Would you like to add unusual and natural accents to your living spaces by adding rare houseplants? Below are some common options!
Depending on the appropriate room conditions and available budget, you can treat yourself to some unusual exotic items that not everyone has at home. Although tropical flowers require special plant care, many of them thrive indoors and produce exquisite blooms or foliage. This means that window sills or other living areas can be decorated in an extravagant but natural way to bring joy. So if you are looking for inspiration when choosing houseplants, you can consider the following examples.
Why choose rare houseplants?
Nowadays, plants have become an integral part of modern interior design as natural decorative elements. In addition, there are few households where there is no growing greenery orFlowers in striking colorsare present. Most plant species that thrive on window sills or on shelves and furniture are easily recognizable. Among them there are also those that not everyone knows, but is immediately attracted to. If you are one of them, you can choose atypical plants from the tropics or other rare houseplants. Here are some suggestions to help you make this decision.
Alocasia, also known as Sander's arrow leaf
This plant has large and lush green leaves and is considered a tropical plant that can be grown in living areas. It is a perennial native to Asia that is also known as the giant elephant ear. It reaches a height of approximately 2 meters and the plant leaves can be up to 60 cm long. The interesting thing is that they are green on top but their underside is colored purple. Its trunk can reach from 40 to 50 cm. Given the right growing conditions, alocasia grows quickly and can easily thrive indoors as it is an adaptable plant species.
- When it comes to care, such rare houseplants require sufficient indirect daylight.
- In the summer months or during drought, you should water alocasia several times a week; in winter, 1 to 2 times is sufficient. Avoid waterlogging in the pot.
- You can support the plant's growth with fertilizer for green plants from the beginning of spring to late summer and also repot it during this period.
- The arrow leaf can be propagated with seeds or plant parts in spring, but does not tolerate low temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius.
Euphorbia flanaganii, known as the Transkei medusa head
This is oneunusual succulent, which is mainly native to South Africa and is also suitable for indoor cultivation. Since its milky sap poses a danger to allergy sufferers and pets, you should care for the plant carefully using gloves and store it safely. Nevertheless, it can produce beautiful yellow flowers and thrive easily in the right room conditions. Also known as the pencil bush, the plant can even reach a height of 9 meters in the wild.
- If pruned regularly, the decorative Euphorbia flanaganii can delight you with lush green and yellow-flowering shoots.
- You can water the succulent occasionally and let it grow easily on a windowsill.
- As a year-round plant, it is easy to care for, but requires a warm and bright environment.
- Use mineral fertilizers as a substrate and avoid overwatering the potting soil.
Also read:Windowsill Herbs: These Types Are the Best for Your Home Herb Garden!
Korbmarante oder Calathea roseopicta
In this case it is a perennial plant with rhizomes that is mostly found in the tropics of Brazil and South America. The plant impresses with large leaves that also have pink areas. The light streaks or spots can sometimes also have an interesting geometric shape. Although there are a variety of plant varieties, most of them have similar characteristics and are a little more demanding than other plants.
- To make these thrive as rare houseplants, you should provide similar room conditions.
- To prevent the decorative leaves from fading, it is important to store the basket marante in bright rooms with sufficient indirect daylight.
- Keep potting soil evenly moist and avoid overwatering to prevent root rot and fungal diseases.
- Since the plant requires high humidity, you can either mist its leaves regularly or place it near a humidifier.
- Make sure the room is well ventilated and there are no temperature fluctuations so that the plant can grow healthily.
- Otherwise, Calathea tolerates compost or other nutrient-rich fertilizers as fertilizer.
Choose tillandsias as rare houseplants
Although there are numerous plant species in this genus, most of them are suitable for indoor cultivation. It's about bromeliads, which usually do not require any special plant care other than high humidity and good lighting conditions. However, if you want to grow them in pots, the neotropical exotics from parts of the United States and South America require care.
- Tillandsia prefers well-ventilated and warm environments, although you can also let the plants thrive outside in summer. Just make sure they are not exposed to cold air.
- The optimal temperature for bromeliads all year round is 25 to 28 °C. In the winter season, you should have at least 18 to 20 °C in the room.
- A special substrate is required to grow the plant, as ordinary potting soil is not suitable for it. You can also put it together yourself by using peat, some coal, fir bark, humus and sand in even proportions.
- Keep the soil well-drained and water the plant occasionally, avoiding watering during the flowering period.
Also interesting:Christmas rose in a pot: How you should plant and care for it and where it thrives best!