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A House Beautiful contributor who says she owns 65 houseplants has listed seven varieties she finds too demanding, including orange trees, peace lilies and fiddle-leaf figs. Her recommendations reflect her own experience, not a universal ranking; she also suggests alternative plants she considers more forgiving.
A House Beautiful contributor who says she owns 65 houseplants has named seven varieties she considers too high-maintenance, citing needs such as bright light, steady moisture and high humidity. The list is a personal account rather than a scientific comparison, but it offers readers a practical look at why some popular indoor plants may not suit every home or grower.
The writer’s list includes an orange tree, peace lily, Boston fern, alocasia, fiddle-leaf fig, money tree and African violet. She says her orange tree required an LED grow light and a nearby humidifier, yet she still struggled with spider mites during winter. Her Boston ferns, meanwhile, repeatedly dropped fronds after she brought them indoors for the colder months.
Other plants proved difficult for different reasons. The writer describes peace lilies as needing consistently moist soil and says they wilt when conditions do not suit them. She found alocasia demanding because of its need for very bright light, consistent moisture and humidity of 50% or higher. Fiddle-leaf figs also failed to fit her routine, in her view, because of their light, watering and humidity preferences. She says African violets did not bloom as she hoped despite her efforts.
For each plant, the contributor names a substitute she prefers: an olive tree for the orange tree, anthurium for peace lily, bird’s nest fern for Boston fern, colorful philodendrons for alocasia, bird of paradise for fiddle-leaf fig, snake plant for money tree and a substitute not specified in the available passage for African violet. These are the writer’s choices, not claims that the replacements will thrive in every household.
Matching Plants to Indoor Conditions
The list matters to home gardeners because plant care depends on a home’s light, humidity and watering routine, not just a plant’s popularity or appearance. A variety that struggles in one room may grow well in another, and the source itself acknowledges that some of the plants on the list may suit other people.
The account also frames plant care as a matter of fit rather than failure. The writer says she is willing to compost a plant that continues to struggle or no longer brings her enjoyment. That perspective may help readers distinguish a mismatch between a plant and its environment from a lack of effort, while keeping expectations realistic: the article does not establish that any variety is universally easy or difficult.
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How the Writer Chose Her List
The report draws on the contributor’s decades of experience with houseplants, according to her account. She recalls receiving cuttings from her grandmother and describes a collection that ranges from pothos and philodendrons to a large bird of paradise and familiar snake plants. Her experience includes both indoor gardening and growing plants outdoors.
Seasonal conditions shape several examples. The writer says she particularly enjoys indoor greenery during colder months, but also describes winter as the time when dry indoor air and reduced light made some plants harder to keep. For her Boston ferns, bringing them inside led to repeated frond loss; for the orange tree, she says winter brought recurring pest problems. Those are reported experiences from her home, not controlled tests of plant care.
““I don’t think there’s a ‘bad’ houseplant.””
— House Beautiful contributor
Care Needs Vary by Home
The article does not provide controlled comparisons, expert interviews or detailed care measurements for the seven plants. Its judgments are based on one grower’s experience, and it does not specify every factor in her home, such as window direction, indoor temperature or watering schedule. The source passage also ends during its African violet discussion, so it does not include a stated replacement for that plant or the full account of what the writer tried.
It is not clear from the source when the report was published. Nor does it establish that the suggested alternatives will be easier for all readers: light levels, humidity and other conditions differ from home to home.
Readers Can Test Their Conditions
The report does not announce a follow-up or a new development beyond the contributor’s recommendations. Readers considering one of the plants can compare its care needs with the conditions in their own home, especially available light, indoor humidity and watering consistency, before buying. The source offers the writer’s experience as a starting point, not a guarantee of results.
For anyone already caring for a plant that is struggling, the article’s practical takeaway is to reassess whether its needs match the available space and routine. The writer says she has chosen to replace plants that brought her repeated frustration with varieties she finds more manageable; readers may reach a different conclusion in their own homes.
Key Questions
Which houseplants does the writer find too high-maintenance?
She lists an orange tree, peace lily, Boston fern, alocasia, fiddle-leaf fig, money tree and African violet. The assessment reflects her personal experience.
Why did she give up on Boston ferns?
She says her Boston ferns repeatedly dropped fronds after she brought them indoors. The article attributes the difficulty to their need for bright light and high humidity, which she found hard to provide in winter.
What plants does she recommend instead?
Her suggested alternatives include an olive tree, anthurium, bird’s nest fern, colorful philodendrons, bird of paradise and snake plant. The supplied passage does not state her replacement for African violet.
Does the article say these plants are difficult for everyone?
No. The writer says some of the plants may thrive in other homes. Her list reflects what she found difficult under her own growing conditions, not a universal care ranking.
Source: housebeautiful.com
