Six of the hardest houseplants to keep alive

It’s National Houseplant Day (really!) and novice plant parents have been warned about six of the hardest houseplants to keep alive.

Plant pros from GardeningExpress.co.uk have revealed some of the houseplants that prove difficult to keep flourishing without doing the right research or having the correct equipment.

In order to keep miniature roses alive indoors, growers would have to mimic outdoor growing conditions for this high-maintenance “houseplant” which would require humidifiers, grow lights and even a miniature fan.

Orchids also have a reputation for being quite difficult to grow, as the tropical plants have specific needs including a particularly sparse watering schedule.

A spokesperson for Gardening Express said: “Thanks to Instagram, houseplants are more popular than ever, but it’s not always as easy as popping a plant where it looks nicest and watering it when you remember.

“Some are more high maintenance that others, and we’ve revealed six of the hardest to keep alive without properly considering their specific requirements.”

1. Boston Fern

This lush, leafy plant can give your home serious jungle vibes – as long as you can successfully mimic the growing conditions of its first home, the tropical and sub-tropical rainforests. Without warmer temperatures, high humidity, and lots of filtered light, a sad fern will shed its leaves.

2. Miniature Roses

If you buy one of these plants in a pot, it typically needs to be moved outdoors within two weeks in order to thrive. Otherwise, you’ll have to mimic outdoor growing conditions for this high-maintenance “houseplant” which would require all sorts of equipment – a humidifier, grow light and even a miniature fan.

3. Orchid

Characterised by their colourful blooms and slender stems, orchids have a reputation for being quite difficult to grow. The tropical plants have quite specific needs – namely bright, indirect sunlight and a sparse watering schedule.

4. African Violets

African Violets love humidity, which is why many people place them on top of steam radiators. You could also place bowls of water among your plants, place their pots in a tray on top of a bed of wet gravel, or let them sit in the water that drains out of the pots after you water the plants.

5. Zebra plant

Many homeowners admire these plants for their glossy white-veined leaves and yellow blooms, but the showy houseplants require tediously specific growing conditions including a consistent temperature, humidity and moist soil.

6. Cheese plant

Although some sources claim this tropical plant is easy to grow, the truth is that you must do quite a lot to keep it flourishing. The iconic holes in this plant’s leaves will not form on new leaves if the plant receives too much sun, so you have to experiment to find the perfect spot in the house.