tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post1193661666062823665..comments2024-03-27T07:35:21.832-07:00Comments on Plants are the Strangest People: List: Houseplants for Beginners to Avoidmr_subjunctivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14113199755474482747noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-30127806988254994772019-04-07T11:21:46.731-07:002019-04-07T11:21:46.731-07:00Eden:
Right, but . . . people who have never grow...Eden:<br /><br />Right, but . . . people who have never grown houseplants before almost never <i>do</i> do any research first.mr_subjunctivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14113199755474482747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-22548319025701630592019-04-07T10:24:40.163-07:002019-04-07T10:24:40.163-07:00Honestly I'm not sure I agree with this list, ...Honestly I'm not sure I agree with this list, I think anyone can take on any plant even if its there first as long as they have done enough research and are tentative owners and so capable of caring for such plants, especially as someone who loves unusual plants, you should never be dishearten to take on some of these amazing plants. I also look after exotic animals and the same sentiment Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15897791179837373385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-69016587679291557362017-05-14T16:10:38.041-07:002017-05-14T16:10:38.041-07:00River P:
Why do you say Dypsis instead of Ravinea...River P:<br /><br />Why do you say <i>Dypsis</i> instead of <i>Ravinea</i>? How can you tell them apart?mr_subjunctivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14113199755474482747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-15451039122618694032017-05-14T04:10:38.509-07:002017-05-14T04:10:38.509-07:00Love love this post and I could include another co...Love love this post and I could include another couple of hundred to the list. Just a word about your little palm pictured, its not a Ravinea but a Dypsis and a very nice one at that, probably the fabulously named Dypsis leptocheilos which is incidentally a marvellous house plant while small enough o fit into the room, doesn't have any of the majesties problems and even more of her charms. IfAntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14041212020431214852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-78488845458712394672013-02-26T08:36:09.055-08:002013-02-26T08:36:09.055-08:00Katerina:
I had a Calathea makoyana for a few yea...Katerina:<br /><br />I had a <i>Calathea makoyana</i> for a few years, that did surprisingly well. I'm not sure what happened to it -- the undersides of the leaves turned sticky, and it was near plants that had scale, so it seems like scale is the logical conclusion, but I searched and searched and never actually saw any adult scale insects, so I'm not sure what happened there. In any mr_subjunctivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14113199755474482747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-77293474058967479772013-02-25T17:47:12.237-08:002013-02-25T17:47:12.237-08:00Your right on these, especially the venus flytraps...Your right on these, especially the venus flytraps! too much of a hassle. I actually do have a peacock plant and its doing ok, two or three leaves have dry tips but that's about it.<br />As for the jasmine sambac o my goodnes.. it will not stop flowering for me.<br />And i was actually planning to get a citrus plant! what's tough about them? i would want to be prepared lolKaterinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18161171376071131759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-25278200786044495442012-11-12T15:40:05.857-08:002012-11-12T15:40:05.857-08:00I agree with you on all of these, especially that ...I agree with you on all of these, especially that damned majesty palm. I think the only possible explaination for it's prevalence in garden centers and big box stores is that it grows quickly from seed and at least looks nice for a while as it's dying. Rex Begonias are doable but are usually more trouble than they're worth... I have had better luck with the rhizomatous ones, at least Steve Asbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00095474295719758914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-61030966816526538312010-06-10T04:13:30.078-07:002010-06-10T04:13:30.078-07:00I have had heartbreak over a couple of these. I s...I have had heartbreak over a couple of these. I started off with bonsai, and trying and failing with those turned me onto easier plants. I also have a sad, dead rosemary plant on the balcony, silently accusing me of incompetence every time I go out there.