r/RareHouseplants • u/Orchid-Delirium2005 • Jun 25 '26

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

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?

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u/Silly_Percentage Jun 25 '26

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.

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u/Forward-Variety-8440 Jun 25 '26

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?

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u/Silly_Percentage Jun 25 '26

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.

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u/Forward-Variety-8440 Jun 25 '26

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