I’m not a total brown thumb, but I’m not totally a green thumb either. I’m something in between. I don’t think it’s as much lack of skill or genes (my mother is a plant-whisperer! Surely there’s some genetic component to this.) but more a mix between laziness and forgetfulness. Enter the plants that really thrive when forgetfulness is your strong suit.
Succulents! That one has looked that perfect since I bought it (at least four months ago) and I do almost nothing to it. Like nothing. You know that scene in Forgetting Sarah Marshall when Paul Rudd is teaching Jason Segel to surf? The less you do, the more you do. That’s the motto with this beauty. Water every three to four weeks. Honorable mention: string of pearls. I used to have this one and loved every minute of that relationship.
Enter my second success, but really the one that deserves first place. Sansevieria! Or mother-in-law’s tongue (ouch!!), or the snake plant! This is probably my number one favorite houseplant ever. Reasons being: it’s really (really) easy to keep alive, looks cool, is inexpensive, requires total ambient light and so it can survive where a lot of plants can’t, and purifies the air. Truly! This baby’s been with me for a few years now and has grown at least six inches. I love her. I do nothing but water her about once a month–really soak her and let drain completely. Honorable mention: pothos! They’re so, so hardy. Can look a little stringy when they get unhealthy but are pretty resilient and bounce back nicely. {Also: fave jeans}
Now I wish I could confidently add my pretty Fiddle Leaf Fig tree to the lineup, but I don’t feel like she’s the picture of health. Now she’s not on death’s door or anything, but she’s not living up to her full potential either. (I used to have a really gorgeous one. It’s in my blog archives somewhere. She was more topiary/tree-like and just the best. She died. RIP.). I water her about once every 3-4 weeks (sensing a trend?) and also use some fertilizer on her. Maybe she’s just sick of the Massachusetts winter. I feel you, fiddle leaf. NOT honorable mention (truly one of my least favorite plant experiences): Ficus. That thing just did not want to live in our home.
Tip: put a reminder on your phone for watering! And then, when it goes off, actually water.
Was it a mistake not to open with this picture?
um, yes, that last picture needed to be at the very top!
for some reason, any plant i get at ikea as been very sturdy and stays alive well- that’s my tip!
xo, brittany
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I have a snake plant too. It lives in our dark bathroom in a bright pink pot and it makes me smile every day. I too have a brown thumb despite being descendent of super plant-whisperers! I would also add aloe plant and elephant foot (looks cool!) to the list of plants I’ve successfully kept alive.
Believe it or not, I’m a succulent killer…which must be a skill! It must be where I keep the plants because I follow all the rules! I am, however, great in the garden! That’s something, right? The last picture…adorable!
check back with me in a few months. it’s possible this one is still coasting on the goodwill from the plant store it came from.
You are probably overwatering. That will kill succulents quick! Also, they need a LOT of bright sunlight. If you don’t have them somewhere like a windowsill, they won’t thrive.
This post is perfect for me, because all my plants die on me. Yours look great too. And that last picture is so cute!
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Question on the snake plant! Do you let it drain outside? And have you ever tried to “split” or propagate it? Thanks!
i let it drain in the tub or sink. and i’ve never split it ( but have seen other people split them and I don’t think they look as full, or at least not for a long time!)
My favorite plant is my shamrock plant- I’ve kept it alive for four years now! I know when to water it because the leaves get all droopy and I go “Crap!” But after watering it perks back up in a few hours. It isn’t doing so hot since I accidentally fried it on the dashboard of my car while moving cross county last summer (whelp!) but it CAME BACK TO LIFE after a week or two (we’re talking total Lazarus style, from complete death to little green shoots) so I can’t really complain about it being a bit scrawny now.
pothos have that same tenacity. i mean it will be beyond deaths door and suddenly spruce up – a miracle! – with a good dousing.
This is just seriously making me laugh, & at the same time tell myself that I really need to try some of these plants! …great writing here!
Ah I think my succulent is dying because I’ve been watering it once a week. Fingers crossed that if I ignore it for a few weeks she’ll be good as new (aka before I bought her). Thanks!
I legit killed the snake plant Mike got me for my desk at work….I partially blame the pot he planted it in, partially blame my black thumb ( my mother has a crazy green thumb so missed that gene for sure) but want to give it another try after this post! Our fiddle fig is about the same, not seeing much growth but it’s not suffering either. I think I over water so I need to learn to just let go…this could also be said for my parenting lol
Snake plants are almost indestructible but the one thing that WILL kill them is overwatering. You should only water them every 3 to 4 weeks, and then only enough to moisten the soil.
I definitely soak them more than moisten the soil, but only about once a month! They seem to like this.
I recently bought a fiddle and after about two months the lower leaves began to get brown spots. I went in the store I purchased the tree from over the weekend and found out I had not been watering enough. Slowly killing my poor fiddle! I was told to water every 10-15(at most!) days. The brown spots are due to damaged root system/lack of nutrients. Also, they recommend a 1/4 turn each time you water to get optimum natural light all around. Another helpful tip they shared was to pull off the damaged leaves since the brown spots will always remain and removing the damaged leaves invites new growth to the top of your plant. I’m new to plant keeping but found all of these things helpful! I totally agree with your love of spider plants and succulents!!
ooh! thank you. that’s more often than i’m watering this guy…