<br />Almost bought a calathea the other week - its leaves were just so amazing, but I decided to wait and see if they were even remotely ScreamingGreenConurenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-19790234644646333492010-06-05T13:20:19.621-07:002010-06-05T13:20:19.621-07:00Oops. I own quite a few plants on the Do Not Own ...Oops. I own quite a few plants on the Do Not Own list. Other than fearing for my safety on the balcony should these crazy plants revolt against me, I will, at least, live in the JOY of knowing you have given me many reasons onto which I may place justifiable blame. Thank you for that!<br /><br />Added bonus: I haven't had that much fun with Latin since high school parochial classes back Joanhttp://BalconyOasis.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-35782931830781827732010-06-04T13:45:19.185-07:002010-06-04T13:45:19.185-07:00Diane:
Oxalis triangularis made the list because ...Diane:<br /><br /><i>Oxalis triangularis</i> made the list because of the dormancy thing (also the grooming requirements are pretty hardcore, in my experience). It's not that it necessarily makes the plant hard to grow as that someone new to houseplants is likely to think they've killed it if it starts to go dormant. Also, plants that have wildly differing requirements at different times mr_subjunctivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14113199755474482747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-50133788385794338042010-06-04T12:57:29.950-07:002010-06-04T12:57:29.950-07:00I have personally killed most of these plants and ...I have personally killed most of these plants and I'm glad to know it wasn't just me. The only thing on the list I've had success with is Stromanthe, and Alocasia if a plant with one hilarious leaf can be considered successful. What's wrong with Oxalis? I've let mine go dormant (meaning: I forgot about it) but was planning to revive it.Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12589473046882217457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-39743273093560999802010-06-04T05:02:57.520-07:002010-06-04T05:02:57.520-07:00What a great list. I see many of my victims there...What a great list. I see many of my victims there. And the comments indicate that I'm not the only one who will try and try again, despite the obvious. Oh, but I DO want that Dizygotheca - ha.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-24511387251606851282010-06-03T22:58:31.279-07:002010-06-03T22:58:31.279-07:00I bought some Hedera helix about three years ago a...I bought some Hedera helix about three years ago and then read about how bug prone they are. For two and half years the thing teetered on the edge of death. Suddenly this year it has sprung into action and gone insane. The only reason I didn't throw it out is because I had just stopped caring. I feel you. Oh, I have killed three gardenias. I am also through with Hibiscus--through!<br />RMRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01099423464451803354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-14335908030041946692010-06-03T18:56:46.954-07:002010-06-03T18:56:46.954-07:00I meant winter it is opposite...duh.I meant winter it is opposite...duh.choppiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16026878823054684000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-85473569693720066162010-06-03T18:53:21.440-07:002010-06-03T18:53:21.440-07:00I just started reading your blog a couple days ago...I just started reading your blog a couple days ago, I had no idea anyone in Iowa was so much fun!! I grew up in Clinton, then moved to Muscatine to raise my kids. They and my grandkids are still there, I have moved to Stockholm, Sweden now. Talk about nightmare winters for plants! Summers are great, light from 3am to midnight, but in summer it is just the opposite, light from 9am to 3pm. I choppiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16026878823054684000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-71708168013011149192010-06-03T14:34:25.930-07:002010-06-03T14:34:25.930-07:00I too have killed many if not all of those on this...I too have killed many if not all of those on this list. My grandmother, however, always did have good luck with poinsettias. Had a couple she kept for years. Didn't give me any clue as to how though. <br /><br />I do have a banana and love it. It's been growing for about 3 years now. I did cut down the original stalk last year, and think I may have to cut it back again this year. Lancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17953459540634785074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-49966413964338970182010-06-02T16:40:07.171-07:002010-06-02T16:40:07.171-07:00I have killed many plants on this list. More than ...I have killed many plants on this list. More than once in some cases.