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A House Beautiful contributor who says she owns 65 houseplants has named seven varieties she finds too high-maintenance: orange trees, peace lilies, Boston ferns, alocasias, fiddle-leaf figs, money trees and African violets. Her judgments reflect personal experience, not a formal test; she also recommends alternative plants she finds more forgiving.
A House Beautiful contributor who says she owns 65 houseplants has identified seven varieties she now considers too high-maintenance, citing pest problems, leaf drop and demanding light or moisture needs. The list—based on her own experience rather than a controlled comparison—pairs each plant with an alternative she says is easier to manage at home.
The writer names an orange tree, peace lily, Boston fern, alocasia, fiddle-leaf fig, money tree and African violet as plants she no longer wants to care for. She says the orange tree required an LED grow light and a nearby humidifier, yet she still faced recurring spider mite problems during winter. Boston ferns, she writes, shed fronds after she brought them indoors for the cold season.
Several of the other plants posed challenges tied to their growing conditions. The contributor says peace lilies wilt when they do not stay consistently moist, while alocasias and fiddle-leaf figs were difficult for her to keep happy because of their light, water and humidity preferences. She describes African violets as needing steady moisture and bright, indirect light to flower well. Her complaints about the money tree are more about its appearance and growth habit than a specific care failure.
Her suggested substitutes include an olive tree for an orange tree, anthurium for a peace lily, bird’s nest fern for a Boston fern, colorful philodendrons for alocasia, and a bird of paradise for a fiddle-leaf fig. For a money tree, she favors a snake plant. These are the writer’s own choices; the report does not present them as guaranteed replacements for every home or growing setup.
Choosing Plants That Fit Your Home
The report offers a practical reminder for people choosing indoor plants: care demands can matter as much as appearance. A plant that needs bright light, stable moisture or high humidity may struggle in a home that cannot provide those conditions, particularly through winter. Knowing a plant’s requirements before buying it can help set realistic expectations and reduce the chance of repeated pest or leaf-loss problems.
The article also treats plant care as a matter of personal fit rather than a test of skill. The contributor says she has kept plants for decades, but still found some varieties frustrating. Her account may help readers identify alternatives, though it does not establish that the listed plants are universally difficult or that the suggested substitutes will thrive in all indoor conditions.
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How the Contributor Made Her List
The source is a first-person House Beautiful report, not a survey of plant owners or an experiment comparing varieties. The contributor says her interest in houseplants began in childhood and that she has grown a range of plants, from pothos and philodendrons to snake plants and a large bird of paradise. She describes indoor gardening as especially enjoyable during colder months.
Her list reflects accumulated experience in her own home. She notes that some plants on it may flourish elsewhere and encourages readers not to blame themselves if a plant does not work out. The article’s central point is personal: she would rather grow plants that suit her space and preferences than continue tending varieties she finds demanding.
“I don’t think there’s a “bad” houseplant.”
— House Beautiful contributor
Care Needs Vary by Indoor Setting
The source does not provide controlled tests, expert interviews or a comparison across homes. It also does not specify the contributor’s precise indoor light levels, watering schedules or local climate, details that can affect how a plant performs. Her descriptions should be read as personal experience, not a guarantee that every plant in each category will behave the same way.
The report’s supplied text also ends during its discussion of African violets. It says they need consistent moisture and bright, indirect light, but does not include the remainder of that plant’s account. The publication date is not given in the source material, and no independent follow-up or response from horticulture specialists is included.
Readers Can Match Plants to Conditions
The article does not announce a product launch, study or scheduled follow-up. For readers considering one of the listed plants, the practical next step is to check its care requirements against the light, humidity and watering routine available in their own home. The contributor’s named alternatives offer starting points, but readers should compare the needs of each specific variety before buying.
Whether House Beautiful will publish additional guidance or expert advice on the plants is not stated. For now, the report remains a personal account of what one experienced indoor gardener has chosen to keep—and what she has decided to replace.
Key Questions
Which houseplants does the contributor consider too high-maintenance?
She lists orange trees, peace lilies, Boston ferns, alocasias, fiddle-leaf figs, money trees and African violets. The assessment is based on her own experience.
What alternatives does she recommend?
Her suggested swaps are an olive tree, anthurium, bird’s nest fern, colorful philodendrons, bird of paradise and snake plant, respectively. She says these options have been a better fit for her, not that they will suit every home.
Why did the orange tree become difficult for her?
The contributor says it needed an LED grow light and added humidity, and she repeatedly battled spider mites during winter. She eventually gave up on growing it indoors.
Is the list a scientific ranking of difficult houseplants?
No. The source is a first-person account, not a formal study or a ranking based on standardized growing conditions. Results can differ between homes and plant varieties.
Source: housebeautiful.com
