Let’s Get Real About Fake Plants! Top-3 Easy-to-Grow Common Plants That Are the Real Deal.

There is no comparing fake plants to real plants! Live plants reconnect us with nature, tap into our desire to nurture, and are truly decorative.

I received much engagement on our Instagram reel about how you develop relationships with real plants in a way that you can’t with fake plants.

You nurture a living plant by helping it grow, and when your plant baby gets sick, it's personal.

Plants bring us a sense of joy that comes from surrounding ourselves with living things. They also give back by helping with productivity, alleviating stress, and purifying the air. Marie Kondo would agree that plants spark joy! In fact, Marie Kondo once posted a rant on Instagram about fake plants. She didn't like the idea of artificial plants and suggested that people buy real plants!

Plants are also an investment that can be sold or better yet, shared and passed down from generation to generation. As plants grow, they become a natural decor element that can sometimes become works of art.

Plants are a natural part of our ecosystem, while most fake plants made from plastic will end up in a landfill. Many fake plants are made from toxic plastic; although some are silks, those are more expensive and still don’t bring the benefits of real plants.

Google searches for fake plants are almost as high as houseplants. Searches like "fake plants you'll love" or "real-looking fake plants" rank very high.

So what is the real deal? Do fake plants have a place in our homes? They really shouldn’t, and many real plants aren’t challenging to grow at all.

Below are low-fail houseplants to get you started with the real thing. These are also referred to as easy-care houseplants that require little attention. These aren't plants you can neglect because plants are living things. They may go longer without water, or they may thrive in low light, but they can't be neglected entirely. There is a big misconception and myth that these plants thrive on neglect, which isn't true. They may not die as quickly as other plants, but if you neglect them they certainly won't thrive.

Top 3 Low Maintenance Plant Favorites:

1. Snake Plant (Sansevieria | Dracaena)

Sansevieria has many common names, not just snake plants. It's also known as mother-in-law's tongue or viper's bowstring. In Spanish, it's also commonly called 'Lengua de Vaca' or ' cow's tongue' I guess we're too afraid to insult 'la suegra.'

Scientifically Sansevierias no longer fall under the Sansevieria genus but instead have been reclassified as Dracaena Trifasciata. I still haven't embraced this change.

Whatever you call it, it's a survivor! If you've never owned plants, you should start with a snake plant. I keep snake plants in my home, not just because they are low maintenance but also because they make excellent home decor.

So how exactly do you take care of a snake plant? It's effortless, and they are highly adaptable to many indoor conditions.

Water & Humidity:

The great thing about snake plants is that they can go for extended amounts of time without water. There are few plants you can put on a watering schedule. Keep in mind where you keep your plant because it may need to be watered more often if it's in a high light area. You should water your snake plant when the potting medium/soil is completely dry, and be careful not to overwater your plant!

When ready to water, make sure to water thoroughly and all around the potting medium. I like to bring my plants to the sink for a good soak and then drain them completely. I usually place it on a saucer and empty it several times until there is no water coming out of the pot or left on the saucer. Make sure to water the top and bottom parts of the leaves as well. I usually water my snake plant every couple of weeks since it's in a lower light area it takes longer for the potting medium to dry.

Snake plants can also adapt to any humidity level in your home.

Light

Snake plants are also very adaptable when it comes to light. They can adapt to lower light conditions but keep them in medium to bright indirect light for faster growth.

Potting Medium and Fertilizer

Snake plants aren't fussy when it comes to potting medium or fertilizers. You can use any houseplant potting medium or fertilizer; follow the manufacture's instructions. Fertilize spring through summer.

Distinctive Feature:

NASA determined Snake Plants to be one of the most effective plants at naturally filtering out indoor air pollutants. NASA recommended at least two good-sized plants for every 100 sq foot of space.

Propagation

The great thing about snake plants is that they are easy to propagate from a leaf cutting and can be put in water for about 4-5 weeks to root. However, this can sometimes make it more difficult for cuttings to acclimate to the soil.

The recommended method is to propagate by division. Separate the plant by the roots at the base and pot up the new plant in potting mix. When propagating potting new plants, make sure to water and keep moist but not wet.

Now your existing plant has room to grow, and you will have new plant babies to share.

2. Pothos (Epipremnum)

Pothos is another easy-care houseplant with many common names as well, like devil's ivy and hunter's robe. I love Pothos and all of the variegated and neon varieties! I think this is such an underrated and underappreciated houseplant.

They make great hanging plants and look great on a bookshelf.

Water and Humidity

While it's not drought tolerant like snake plants, it's definitely more forgiving than other plants if you miss a few waterings. You can let it dry between waterings; water when the potting mix is completely dry. Also, don't forget to water and clean the leaves to keep away pests and allow for proper photosynthesis.

