Houseplants can make a beautiful addition to any living space, as well as being great mood boosters and stress reducers.
However, according to one expert, some houseplants can cause more hassle than they are worth.
Richard from Sheffield Made Plants named the five houseplants to bypass for an easier houseplant experience. He claimed that while they "look stunning in the shops", they should "most definitely be avoided".
Firstly, the expert advised gardening novices to stay away from the calathea zebrina (also known as the zebra plant).
Gardening beginners were advised to stay away from the calathea zebrina
YouTube / Sheffield Made Plants
While the plant - with an abundance of leaves - is beautiful to look at initially, these leaves "start to turn crispy brown in no time".
Richard continued: "If you don't want to suffer a serious breakdown when looking after your plants, steer clear of the philodendron melanochrysum. New leaves always come out looking a mess and I can't figure out why."
Instead, Richard recommended going for other philodendron varieties. Other examples are the philodendron billietiae, philodendron burle-marxii and philodendron birkin. Richard's personal favourite is the philodendron brasil.
The expert also encouraged gardening enthusiasts to avoid one alocasia variety: the alocasia melo.
He said: "Alocasia should be nowhere near an easy-care list - and this particular alocasia should be top of the naughty list in my book."
The gardener claimed that growing more than a single leaf on the alocasia melo is difficult, even though the plant has the potential to boast several.
"I don't know what I'm doing wrong," the expert admitted. "It's got a grow light, the right soil - which is kept nice and moist by the way - and the humidity is fine, but still, one leaf comes and the other dies off. It's maddening."
Houseplants to avoid
- Calathea zebrina (Zebra plant)
- Philodendron melanochrysum
- Alocasia melo
- Anthurium clarinervium
- Pilea peperomioides (Chinese money plant)
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The Alocasia melo 'should be top of the naughty list' when it comes to troublesome plants
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The anthurium clarinervium also made the list of the most difficult houseplants. Richard explained that while they thrive in spring and summer, colder temperatures can result in lacklustre brown leaves.
The gardening expert concluded: "If you want a plant to always look rubbish, look no further than the Chinese money plant [pilea peperomioides].
"Its natural growth habit is to grow at the lanky stem in the middle and lose all its leaves in the process. So, you're just left with a silly-looking stick and some leaves at the top."
The orchid, however, is an easy houseplant to take care of. Sharing a top tip for orchid enthusiasts, the expert shared how to achieve an "abundance of fresh flowers" with an easy trick to complete after blooms fade.
