It’s my boyfriend’s birthday next month and I wanted to buy him a plant he hasn’t yet got. Currently we have:
- Lots of monsteras
- Syngonium
- Pothos
- Jades
- Snake plants
- String of hearts
- Ferns (staghorn, blue star, boston)
- Peace lilies
- Rubber plant
- Tradescantia
- Spider plants
He particularly likes monsteras! But if there are any relatively easy to care for, or ‘essential’ house plants that it sounds like they’d fit well with what we already have I’d love to hear. Our house is pretty shady but there are certain areas that get a bit more sunlight in the afternoon. Thank you :)
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- Philodendrons - first one that came to mind, so many varieties! The care has been really similar to monsteras for me.
- Hoya - agree with the other poster’s suggestion! I think a hoya would look nice next to your tradescantia, and there are so many interesting types. Plus they might flower if you’re lucky!
- ZZ plant - a bit of a different shape/growth pattern from what you have and quite low maintenance
- Peperomia - a more compact suggestion and somehow very giftable imo!
Many thanks for these suggestions! Philodendron Florida does look very nice, and I love the ‘waxiness’ of the leaves, a bit like the pothos we have. Are there any other philodendron varieties you’d recommend?
Of course!
- Rojo congo - deep color, can really grow to be a real beast with thick stems and big leaves
- Black cardinal - even darker, glossy leaves
- Billietiae - can be expensive, but the stem color, leaf shape and texture is super cool. Philodendrons atabapoense and 69686 are two others along the same vein; expensive, but unique leaf shapes
- Brasil - can be hung and treated similarly to a pothos if you want a companion for it. Philodendron neon is another one that is nice hanging and the color is really bright!
Perfect, that gives me a lot to choose from! Thanks again
May be too late on this one. But one of my fav philos is one of the simpler, cheaper ones, & reminds me a lot of my monstera because it grows very large. It’s technically not a philodendron depending on who you ask, but Thaumatophyllum Bipinnatifidum. Maybe get him two? Lol
No you’re not too late - thanks for the suggestion! That does look like it would pair perfectly with monsteras.
Let me add Philodendron ‘Glorious’ to the already wonderful list by /u/oolong@lemm.ee. It’s a hybrid of P. melanochrysum and P. gloriosum. It’s an easy hardy plant with gorgeous huge leaves when it matures.
That’s a lovely pattern on the leaves - and whoa I can’t believe how big they get!
If he likes monsteras he’ll love a rhaphidophora tetrasperma!
I think a jewel orchid such as a Macodes petola can make for a really nice gift for someone who likes plants. They are not in the “super easy” category but certainly “easy enough”. There are some really cool varieties to choose from. Personally I love the ones with bright green and gold veins, but there are also dark colored ones.
Orchids do have some different requirements, so your boyfriend might have to do a bit of reading and video watching to learn about orchid care. You can get the orchid with some substrate, an orchid fertilizer, and a pot, and he’ll be set. If you live in a dry place it might take some extra effort to keep it humid and happy, though.
Whoa, the species you suggested has some very unique patterning. Different from any orchid I’ve seen before. I think he would love something like that. Do you know if it’s possible to divide orchids? Thanks for the suggestion
Yes, it’s possible! In this extensive re-potting video the author shows how he divides them: https://youtu.be/8Kx-1T-GprA?t=1621
Edit: Sorry, I linked the wrong video! That’s just cutting for cleaning. One sec, I’ll find the correct video…
Edit 2: Ok, I think this would be helpful: https://youtu.be/b_xF0cK98Xg?t=610
That’s very helpful thank you! They seem easy enough to split
If you have the space, a ficus is a pretty classic houseplant with different contours than the plants you have already.
Thank you! The leaves on these look quite similar to our rubber plant - is that a type of ficus?
Yes, rubber plants are ficus types. But to be fair, there is a huge variety within the ficus, so look them up. Some have very small leaves, other have very large and sparse leaves.
I didn’t know that about rubber plants, thanks. Yes, I was thinking of the ficus benjamina, with smallish leaves and an arching/drooping habit.
I also picture that type of ficus when I see /hear the word first, but after moving to another country I learned that’s not a universal standard… I think the benjamina ones are the prettiest ficus you can get potted indoors.
Hindu/hoya rope plant would be a pretty cool addition to your collection.
Thanks - that’s a very interesting leaf shape! I’ll definitely consider this one
I’m also a monstera and fern fan. I also like Aloes and Cycads. Cycads can be expensive and hard to find though. But aloes on the other hand, are much easier, and very easy to maintain.
Ah I think we do have some aloes actually - I’d completely forgotten. But otherwise that would have been a perfect suggestion!
Would you consider a carnivorous plant? I have a Butterworts plant and it helps with any little gnats or fruit flies that occasionally get inside.
They’re relatively easy to propagate, unique and very satisfying to grow!
I hadn’t considered carnivorous plants, but that one looks very unique. And I have noticed little gnats around our plants so having some defence would be handy!
