15 Hardest Houseplants For Beginners – Do Not Get These

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There are certain houseplants you should not buy if you’re new to houseplants or easily frustrated by plants.

Big box stores sell some of the hardest houseplants too care for, so most people end up thinking they have a black thumb.

Most houseplants are actually really easy to care for and with all of the benefits of owning houseplants, it makes sense to keep them in the home.

Here are the houseplants you should not buy if you are new to plants or don’t have the time or patience to care for high-maintenance houseplants.

Alocasia Dragon Scale

Alocasia Dragon Scale is one of the coolest houseplants and I personally own this plant. However, it’s one of those plants that attracts bugs easily. This plant needs high humidity so if you can’t give that to your plants, stay away from this one.

Care Tips:

Light: Bright/indirect sunlight
Humidity: 50%+
Soil: Well-draining soil mix
Water: Top two inches should be dry before watering, water with distilled or reverse osmosis water

String of Hearts

String of Hearts is one of those common houseplants everyone sees at the store and gravitates to. This plant can be a pain in the butt but once you know how to take care of it, it’s worth it. I have this plant and only water it once I notice the hearts shriveling up a little bit.

Care Tips:

Light: Bright/indirect sunlight
Humidity: 50%+
Soil: Well-draining soil mix
Water: Top two inches should be dry before watering, water with distilled or RO water

Ficus Tineke

This is my most hated houseplant in the home because it’s so hard to take care of, at least for me. I recommend staying away from this plant unless you can get an acclimated, mature plant that is at least 3 feet tall. The bigger guys are usually easier to take care of.

Care Tips:

Light: Bright/indirect sunlight
Humidity: 50%+
Soil: Well-draining soil mix
Water: Top two inches should be dry before watering, water with distilled or RO water

Rattlesnake

Again, one of those plants that beginner houseplant enthusiasts buy without realizing what’s about to happen. In most cases, this plant needs high humidity in the 50%+ range.

Care Tips:

Light: Bright/indirect sunlight
Humidity: 50%+
Soil: Well-draining soil mix
Water: Top two inches should be dry before watering, water with distilled or RO water

Philodendron Pink Princess

This plant has been a nuisance for me but I bought it anyways because I just needed to have one. PPP absolutely need high humidity, therefore I keep mine in my IKEA greenhouse cabinet.

Care Tips:

Light: Bright/indirect light, can handle some direct light
Humidity: 60%+
Soil: Well-draining soil mix or leca or lechuza pon
Water: Top two inches should be dry before watering

Fiddle Leaf Fig

I know I said Ficus Tinker is my most hated houseplant, but Fiddle Leaf Fig is right up there with my most hated houseplant.

Care Tips:

Light: Bright/indirect sunlight
Humidity: 20%+
Soil: Well-draining soil mix
Water: Top two inches should be dry before watering

Croton

I’ve never owned a Croton myself but my plant friends tell me they are awful to take care of.

Care Tips:

Light: Bright/indirect sunlight
Humidity: 50%+
Soil: Well-draining soil mix
Water: Top two inches should be dry before watering

Alocasia Hilo Beauty

I owned this plant for about a month before giving it away. It grew lanky and lopsided and the plant would panic if I forgot to water it.

Care Tips:

Light: Bright/indirect sunlight
Humidity: 60%+
Soil: Well-draining soil mix
Water: Top two inches should be dry before watering

Venus Flytrap

I’ve never owned a Venus flytrap but they are one of those plants people gravitate to at big box stores like Lowes. These plants need high humidity to stay alive.

Care Tips:

Light: Bright/indirect sunlight
Humidity: 50%+
Soil: Well-draining soil mix
Water: Top inch should be dry before watering, water with distilled or RO water

Ivy

Ivy are either going to be incredibly easy for you or insanely hard. For me, ivy was incredibly easy but once I repotted the plant, the ivy never came back and quickly died. So here’s your care tip, never repot your ivy.

Care Tips:

Light: Bright/indirect sunlight
Humidity: 50%+ (but some can live in 20% humidity)
Soil: Well-draining soil mix
Water: Top inch should be dry before watering

Polka Dot Plant

Ah, one of those finicky houseplants that are incredibly dramatic if you forget to water. I don’t care for plants that need a ton of water so I got rid of this one.

Care Tips:

Light: Bright/indirect sunlight
Humidity: 20%+
Soil: Well-draining soil mix
Water: Top inch should be dry before watering

Calathea Medallion

This is one of those plants that I got before knowing what Calathea’s were all about. As you can see in the picture, my plant was already dying after just having it for a couple of weeks.

Care Tips:

Light: Bright/indirect sunlight
Humidity: 50%+
Soil: Well-draining soil mix
Water: Top two inches should be dry before watering, water with distilled or RO water

Pilea

This is one of the easiest houseplants for people but I have some trouble with it. After having it for almost a year, my plant is still the same size and isn’t growing at all.

Care Tips:

Light: Bright/indirect sunlight
Humidity: 20%+
Soil: None
Water: Roughly once a week soak in water for 30 minutes

Airplant

I love airplants but they require certain care that is unlike your regular houseplants. So far, mine are still alive but I know a lot of people have trouble with them.

Care Tips:

Light: Bright/indirect sunlight
Humidity: 20%+
Soil: None
Water: Roughly once a week, soak in water for 30 minutes

Philodendron Verrucosum

I was so excited to buy the Philodendron Verrucosum in the picture below. I had this plant for a few months and decided to get rid of it because it was a huge source of stress for me. This plant had burn marks and would quickly wilt if it wasn’t getting enough humidity, despite me growing it in a greenhouse.

Care Tips:

Light: Bright/indirect sunlight
Humidity: 60%+
Soil: Well-draining chunky soil mix
Water: Top inch should be dry before watering

Some people buy their first houseplant and it happens to be one of the plants listed here.

They give up on houseplant and swear them off forever.

Give plants another try! Read this post to find the best houseplants for beginners.