Believe it or not, my plant obsession started with a joke : I got an "I love you" card and brought it to work...just to spark conversation.
Coworker: "Ohhh, who got you that card? ♥"
Me: "I bought it. I love myself and that's ok"
...
Yeah, I'm a goof.
Anyways, this card included microgreen seeds and could be used as a small planter, so I gave them a try. To my surprise, watching these grow brought me joy and really improved my mood at the office. Unsurprisingly, I ended up not being able to eat them... and I let this radish plant bloom in the office. In retrospect, I'm glad nobody complained...
From there, the collecting began. 4 years later, I've grown a variety of different species, from succulents to carnivorous plants. With this post, I'd like to present you my five favourite plants that, for the most part, take care of themselves.
1. Monstera Deliciosa
The Monstera Deliciosa is truly the queen of aroids. I originally received a cutting from a friend, and over the years, the tiny little piece grew into a real statement in my living room.
Even though this plant is often touted as great for low/moderate light situations, in my experience, it does best with more : the leaves grow larger and with intricate fenestrations. You can see how beautiful mine has turned out. I placed it in front my south-east facing window, where it gets a good dose of morning sun every day.
Another of my favourite, yet surprising traits of the monstera: it's incredibly drought-tolerant, once mature. To be frank, I've forgotten to water it for weeks in the winter, and it's been fine. Stunning and low-maintenance, what's not to love!?
...probably the size. The reality is that this plant is huge. When I decided to mount mine on a moss pole, I ended up needing an extra pair of hands to get it done. The root system and vines easily become wild and require maintenance to keep them under control. Expect this plant to hit your ceiling eventually and know you will have to trim it back. Once you do, make sure you grab a piece with a node so you can share the cuttings with friends!
2. Fred-Ives Graptoveria
I purchased this beautiful succulent along with many other varieties, and this one has...by far, outperformed any I've ever owned. Not only does it grow to an impressive size, it turns into a beautiful purple hue in the sun and propagates extremely well : from leaves, from a nearly dead stump, from a random piece of stem shoved into some dirt - it grows every single time.
It tolerates drought well. It survives getting drowned outside in the rain. It accepts being dropped from a shelf and shattered. I've even forgotten a piece in a dark corner of my house and, despite being etiolated, the plant itself was...well and alive. Honestly, this succulent is indestructible.
Interestingly, over the years, I've fallen out of love with most succulents. However, the Fred Ives Graptoveria has won a permanent spot in my lazy heart. I just can't help but love a plant that does it's best to thrive, no matter what. If you struggle with your green thumb, this is absolutely a variety to try.
3. Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid)
Wait, an orchid? Yep, the legendary grocery store gift made it onto this list. I want to dispel the myth that all orchids are difficult and will inevitably die. Many varieties are temperamental, but the moth orchid truly isn't.
If you ask me, the most important part of Phalaenopsis care is consistency. Choose a spot in your home and don't move it.
Another trick : these orchids love getting a proper soak. While the ice-cube trick can work for some, I've noticed that these thrive when they're regularly dunked in water, particularly in those dry winter months. My method? I'll put the entire plant in a bucket and do a water change for my aquarium, leaving the orchid underwater for ~30 minutes. Don't have an aquarium? That's fine - bring your orchid to the sink and give it a good watering (until water rushes through the drainage holes). Make sure to hit all the air roots, you want them to turn bright green. However, never leave these in sitting water for a long time, and drain any that may be on the crown - you don't want to cause any rot!
Finally, if you're having a hard time getting these to bloom - give them more light. My most productive orchid is placed close to my monstera, by my southeast window. However, note that it's shielded from getting too much sunlight. Particularly in the summer, watch out for those direct rays, they can burn your orchid pretty quickly.
4. Hoya Carnosa et al.
Do you love collecting? Do you have an addictive personality? Then, please don't get a hoya. You'll start with one and suddenly, you'll want to get all of them.
I started my collection with a hoya carnosa : tricolour, then a hoya carnosa: compacta...then a hoya bella...then the hoya publicalyx splash....yeah.
I never understood those who loved these plants, until I gave them a try. Their growth pattern is fascinating, their foliage is varied and stunning....and those blooms! I can't wait to have mine flower one day. And of course, they're super easy to take care of: set in a bright spot and only water when they're super dry. Rinse, repeat and watch them flourish!
5. Dracanea Sanderania (Lucky Bamboo)
Last but not least, I absolutely love my lucky bamboos (note: they're not actually in the bamboo family). I particularly like the ones that are 100% natural (so, not cut at the stem, like you often find them at grocery stores and other shops). The bummer is : I've only ever found them at Geoponics and had to ship them into Ottawa.
Their versality is awe-inspiring. I usually grow them directly in my aquariums (so, nearly 0% effort), but I've seen them thrive in a variety of planting media (e.g. soil, lava rock, etc). On top of that, they also accept an incredible range of light - they're one of the rare plants that will survive in an office with no windows - score!
Honestly, you can't go wrong with one of these (even the cut variety from the grocery store). If you're keeping it in water, replace it once in a while and make sure to gently fertilize it in the growing season. I go with 10%-25% of the recommended strength: fertilizer burn is lethal. If you're keeping it in soil, the usual continues, wait until the soil is dry, then give it a good watering. If it's in an aquarium...you're golden.
Outside of that, just let it be and you'll have a beautiful plant for many years to come.
And, that's it! These are my top 5 easy-to-grow plants. Please feel free to leave any comments, questions or recommendations. If you liked this post, make sure to follow my Instagram account: @memyselfandmyplants.
For those curious minds, here are the four runner-ups that didn't make it to this list: golden pothos, Christmas cactus, hawortia, and ZZ plant (zamioculcas zamiifolia). They're also easy to grow, just not on my top 5 ☺.
I LOVE that your plant obsession started with a love-thyself card of radishes <3 Beautiful blog, Rufino, with helpful links in all the right places, and lovely photos. Wonderful fenestrations photo! - Michelle
This is so great Rufino! I love your writing style. - Francesca
Love your enthusiasm for plants! Inspiring post!!