The 10 Hardest Houseplants to Keep Alive: What Every Plant Parent Should Know
Simple maintenance tips that help finicky green companions thrive in any indoor setting.
Houseplants brighten our homes and boost well-being, but while some plants tolerate benign neglect, others have a reputation for being nearly impossible to keep alive. In this guide, we explore the ten houseplants most frequently cited by Gardenista readers as the trickiest to maintainâand offer proven tips to help even the most challenged indoor gardeners find success.
Why Are Some Houseplants So Difficult?
Unlike outdoor plants that enjoy rain, wind, and ever-changing sunlight, houseplants live indoors by necessity, not choice. This artificial environment often fails to meet their natural requirements, leading to frustration for plant lovers. Readers often identify as “unlucky” or even accidental “houseplant murderers.” Before giving up, read through our listâyou might just find new strategies for survival.
1. Orchid
Orchids top the list of hardest houseplants, with many readers sharing stories like, “I wouldnât say I killed an orchid; they mostly kill themselves.” Their elegant blooms belie their finicky waysâindoors, they resent overwatering, need loose bark mixes, thrive in indirect sunlight, and demand humidity. Most importantly: never let their roots sit in soggy potting mix, or root rot is inevitable.
- Primary Challenge: Sensitive to overwatering, low humidity, and improper light.
- Care Tip: Use a bark-based potting mix, provide bright but indirect sunlight, and keep humidity high.
- Expert Suggestion: Allow the medium to dry slightly between waterings and avoid typical potting soil.
2. Maidenhair Fern
The Maidenhair fern is delicate, with frilly, lacy leaves that quickly brown if humidity drops. They prefer dappled light, regular misting, and consistent moisture without sogginess. Even seasoned gardeners throw up their hands in exasperation with this sensitive species.
- Primary Challenge: Requires near-constant humidity and cannot tolerate drying out.
- Care Tip: Mist daily, avoid harsh sunlight, and try placing the pot on a tray of wet pebbles for extra humidity.
- Variety Note: Mahogany maidenhair ferns are slightly more forgiving than delta maidenhairs.
3. Gardenia
Gardenias enchant with their fragrance and glossy leaves, but are notorious for leaf yellowing, bud drop, and pest attacks indoors. Many struggle to keep them alive beyond the first bloom. They need bright light, humidity, and cool nighttime temperaturesâa combination many homes cannot provide.
- Primary Challenge: Sensitive to temperature fluctuations, dry air, and insufficient light.
- Care Tip: Place in a window with bright, indirect light and supplement humidity with a humidifier or misting.
4. Fiddle-Leaf Fig
The Fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is an Instagram darling and a real-life diva. Many readers complain about sudden leaf drop and browning edges. This fig is slow to forgive poor lighting, cold drafts, and inconsistent watering. Be prepared for dramatic displays if their conditions change.
What others are reading
- Primary Challenge: Reacts strongly to environmental changes and inconsistent care.
- Care Tip: Place in bright, filtered light; water only when the top inch of soil is dry; avoid moving once itâs settled.
5. Calathea (Prayer Plant)
Calatheas captivate with their ornate, patterned foliage but frequently frustrate indoor gardeners when their leaves curl, brown, or develop crisp edges. They’re highly sensitive to chlorine or fluoride in tap water and require evenly moist (not wet) soil and high humidity.
- Primary Challenge: Susceptible to water quality, inconsistent moisture, and dry air.
- Care Tip: Use filtered water and mist often or use a pebble tray for humidity. Avoid letting soil fully dry out.
6. Boston Fern
While Boston ferns often look lush on arrival, these ferns quickly develop crispy, brown fronds indoors. Their love of cool temperatures and humidity makes them difficult to satisfy in most homes, especially during dry winter months. Keeping them alive requires vigilance and humidity control.
- Primary Challenge: Minimum tolerance for dry air and drought.
- Care Tip: Place pots in bathrooms or kitchens where humidity is naturally higher; mist daily.
7. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera can die from too much loveâspecifically overwatering and insufficient light. Despite their popularity, many readers report soft, mushy, or yellowing leaves from root rot. These succulents crave sunlight and sparse watering, making them ill-suited to low-light corners with overzealous watering.
- Primary Challenge: Prone to root rot if overwatered or kept in low light.
- Care Tip: Use a cactus mix, let the soil dry out between waterings, and give them the brightest spot you can.
8. Croton
With their dramatic, rainbow-colored leaves, crotons tempt buyers, but they demand tropical humidity and sunlight, and respond to stress with spectacular leaf drop. Many owners experience heartbreak as foliage thins alarmingly fast.
