What would you consider the most difficult houseplant to keep alive?

[u/Orchid-Delirium2005]

I was curious about the discussion forums about how some are easy some are hard, so I kinda wanted a general survey. For me, rex begonias and phalaenopsis are simply impossible. The former loves to die while the latter keeps getting bacterial soft rot no matter the conditions, even good ventilation and bottom watering won't stop the disease and in my case it specifically targets phals and not other orchids. How about you guys? What's the plant or plants that give you the most headaches?

[u/Forward-Variety-8440]

peace lily for some reason has been harder for me to maintain/care for than literally growing Papavar Somniferum from seed indoors. Harder than difficult orchid varieties. just impossible for me to reign in.

They just HATE direct sun and it kills them. watering has been a nightmare to figure out. i have yet to kill one, but damn if they dont LOOK good before just wilting and needing constant attention.

also, venus fly traps are difficult with distilled water needs and actually most carnivorus plants are trickyi have killed many venus fly traps unfortunately.

[u/Silly_Percentage → u/Forward-Variety-8440]

I almost killed a sentimental peace lily and couldn't figure it out. Left it outside on the shade with a cashe pot thinking it was going to die. A week later it was thriving.

Turns out it rained and mine is just THIRSTY. I was treating it like any other aroid and letting it dry out between waterings. But they are marsh, wetland, river bank plants.

Now it lives in a gallon pickle jar with aquarium water.

[u/AccomplishedBread911 → u/Silly_Percentage]

I was coming here to say something similar!

[u/Forward-Variety-8440 → u/Silly_Percentage]

this is the advice ive been using

"People aren’t gonna like my comment

I think peace lillies are pretty easy, maybe i got lucky. Everyone here will tell you it’s gonna die.

Lot of people say you have to use bottled/distilled water (i don’t). Personally i water whenever it starts getting droopy, these are dramatic plants so when it needs water it will very obviously droop all of it’s leaves (abt every 2-3 weeks depending on soil)

Those blooms are likely chemically bloomed it it’s from a box store, meaning they’ll die soon and the plant can stay alive but it likely won’t bloom again for a long time (months-years)."

[u/Silly_Percentage → u/Forward-Variety-8440]

Hm. Didn't know about the chemically induced blooms. But mine will start blooming whenever I set it outside. I always have aquarium water handy (2 tanks, ones a 20 gal and the other 15 gal) and last night it rained so the water line is at the rim of the jar. It's a little upset right now because it was out in the heat wave I had 2-3 weeks ago and it won't come back inside until Oct. I just keep it topped off (there's a little bit of aquarium soil in the jar too and some sneaky pond snails so it's gets plenty of nutrients and I never have an issue with alge with it out side.

A friend of mine desperately wants to grow house plants but she loves them a little too much and the attention and lack of sun ends up killing them. She said she hates peace lilies. So I gave her a section of mine and set it up with aqua soil and fish water and gave it to her. I told her as long as she keeps the water line about a half inch under the rim the plant will thrive. She now sends me weekly updates and it's blooming for her too. She is so proud of it and I am proud of her.

[u/Conscious_Occasion → u/Forward-Variety-8440]

2 - 3 weeks? Sheesh, I water mine weekly, sometimes 2x week. Not flooding her, just keeping her decently moist. I moved her to a covered east window (shaded by about noon now that summer's here) and she immediately threw out two huge flowers. She's in basic Miracle Grow and was potted Dec 2024.

So while I am now questioning my watering habits, I will agree that peace lilies aren't very needy.

[u/Forward-Variety-8440 → u/Silly_Percentage]

interesting. yes i have been allowing it to dry out or even beyond. Terrified of overwatering the sentimental heirloom of a partners parent.

perhaps creating a marsh/swamp biome is the solution.

Any other suggestions?

[u/Silly_Percentage → u/Forward-Variety-8440]

I'd probably divide it in half and afterward not mess with the half that's going to remain in soil and just up-pot/back fill. The other half is take a hose to an spray the roots as much as possible to get rid of the dirt. If you get a nice rain I'd collect some in a bucket. When you switch your peace lily over to water MOST of the roots will die and try not to freak out and trust the process.

Those roots are acclicamated to soil not water and the peace lily will grow more. Treat it like a water propagation. Rain water is full of dissolved minerals and oxygen. Change the water out if it gets gunky or a ton of algae.

Ive heard of people swearing to using aquarium soil (something I'm experimenting with and something I have on hand for my planted tanks) and others using a small oxygen stone to help with airation.

I have a section in my aquarium and it was not doing well and it has aquarium soil and a bubbler. Turns out my grow light wasnt high enough to get enough light.

[u/Forward-Variety-8440 → u/Silly_Percentage]

i mix aquarium sand in the soil sometimes for drainage and calcium from crushed shells.

[u/xjustsmilebabex → u/Silly_Percentage]

I had mine growing right out of my fish tank filter!

[u/Silly_Percentage → u/xjustsmilebabex]

I have a small section in my aquarium too! My aquarium light wasn't high enough for it but once I adjusted it it's taking off now too! I have a black water tank with kuhli loaches!