Pothos will also adapt to lower humidity levels.

Light

For fast growth, it's best to grow in bright indirect light, although it will tolerate low-lighter conditions.

Potting Medium and Fertilizer

Pothos aren't fussy either when it comes to potting medium or fertilizers. You can use any houseplant potting medium or fertilizer; follow the manufacturer's instructions. Fertilize spring through summer.

Propagation

Pothos is one of the easiest plants to propagate. However, unlike Snake or ZZ plants, you can't propagate from a leaf cutting; you need to make sure you cut leaf, stem, and node. Start with a clean pair of shears and cut just below the nodes. Put in water, preferably a clear glass, so that you can watch the roots; make sure to keep the nodes in water. Place in a warm or humid spot with bright indirect light; this will help with root formation. You could start to see small roots as soon as a couple of weeks. You should keep the water clean and refresh it at least once a week or if it turns murky.

Once roots fully form (est. 4-5 weeks), you can transfer to a potting medium. Pothos are so adaptable even water roots take easily to the soil.

Distinctive Feature:

Pothos is also one of the varieties identified by NASA to filter out indoor air pollutants naturally. NASA recommended at least two good-sized plants for every 100 sq foot of space.

3. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia)

ZZ plants are extremely resilient! They also adapt to many indoor light and humidity conditions. They grow full and lush and can add a modern touch to any indoor space.

Water & Humidity

ZZ plants can also go a few weeks without watering. They have rhizomes that look like little bulbous potatoes. The rhizomes help retain water. You should still make sure to check the potting medium and water when dry. ZZ plants can also tolerate low humidity levels.

Light

For fast growth, it's best to grow in bright indirect light, although it will tolerate low-lighter conditions.

Potting Medium and Fertilizer

ZZ plants are easy when it comes to potting medium or fertilizers. You can use any houseplant potting medium or fertilizer; follow the manufacturer's instructions. Fertilize spring through summer.

Propagation

ZZ's can be propagated using several methods such as leaf-cutting or separating the stem and leaves with their rhizome (division.) If you have separated the stem and leaves with the rhizomes (little potatoes), you can place them directly in water for further root development or directly in the soil. This is one of the quickest ways to grow more plants from your existing mother plant.

Leaf-cuttings in water

For leaf cuttings, prepare your shears and cut along the stem to separate the leaves. Now you can place the leaf in water or soil. If placing in water, do not submerge the entire leaf in water. Once the cutting has grown a rhizome with roots, you can pot. Make sure to take several leaf cuttings because ZZ plants aren't as fast-growing as Pothos, so rhizome and root development can take months, and some may not take.

Lef-cuttings in soil.

For the soil method, you can take the leaf-cutting and place it straight into the soil. Do not put the entire leaf face down, only about 1/2 of the leaf. This method is often used by commercial growers but can be more difficult to succeed with at home because you need to keep the right balance of light and humidity, and they are slow-growing.

Distinctive Feature:

NASA determined ZZ plants to also be effective at naturally filtering out indoor air pollutants. NASA recommended at least two good-sized plants for every 100 sq foot of space.

In conclusion, there is no reason for you to keep fake plants when these low-maintenance plants are so easy to grow and propagate! Get planting and make it real!

Top-3 Easy(ish) Rare Plants Worth Splurging On

Let's be honest most rare plants aren't low maintenance, and these aren't snake plants; they are exotic tropicals usually from the jungles of Latin America, Asia, or Africa. However, they may seem harder than it looks and some varieties are easier than others. Some rare plants should come with a warning label, though; 'warning: may die and induce stress.'

I'm not going to sugarcoat that some rare plants are hard to grow, I believe in transparency, and if you are successful with your plants, everyone is happy.

Before I get into the top 3 easy(ish) rare plants, let me tell you which rare plants new plant parents should not buy as their first plant.

• Anthurium Warocqueanum, also known as Queen Anthurium, believe me, she's the queen! It's easy to be seduced by the long velvet leaves, but unless you have a perfect greenhouse environment with grow lights, humidifiers, and more, leave this one to more experienced collectors.

• Aglaonema Pictum Tricolor, also known as Aglaonema Camouflage, is another rare beauty. You may be surprised to find this on the list because Aglaonemas are usually low-maintenance plants. The reason it's on the list is that they are difficult to root. I wanted to grow them commercially but was met with hesitation from growers I've worked with in the past. If you find a rooted and established Camoflauge Aglaonema, you should be able to grow it, but usually, they are sold in juvenile form, and mature plants can be pretty costly.

