Some houseplants are just plain difficult . You bring them home , excited to watch them farm , only to find them wilt , shed leave , or bedevil a full - blown tantrum for intellect that make no good sense . You check the soil , move them to a good spot , maybe even talk to them a little — but nothing form . Some plant are just eminent - maintenance , and no matter how much you featherbed them , they still move like they ’re campaign for their liveliness .

I ’ve had my fair share of plant struggles , and I know I ’m not alone . Some of these plant look unbelievable at the computer memory , practically begging to be take on home , but keeping them alive ? That ’s a whole different story . If you ’ve ever wondered why your plant seems to detest you , chances are , it ’s one of these .

Orchids

Orchids are n’t meant to live in pots — they by nature grow by clinging to trees in humid , tropical climates . That ’s why they struggle inside , where the air is ironical , and their roots sit down in soil alternatively of getting the airflow they need . Overwatering is a speedy room to kill them , but neglect them is n’t great either . It ’s a all right balance , and most people miss the grade .

If you desire your orchidaceous plant to last , implant it in a loose barque mixture and only water when the tooth root grow silvern . Skip the bright Dominicus — indirect ignitor is good . A humidifier or pebble tray helps , but do n’t get the root sit in water . Once you discover the sweet spot , orchidaceous plant are n’t so bad — until you realize getting them to bloom again is a whole new challenge .

Miniature Roses

Miniature roses might do in a cute picayune great deal , but they ’re not intend to stay inside . They need lineal sun , fresh zephyr , and just the right mix of humidness and dispassion — things most homes ca n’t provide . Even with a grow light , humidifier , and fan , keep them alive indoors is an acclivitous battle . They commonly commence decline after a brace of weeks , no matter what you do .

If you really need them to boom , contrive on incite them outside . Give them a week to adjust by commit the slew outdoors during the 24-hour interval before transplanting . Once they ’re in the ground , they ’ll take off and grow like they ’re supposed to . Indoors , though ? They ’re on borrowed time .

Zebra Plants

Zebra plants expect awe-inspiring with their stripy leave and bold prime , but they demand near - perfect conditions . They involve warmth , bright light ( but no direct sun ) , and humidness tier most homes do n’t naturally have . If it ’s too juiceless , the leaves sag . If you water too much or too picayune , they throw a fit . Basically , they demand baby sitting .

If you ’re go down on keeping one alive , put it near a bright window , but not in direct sunlight . A pebble tray or humidifier is a must to keep humidness around 60–70 % . The grime should stay moist but never soggy . Even with all that effort , zebra plants can be refractory , so do n’t be surprised if yours still gives you trouble .

Azaleas

azalea might bet fairly at the entrepot , but they ’re a incubus to keep alert indoors . They need cool temps , eminent humidity , and more or less acidic soil — not exactly what most home provide . If you water them straight from the tap , the pH balance is off . If you have the grime dry out , they get mad . And even if you do everything right , getting them to bloom again is a gamble .

To keep an azalea alive , find the coolest spot in your home , away from vents or direct sun . A pebble tray or humidifier helps , and watering with a little diluted vinegar keeps the soil acid . Even then , it might not bloom again next yr , so enjoy it while it lasts .

Inch Plants

At first , inch flora count amazing — those purple - and - silver vines trail down attractively . But give it a niggling time , and they start getting stringy , with bare fore and a few sad leaves at the ends . Even if it ’s technically awake , it starts front rough fast .

The only path to keep an in plant looking good is to keep trimming it . Snip the growing tips often to encourage fresh leaves , and do n’t be afraid to cut it back hard if it get down too long-shanked . The good news ? It ’s not fussy about anything else . Give it comme il faut lightness and urine when the soil dries out , and it ’ll keep growing — just not always the path you require it to .

Maidenhair Ferns

Maidenhair fern are beautiful , but they dissemble like prima donna . They need humidity , patrician light , and logical moisture , and if you mess up even once , they ’ll start dropping leave like it ’s their job . Dry airwave ? Nope . Direct sun ? unquestionably not . Let it go a little too long without piddle ? Say goodbye to half the works .

The john is never letting them dry out — keep the dirt damp and mist the leaves often . If you have a humid bathroom with decent light , that ’s the perfect smirch . If the leaves begin turning crispy , prune off the numb parts and hear again . Sometimes , that ’s the only elbow room to bring them back .

Gardenias

Gardenias smack incredible , but they ’re a incubus to keep happy inside . They desire bright , collateral twinkle , but not too much . They hate being moved , so pick a patch and leave them there . And if they get too warm or too cold , they ’ll pretermit leaves in protest . To make thing forged , they ’re magnets for pests , so you ’ll constantly be on the watch for bugs .

If you want to give it a slam , identify your gardenia in a sunny but draft - free smirch , by from heating vents . Keep the soil damp but not sloughy , and arrest on a regular basis for pestis like aphids or whiteflies . A fertilizer made for gardenias can help , but even then , these plants can be frustratingly moody .

Fiddle Leaf Figs

Fiddle foliage figs are gorgeous , but they ’re also famous for being unmanageable . They need just the right amount of humidness , indirect visible radiation , and perfectly clock waterings . Too much water ? root word rot . Too little ? Crispy leaves . Move it to a new spot ? Expect some leaf dip . They do n’t handle change well , and they check that you know it .

To keep one alive , put it somewhere with bright , collateral sunlight and stable temperatures . Water when the top inch of ground is dry , but do n’t lease it sit down in pee . A humidifier can help oneself , especially in dry climates . Even with all that movement , do n’t be surprised if your fiddle leafage still gives you heartache — it ’s just what they do .

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