<br /><br />For carnivorous plants I have found that my Nepenthes & Sundew are both relatively easy, given rainwater and bright light.<br /><br />I was going to disagree over Streptocarpus but then I realized it shouldn't be someone's first plant - they should start off with a Saintpaulia and then move onto Streps Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16347983770474369842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-67151622876722193112010-06-02T13:17:39.329-07:002010-06-02T13:17:39.329-07:00That's my mystery plant! You have saved me a l...That's my mystery plant! You have saved me a lot of confusion!<br /><br />I have a <i>Calathea roseo-picta</i>, and did not know what it was, and it is very unhappy (in fact, mostly dead) and the reason is that I live in one of the few places in the US that there is so much natural fluoride in the water that the treatment plants pull some OUT to hit the required levels, instead of putting Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-39964149500600236532010-06-02T09:44:32.415-07:002010-06-02T09:44:32.415-07:00Ivynettle:
Thanks. I remember thinking something ...Ivynettle:<br /><br />Thanks. I remember thinking something like, <br /><br />Me 1: <i>Hey, that doesn't look right. Are you sure it's</i> aureum?<br /><br />Me 2: <i>Yes, it's definitely</i> aureum. "Epiphyllum aureum," <i>a.k.a. "pothos," that's how it goes. What is wrong with you today?</i><br /><br />Me 1: <i>Okay, fine, let's continue. No need to bitemr_subjunctivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14113199755474482747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-39254114134301608292010-06-02T09:42:45.356-07:002010-06-02T09:42:45.356-07:00Poinsettia- somehow, I have good luck with these b...Poinsettia- somehow, I have good luck with these but ONLY as outdoor potted plants, though I did manage to keep a cutting in a beer bottle (filled w/water) for about a year. I planted that cutting this spring and it's taking off nicely.<br /><br />Gardenia - what fickle B!TCHES! SO not worth the trouble unless you have perfect atmospheric (NW coast) and soil conditions. <br /><br />Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17083803851861243093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-51887858552844565882010-06-02T09:30:16.114-07:002010-06-02T09:30:16.114-07:00You have a typo - 'Epiphyllum' instead of ...You have a typo - 'Epiphyllum' instead of 'Epipremnum'.<br /><br />I should probably have more to say, but I think the rain has washed my last brain cells away. All I can think is, 'Cold! Wet!'Ivynettlehttp://ivynettle.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-15181406992106441542010-06-02T08:46:58.372-07:002010-06-02T08:46:58.372-07:00Martin:
I seriously considered putting bananas on...Martin:<br /><br />I seriously considered putting bananas on the list, but didn't do so partly because I'm hoping it's not true -- I bought a <i>Musa</i> x 'Cheeka' a couple weeks ago. <br /><br />They were not my favorite plants in the greenhouse, mostly because they seemed determined to get spider mites no matter what we did. But I'm hoping it's more like <i>mr_subjunctivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14113199755474482747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-84121891156841256702010-06-02T07:58:13.269-07:002010-06-02T07:58:13.269-07:00I grew up in Canada and I always thought that pins...I grew up in Canada and I always thought that pinsetter plants were supposed to die in mid January.<br /><br />I eventually moved to the Mediterranean and I was quite surprised the first time that I saw a huge perennial poinsettia growing in my neighbor's back yard.<br /><br />The plant that they grow here that they really shouldn't try is banana. They don't look so good when Martinhttp://www.givingplants.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-53412065204392492272010-06-02T07:35:25.512-07:002010-06-02T07:35:25.512-07:00A strong second on Selaginella. I fully killed mi...A strong second on Selaginella. I fully killed mine less than two weeks after I bought it. And while an acquaintance gave me a free majesty palm, I'm leaving it outside to die this year. Too much trouble.<br /><br />As far as the "I've had it forever" goes, my sister did buy an Alocasia Polly about 5 months ago which is definitely not in a humid place and it seems fine.<br />Emilynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481706068105246695.post-30451457507474049892010-06-02T07:27:06.456-07:002010-06-02T07:27:06.456-07:00I LOVE that you included poinsettias. Thank you!I LOVE that you included poinsettias. Thank you!Lizahttp://goodtogrow.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com