Shops that flip (buy and sell, but don't grow) plants may carry some of these and say they aren't hard to grow because they aren't growing from seed or cutting. I'm not knocking those shops; I'm just pragmatic. Some may also have success with them as a beginner, but growing one plant vs. being able to stably grow and trial hundreds of plants is different and reduces your success rate if harvest trials aren't successful.

Below are our top 3 rare plant favorites and care tips for new plant collectors

1. Philodendron Gloriosum

Philodendron Gloriosums are by far one of my favorite exotic tropical plants; it may be because they are native to Colombia, one of my favorite countries in Latin America. They add drama and give a tropical look to any space. They also add depth and height and have velvet leaves, making them even more irresistible.

Philodendrons fall under the Araceae family, a diverse genera (125 and over 3k species.)

Water & Humidity

Water when topsoil is dry, do not keep it too moist. Philodendron Gloriosum can skip a watering (don't push it past a week without checking it) and don't require extremely high humidity like some rare plants. They do thrive in humid conditions, though.

When ready to water make sure to water thoroughly and all around. I like to bring my plants to the sink for a good soak and then I let it drain completely. I usually place it on a saucer and empty it several times until there is no water coming out of the pot or left on the saucer.

Light

They can be grown in shadier spots in the home (not low light; lower light) but will

grow faster in bright indirect light.

Potting Medium & Fertilizer

Like many epiphytic aroids, they need a well-draining mix; perlite, coco coir, orchid bark will do the trick. You can grow in sphagnum moss but will need to incorporate nutrients.

They benefit from fertilizer throughout spring and summer because they aren't super fast growers. Use a slow-release fertilizer and/or houseplant fertilizer and make sure to follow the packaging instructions (less is more.) I recommend new plant parents begin with slow-realease fertilizers because they are more forgiving than liquid fertilizers. If you don't measure liquid fertizliers properly you could easily end up with leaf or root burn.

2. Anthurium Clarinervium

You can't help but fall in love with a heart-shaped leaf plant like Anthurium Clarinervium. The veining on this rare masterpiece and heart shape makes it a must-have. I find the Clarinervium, if established (we're not talking about unrooted cuttings or seedlings here), is far easier than some other rare anthuriums. They also grow faster than their cousin Anthurium Crystallinum.

Clarinerviums can actually be found readily available in some plant shops in Europe. However, they are native to Mexico - viva Mexico!

Water & Humidity

They need consistent watering, but make sure not to overwater or let sit in water.

Anthurium Clarinerviums are also epiphytes, so they grow mainly on trees with exposed roots. If their roots sit in water they will be susceptible to root rot. Also, the reason why you want to be consistent with watering is that they are prone to leaf marks, which is only cosmetic but for some can be distressing. Remember that plants are living things, not hard goods like other decorative objects. Some markings or leaf tears are to be expected.

When ready to water make sure to water thoroughly and all around. I like to bring my plants to the sink, as I mentioned, for a good soak and then I let it drain completely. I usually place it on a saucer and empty it several times until there is no water coming out of the pot or left on the saucer.

Rare anthuriums do not like cold drafts and need plenty of ventilation. Poor air

circulation could lead to fungal issues.

Potting Medium & Fertilizer

Like Philodendrons, they need a well-draining mix; perlite, coco coir, orchid bark

will do the trick. You can grow in sphagnum moss but will need to incorporate nutrients.

They benefit from fertilizer during the growing season as well; spring and summer. Use a slow-release fertilizer and/or houseplant fertilizer and make sure to follow the packaging instructions (less is more). For new plant parents start with slow-release fertilizer, as I mentioned above.

3. Syngonium Albo Variegatum (Syngonium Podophyllum)

Also known as the arrowhead vine, this plant grows quickly and is easier than most other albo variegata varieties. Syngonium varieties in general make great houseplants, they are real givers!

Syngoniums are exotic tropicals native to several parts of Latin America, from Mexico to Ecuador and Brazil. However, they are quick to acclimate to home environments.

Syngonium Albos can get leggy, so if you prefer a bushier plant this may not be the best houseplant for you. You can pot several together, but it naturally grows tall and messy since they are vining plants. You can prune and encourage a bushier plant, but I prefer to leave it in it's natural form and add support for vining.

Water & Humidity

When ready to water make sure to water thoroughly and all around. As I mentioned, I like to bring my plants to the sink for a good soak and then I let it drain completely. I usually place it on a saucer and empty it several times until there is no water coming out of the pot or left on the saucer. Do not let the plant sit on water too long.

Like most aroids, they thrive in high humidity but syngomium albo will adapt to average household temperatures without needing a humidifier (provided your home has above freezing temps.)