- Primary Challenge: Sensitive to sudden drafts, changes in environment, and dry air.
- Care Tip: Place in consistent light and humidity, and avoid moving the container.
9. Indoor Citrus Trees
Compact lemon or orange trees promise fresh fruit indoors, but reality bites: they require intense light, regular feeding, pollination, and constant moisture. Most homes can’t provide enough direct light, resulting in leaf loss and failure to flower or bear fruit.
- Primary Challenge: Require long hours of hand-pollinated, bright sunlight and regular feeding.
- Care Tip: Grow near the sunniest window or use a grow light; hand-pollinate blooms; feed regularly.
10. Venus Flytrap
The Venus flytrap is the houseplant every child desires, but it is also tragically easy to kill. Native to bogs, it requires rainwater or distilled water, high humidity, bright light, and a cold winter dormancy. Tap water and year-round warmth almost always spell its doom.
- Primary Challenge: Needs distilled water, very bright light, and winter dormancy.
- Care Tip: Use only rainwater or distilled water; provide 12+ hours light; allow dormancy each winter.
Common Mistakes That Kill Tough Houseplants
- Overwatering: Many plants, particularly succulents, are killed by excessive water, which suffocates roots and fosters disease.
- Poor Lighting: Keeping sun-loving plants in shaded corners makes survival impossible for even the hardiest specimens.
- Low Humidity: Tropical and fern species require humidity well above that of most indoor environments.
- Wrong Soil: Regular potting mix can retain too much water or not enough for specialty plants like orchids and cacti.
- Frequent Relocation: Many finicky species respond to change with leaf drop or stunted growth.
General Survival Tips for Difficult Houseplants
- Group humidity-loving plants together to create a microclimate.
- Research your plant’s native habitat and attempt to mimic those conditions indoors.
- Use a hygrometer to measure indoor humidity and a moisture meter to avoid overwatering.
- Consider investing in a grow light, especially during winter months or in urban apartments.
Table: Quick Reference for Tricky Houseplants
| Plant | Main Challenge | Key Care Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Orchid | Humidity, overwatering | Bark mix, indirect sunlight, let roots dry slightly |
| Maidenhair Fern | Needs constant humidity | Mist daily, position by a window with dappled light |
| Gardenia | Prone to bud & leaf drop | Bright light, consistent moisture, cool nights |
| Fiddle-leaf Fig | Hates change & drafts | Stable position, bright filtered light, allow top soil to dry |
| Calathea | Crisping leaves, moisture | Filtered water, high humidity, soil never dry |
| Boston Fern | Dry air sensitivity | Regular misting, place in humid room |
| Aloe Vera | Overwatering | Let soil dry out, use pot with drainage |
| Croton | Leaf drop from low humidity | Protect from drafts, keep humidity high |
| Indoor Citrus | Needs strong light | Supplement light, pollinate blooms, regular feeding |
| Venus Flytrap | Irrigation water quality | Use distilled water, allow winter dormancy |
Troubleshooting FAQ
Q: Why do my orchids always seem to die within a few months?
A: The most common cause is overwatering and lack of humidity. Use a bark mix, let roots dry between waterings, and avoid direct sun.
Q: My maidenhair fern is browning from the edges. What am I doing wrong?
A: Brown edges on maidenhair ferns signal low humidity or dry soil. Mist daily and, if possible, group with other humidity-loving plants.
Q: Are any of these difficult houseplants toxic to pets?
A: Yes. Several popular but tricky plants, such as orchids, ferns, calatheas, and many others, can be toxic if ingested by cats or dogs. Always check for pet safety before bringing a new plant home.
Q: How can I raise humidity for tropical houseplants?
A: Group plants together, use pebble trays filled with water, and run a humidifier near plants that crave moisture.
Final Thoughts: Should You Try These Plants?
Even the “hardest” houseplants can thrive with the right care. Start by understanding each plant’s specific needs, invest in a few indoor gardening tools, and avoid the most common mistakes. If a particular plant has defeated you before, donât be discouraged: sometimes it’s a matter of timing, location, or just finding the right fit for your home. Happy planting!
References
- https://www.gardenista.com/posts/worst-plants-to-grow/
- https://www.gardenista.com/posts/quick-takes-special-edition-worst-plants-grow-garden-according-experts/
- https://www.gardenista.com/posts/worst-houseplants/
- https://www.gardenista.com/posts/10-things-nobody-tells-trendy-houseplants/
- https://www.gardenista.com/posts/houseplants-for-a-hater/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2deI0biusk
- https://www.gardenista.com/posts/10-house-plant-secrets-things-nobody-tells-you/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQvUgDOy4dw
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