Fig. (n.d.). Edis.ifas.ufl.edu. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST254
FPS86/FP086: Calathea makoyana Peacock Plant. (n.d.). Edis.ifas.ufl.edu. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP086
Marsden, C. (n.d.). Orchids. Wisconsin Horticulture. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/orchids/
Polomski, B. (2018). Growing Roses. Home & Garden Information Center | Clemson University, South Carolina. https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/growing-roses/
‌Sep 15, F. | H. 1512 | P., & Print, 1999 |. (n.d.). Peace Lily. Home & Garden Information Center | Clemson University, South Carolina. https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/peace-lily/

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor

James marcus

Garden Courte is a blog written by [James Marcus], a passionate gardener and writer. She has been gardening for over 20 years and has a deep understanding of plants and how to care for them. In her blog, she shares her knowledge and experience with others, providing tips and advice on gardening, plant care, and more.