I thought it would be fun to take a break from purely informational content and share with you a few of my current houseplant favorites because it’s my birthday!
I will share with you 10 of my favorite plants currently, some pictures of each, and how I care for them in this week’s post.
What plants are you excited about? Share in the comments below!
Table of Contents
- #1 Dischidia ovata (or the Watermelon Dischidia)
- #2 Fittonia ‘Frankie’ (or the Frankie Nerve Plant)
- #3 Aeschynanthus Tricolor from Borneo (or Tricolor Lipstick Plant)
- #4 Oxalis corymbosa aureo-reticulata (or the Gold Veined Shamrock)
- #5 Ficus deltoidea (or the Mistletoe Fig)
- #6 Peperomia obtipan (or the Baby Rubber Plant)
- #7 Trailing African violet, Rob’s Boolaroo
- #8 Syngonium batik
- #9 Disocactus anguliger / Epiphyllum anguliger (or the Fishbone Cactus)
- #10 Scindapsus treubii Moonlight
- Honorable mentions:
- Related Posts
#1 Dischidia ovata (or the Watermelon Dischidia)
Dischidia ovata is a gorgeous plant with succulent green leaves and exquisite veining. When given plenty of light, new growth will emerge light to dark pink and the plant will produce small, interesting little flowers in a cream color.
I had difficulty with this plant, I think because I purchased it online. It is one of the plants that hasn’t appreciated the journey of being shipped to me. I finally found a specimen in person some time ago.
For the first time, I am able to truly appreciate the plant and watch it grow instead of slowly dwindling over time!
How I care for this plant:
I grow this one a couple of feet back from a South-facing window where it gets a lot of dappled sunlight through open blinds. I water the plant when dry or nearly dry and fertilize with diluted organic fertilizer. So far, so good!
Purchased from Telly’s Greenhouse in Troy, Michigan
#2 Fittonia ‘Frankie’ (or the Frankie Nerve Plant)
I really appreciate how different this plant is from most of my other plants in terms of leaf shape and color. I adore the frilly leaves and bright pink color.
It makes a lovely contrasting color among the greenery.
How I care for this plant:
I am growing this one about a foot away from a West-facing window in my kitchen. It has to be in my kitchen so it’s in my face all the time so I can water it regularly because Fittonias do not like to dry out for long or at all if they can help it.
This one gets a little leggy over time, but pruning it regularly keeps the plant more compact.
Purchased from…. somewhere. I forget where. Oops!
#3 Aeschynanthus Tricolor from Borneo (or Tricolor Lipstick Plant)
I both love the look of this Lipstick plant’s succulent, trailing leaves and its fantastic, unusual flowers.
Plus, this baby is decked out in blooms despite it being winter in Michigan. There is something so special to me about any plant that produces blooms during the cold, dark months because everything outdoors is so gray and dreary.
How I care for this plant:
I water this one as soon as it seems to approach dryness.
It is hanging in an East-facing window where it receives gentle morning light but is also a couple of feet from a Soltech Solutions Aspect light that is supporting a lot of my Ficus and Citrus trees, so it might be receiving a little light from that as well!
I fertilize with diluted organic fertilizer and am pleased with how easygoing this plant has been so far!
Purchased from The Plant Farm or Spokane Plant Farm
#4 Oxalis corymbosa aureo-reticulata (or the Gold Veined Shamrock)
Oxalis corymbosa aureo-reticulata displays gorgeous, delicate shamrock-like leaves with yellow venation. It can also produce cute, pink blooms, but I am not sure if I’ve ever seen my plant flower. If I have, it’s been some time!
This baby is pretty dramatic about watering and will not survive drought; its leaves and stems are too delicate to store much water.
How I care for this plant:
I try to keep it well watered by considering this plant fern-like, in that the second it appears a bit dry, I water. If I forget, the plant will dramatically wilt but does come back if thoroughly watered immediately.
However, if allowed to wilt too many times, it will start to decline.
I’ve grown it pulled back from a South-facing window and in an East-facing window, but it’s currently placed a foot away from my West-facing kitchen window where it’s in my face as a reminder of its water needs. Because it is such a bushy, beautiful plant, I truly don’t mind it nagging me every time I come into the kitchen. There is sincere joy in watching it thrive!
Purchased from Steve’s Leaves
#5 Ficus deltoidea (or the Mistletoe Fig)
Ficus deltoidea is a plant that I didn’t know about until a couple of weeks ago. I had placed an order with Logee’s last fall that couldn’t be filled because they lost their crop so I was trying to find something to replace the plant from that order with. While perusing the site, I ran across this adorable little ficus!! Being a total sucker for Ficus, I decided I wanted to try it!
The plant they sent is just as lovely as the pictures. Check out the wonderful berries adorning the plant as well!
How I care for this plant:
I am definitely not experienced enough with this plant to provide care tips, but I will tell you that I’m attempting to grow it near my West-facing kitchen window slightly shaded behind another plant in hopes to prevent leaf burn.
