My Favorite Houseplants | unique plants

Summary

In this video, the creator shares their favorite houseplants of 2023, discussing their journey into exploring new plant varieties. They highlight plants like the Nervillea Java Plum, various types of Bromeliads, Ficus Umala, Cushion Moss, and unique displays using rocks and moss cubes. The video also dives into plant care tips, especially for plants like Welwitschia Mirabilis and Monstera. The creator emphasizes their evolving creativity with plants and plans to continue experimenting in 2024, providing insights into their growth journey and showcasing visually stunning plant arrangements.

Takeaways

• 🌿 The speaker has been expanding their plant collection in 2023, moving beyond familiar favorites like monstera and philodendron.
• 🍃 One of their new favorites is the Neoregelia Java Plum, which they enjoy for its aesthetics when paired with a handmade ceramic pot and moss as a top dressing.
• 💧 They discovered a love for bromeliads, especially appreciating their diversity and easy care, with a focus on a species called Deuterocohnia brevifolia.
• 🌱 The speaker is experimenting with a technique called the 'bent Ficus' method on their Ficus umbellata and Ficus elastica to encourage unique growth patterns.
• 🌿 They use cushion moss (Leucobryum glaucum) as a top dressing for their plants, misting it daily to keep it fresh, even in dry conditions.
• 🌸 Their Platycerium 'Omo Polar Bear' is a favorite due to its distinctive white fronds, and they are excited to see its continued growth.
• 🍃 The speaker loves their Boophane disticha plant for its vibrant green and red leaves, as well as the unique serrated shape of the leaves.
• 🌵 They are experimenting with using rocks and creating landscape stages in their plant arrangements, which has become a growing interest.
• 🌞 Their Welwitschia mirabilis is another favorite, a desert plant that requires constant moisture despite its arid origins, and it is responding well to increased light exposure.
• 🪴 The speaker's Monstera deliciosa and Dracaena reflexa are thriving, and they are eager to see how they continue to grow in the coming year.

Q & A

What type of plants did the speaker initially focus on in their plant journey?

The speaker initially focused on aroids, specifically Monstera and Philodendron plants.

Which plant is highlighted as the first favorite of 2023?

The first favorite plant of 2023 is the Neoregelia Java Plum, which is potted in a handmade ceramic pot from Japan.

Why did the speaker initially not like Bromeliads, and what changed their mind?

The speaker initially disliked Bromeliads because of their shiny, saturated foliage, but they later learned about the diversity within the Bromeliad family and grew to appreciate plants like Dyckia and Tillandsia.

What is the 'bent Ficus method' mentioned in the video?

The 'bent Ficus method' involves tying a string to the tip of the plant to bend it, creating a more sculpted, tree-like appearance after several months.

How does the speaker care for their cushion moss used as a top dressing?

The speaker mists the cushion moss daily to keep it vibrant and healthy. Even after drying out for several days, the moss regains its green color once watered again.

What unique shape did the speaker create with moss, and how is it different from typical moss balls?

The speaker created a 'moss cube,' a unique shape compared to the usual moss balls. They found it to be a fun and interesting alternative.

What are the two Platycerium plants mentioned, and what makes them special?

The two Platycerium plants mentioned are Platycerium 'Fun Shiki' and Platycerium 'Omo Polar Bear.' 'Fun Shiki' has large, curved fronds, and 'Omo Polar Bear' has white, fuzzy fronds covered in trichomes.

What care tips does the speaker provide for the Welwitschia mirabilis plant?

The speaker advises keeping the Welwitschia mirabilis plant constantly moist and providing ample sunlight. They also use a succulent fertilizer at quarter strength for each watering.

Why does the speaker prefer Monstera adansonii over Monstera deliciosa?

The speaker prefers Monstera adansonii because they like its leaf shape and growth pattern more than Monstera deliciosa, finding it cooler and more aesthetically appealing.

Why is the speaker considering repotting their Dracaena reflexa?

The speaker believes their Dracaena reflexa is root-bound in its current pot and wants to see how much it can grow once placed in a larger pot.