Light

Syngonium Albo will grow well in most light conditions, except extremely low light.

They do best in medium to bring indirect light. Be careful with too much sun exposure as this can turn your albo leaves brown or burn them.

Potting Medium & Fertilizer

Like many epiphytic aroids, they need a well-draining mix; perlite, coco coir, orchid bark will do the trick. You can grow in sphagnum moss but will need to incorporate nutrients.

Use a slow-release fertilizer and/or houseplant fertilizer and make sure to follow the packaging instructions (less is more.) As mentioned, if you are new to rare houseplants start with a slow-release.

Are You a Pandemic Plant Parent?

Luxton, Claire. "Jungle Juice" Print. <http://https://claireluxtonart.com/>

For many, plants were a magic little green pill that helped us get through lockdown in 2020. So, you bought a plant, or two, or three, during the pandemic, and now what? I was off the grid—or should I say gram—for a few months during the pandemic. I went back online a few months later and was shocked, really shocked, at the number of new plant accounts created on Instagram during COVID-19. One account, @pandemic_plant_parent_ got me through some rough days during COVID-19 with her fun plant puns and videos.

For many, plants were a way to deal with the isolation of lockdown. Plants are scientifically proven to help improve our mental health. It's no surprise that people turned to plants to help cope with pandemic stress. Also, during the early days of lockdown, only grocery stores and home improvement stores were open. Plant sales surged at big box stores, and growers couldn't keep up with demand; online sales also sky-rocketed. The plant industry experienced Black Friday type demand.

I wondered if people realized the responsibility of being a plant parent. Are we going to see plants in the trash once COVID-19 restrictions are fully lifted? Is it going to be like when people release their exotic iguanas or snakes lose after realizing they have gotten too big or can't care for them?

Many pandemic plant parents are now concerned about going on vacation and leaving their plant babies behind. The responsibility of caring for a plant can feel overwhelmingly big, like a new puppy big!

5 Tips for Dealing with Pandemic Plant Parent Anxiety

If caring for your new plant baby begins to overwhelm you, don't fret. Below are five tips to help you with your new parenting anxiety.

1. Quarantine your new plant baby when you bring it home

The plant may look healthy and beautiful, but you don't know what's crawling in the potting medium. It could be a fun little tropical friend like a lizard from Florida.

2. Check your plants weekly or bi-weekly to see if they need watering

Depending on the species and location in your home, some plants may need more water than others. For example, a plant in a south-facing window will probably need more water than the same plant in your bathroom.

3. Don't overwater. Don't do it

Some people water their plants with bottled water. I say you keep that bottle for yourself and drink up every time you get the urge to water your plant. Overwatering is the leading cause of plant death in the US. Many aroids and hoyas can go a week or two without water depending on where you keep them.

Check the soil or medium using the finger test or a moisture meter; make sure the medium is completely dry at least 3-4 inches before you water. I prefer to let many of my Aroids dry out completely.

4. Don't be a helicopter plant parent

It's ok to check on your plants and admire them daily. But don't pull them out of the nursery pot, constantly checking the roots.

New plants need to acclimate to their environment, and taking them out of the nursery pot after arriving in their new home is like waking up a baby early from their nap.

5. Don't repot

Your plant has been on a long journey—unless you live in a tropical climate—from the jungle to your home. It may experience some shipping stress from being in a box and exposed to fluctuating temperatures and lighting or no light at all. Taking it out of its nursery pot (it's home where it has been growing) can add even more stress. The same goes for plants purchased at big-box retailers. They have been picked, staged in a packing facility, put on a dark truck, and shipped often miles from your home to the store. Most plants can grow comfortably in their pot for years.

How to Care for Your Plants When Going on Vacation:

1. Provide Plenty of Humidity

Make sure to check the thermostat before you leave, and don’t set it to cold or hot (75 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal.)

Humidity Hacks

• Group your plants together

• Create a pebble tray by placing your potted plant on a water-filled tray or saucer with pebbles. Set your plants on top of the rocks making sure the water is just below the top of the pebbles.

• Fill your bathtub with 1-2inches of water and set your plants in the tub. Make sure your plants have plenty of light or at least the same amount of light they were getting before.

2. Use Plant Wicks

Use any type of string about 1-2inches wide; shoelaces will even do the trick. You can either stick the string into the plant and let it hang out of the nursery pot into a water-filled saucer or pot with a reservoir.

3. Water Before You Go

Make sure to check your plants before you leave on vacation and give them a drink. Don't leave dry plants behind; it is best to leave plants a little moist (not wet) if your trip is delayed or willfully extended.