I’m watering the plant when dry and I must be doing kind of okay because the plant has only lost one leaf so far (If you grow Ficus, you will know they do not appreciate being moved and having to acclimate to a new space. Often they will protest by dropping some leaves while they get used to their new home)
Purchased from Logee’s
#6 Peperomia obtipan (or the Baby Rubber Plant)
I believe Peperomia obtipan is a variety of Peperomia obtusifolia, which would explain why it looks so similar to Peperomia obtusifolia. This particular plant was labeled as Peperomia obtipan ‘Bicolor’ and it is easy to see why. Look at those striking leaves with vibrate green and cream!
There is something about this plant that I just love. It’s such a full little bush of color and is pretty darn easy going, like Peperomia obtusifolia.
How I care for this plant:
I grow this baby near a West-facing window and water it when dry. I fertilize it with a diluted organic fertilizer, like I do with basically every plant in my home. It will begin to vine over time and become leggier, so you can either let it get bushier and begin to vine or you can trim it back to keep it in a tight little plant like this one. Both are charming.
Purchased from The Groovy Plant Ranch
#7 Trailing African violet, Rob’s Boolaroo
Just check out these blooms! Light pink, ruffley flowers with blue/purple flecks throughout. This type of variegation is referred to as “Fantasy” in the African Violet world, and it is fantastic!
I actually have 2 of this particular plant because I enjoy it so much. The one pictured below has been in bloom for a couple of months now and is just a delight to grow. I can’t recommend it highly enough! It’s one of those amazing plants that reward us with blooms in the Winter!
How I care for this plant:
I grow all of my African Violets and Gesneriads in an East-facing window and water when nearly dry. I fertilize regularly with diluted, organic fertilizer.
Purchased from The Violet Barn
#8 Syngonium batik
I am a sucker for striking veins and Syngonium batik certainly has them! I love how the veins absolutely glow while the sun shines through them and I also love this plant and pot combo!
Lastly, this Syngonium is just as low maintenance as all the others, making it such a wonderful addition to any plant collection.
How I care for this plant:
My Syngonium batik is growing about one foot from a West-facing window. I water when dry or nearly dry and fertilize with diluted organic fertilizer. That’s it. Easy!
Purchased from Steve’s Leaves
#9 Disocactus anguliger / Epiphyllum anguliger (or the Fishbone Cactus)
Here’s my large and in charge Fishbone cactus!! I think the shape of this plant is just amazing.
I love that it really is a true cactus, but it’s a jungle cactus that behaves like an epiphyte, which makes caring for it a bit easier than its desert cousins. Why? It can do well in less light than desert cacti and isn’t as sensitive to watering/is less likely to rot out.
When I bought this plant, it had these little trailing Oxalis plants rooted in there too. I never pulled them, but just let them grow. They die back sometimes and then regrow again. I love the contrast of the little delicate shamrocks trailing next to my beefy fishtail cactus.
How I care for this plant:
This plant is hanging near a South-facing window. I decrease the light a bit using a sheer curtain and open blinds. All of my jungle cactus have been living this same way for years and they are all very happy!
Side note: Don’t be fooled by their smooth appearance! They absolutely do have spines and those little prickers will stick to your fingers and haunt you, much like (but not quite as devilish as) Opuntia glochids.
Purchased from Telly’s Greenhouse
#10 Scindapsus treubii Moonlight
Scindapsus treubii Moonlight is a plant that I have been in love with long before most people were aware of it and long before it was a fairly common houseplant in big box stores. I ordered several of these babies over time, but they proved over and over again that they just don’t ship well.
The same goes for Scindapsus treubii ‘Dark Form.’
I was so unbelievably happy when they started popping up in big box stores and I could not only shop for a plant in person but find the right, healthy-looking plant for me!!
This baby has been absolutely thriving since I got it and I couldn’t be happier to have this plant prominently displayed in my home.
How I care for this plant:
I have this one growing about a foot from a West-facing window.
I water it when the soil dries. I do not wait until the leaves curl. While that is a wonderful way to start getting to know your plant’s watering needs, I’ve found that the plant gets too dehydrated if I wait that long and won’t grow as well.
As you may have guessed if you’ve read all of the other plant’s care sections in this post, I also regularly fertilize this guy with diluted organic fertilizer.
Purchased from Lowe’s
Honorable mentions:
I wanted to include a couple of other plants that are bringing me lots of smiles lately in this section.
From left-to-right, up-to-down: Hoya carnosa ‘Krimson Queen,’ Syngonium Pink Splash, Peperomia angulata, and Rhipsalis sp. (possible R. pilocarpa).
All, except the Rhipsalis, live within a foot or two of a West-facing window and are watered when dry. The Rhipsalis is located in an East-facing window, near where the Tricolor Lipstick Plant is, and also receives some supplemental light from a grow light. I highly recommend all of these plants. 🙂
- I received Hoya carnosa Krimson Queen as a gift from my parents.
- Syngonium Pink Splash came from somewhere online before the prices skyrocketed.
- Peperomia Angulata was from The Plant Farm / Spokane Plant Farm.
- Rhipsalis sp. was from Telly’s Greenhouse.
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