🪴HOW TO & TIPS
Over the years I’ve done a few YouTube videos on the hardest houseplants to grow.
You know, the real nightmares that cause more tears than leaves. (If you’ve ever tried to keep a Blue Star Fern alive, you know what I mean.)
But this week I thought I’d flip it.
Instead of the impossible divas, I want to talk about plants that are tough, but a good challenge.
They’ll test your skills, but they’re not so difficult that you’ll end up crying into your watering can.
Before you read on: Keep an eye out on your inbox tomorrow. 55 brand new videos are going to be available to you, and only you, as a subscriber to my newsletter. That’s all I’ll share until I see you tomorrow.
Here are five worth trying if you’re ready to level up:
1. Calathea (aka Drama Queens)
Their patterned leaves are gorgeous, and they’ll even fold up at night like tiny prayer hands. But they’ll also brown dramatically if humidity isn’t right. Keep the air moist and they’ll reward you with show-stopping foliage.
2. Fiddle Leaf Fig
The plant that launched a thousand Instagram posts. Tall, sculptural, and temperamental. Move it around too much or drown it with water, and it’ll sulk. But if you stick to a routine, it can become the centrepiece of your home.
3. String of Pearls
One of the most photogenic succulents out there, but it hates soggy soil. Learn to master the “soak and dry” cycle, and you’ll be rewarded with long, beaded cascades that (to me at least) look like green jewellery.
4. Alocasia (esp. Jewel varieties)
These metallic-leaved stunners look like they belong on another planet. The catch is that they like high humidity and can go dormant in winter. If you’ve got patience, they’ll come back bigger and better each year.
5. Maidenhair Fern
Delicate. Elegant. Incredibly thirsty. Forget to water it once, and it’ll act like you’ve abandoned it for a month. But keep it consistently moist, and it’ll turn into the most graceful fern in your collection.
Why Bother With a Challenge?
Because this is where you really grow as a plant parent. Easy plants like pothos teach you confidence. Challenging plants teach you attentiveness, patience, and how to spot problems before they spiral.
And the more you lean into challenges, the more rewarding the whole hobby becomes.
👀 What’s Next
Speaking of challenges… Tomorrow I’ll finally share something brand new I’ve been working on for a long time.
It’s designed for plant parents who are ready to go beyond the basics and tackle their collection with a lot more confidence. Think of it as your toolkit for levelling up.
See you tomorrow for the reveal.