What Plants Are Hard to Kill and How to Treat Them

Plants

It goes without saying that every gardener wants to provide the best possible conditions for the plants to grow. However, this is hard in some regions of the world where there is either too much snow or where it is simply too arid for most plant species to thrive. That is why you have to build greenhouses outside or bring the plants inside to protect them from the harsh elements. In some cases, this is not possible as plants are too large to be transported like that and some plants will not survive such an abrupt change in air temperature. That is why it is always useful to have as many seedlings as possible of a plant species that is resistant to all weather conditions.

There are certain species that are harder to kill than others. They owe their longevity to Mother Nature and it is useful for you as a gardener to know exactly which plants these are. This knowledge comes after years of studying botany and working around the garden. Simply knowing which species to plant is not enough, as you need to treat them properly in order to bring out the best in them.

Chinese Evergreen

The first plant on our list has it all clearly stated in its name. The “Chinese” part of its name relates to the geographical origin, while “Evergreen” reflects the fact that you can deprive this plant of water, light, and even constant care and it will still survive. It is really a tabletop plant that grows best indoors and you might have seen it before in hotel lobbies, at airport lounges and in malls. It is widely used in such commercial objects because the cleaning crew can afford to forget all about it as it will not show clear signs that it needs care. In winter time, it can go without water up to a whole one month, so that is why we put it first on our list.

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Aloe

You might have heard of this plant if you use hand creams or a dishwashing liquid that contain Aloe Vera. It is excellent for restoring moisture to damaged skin, like sunburnt or irritated skin. The plant this gel comes from is equally amazing as it needs as little as two hours of sunlight a day. Likewise, it needs to be watered only when the ground inside the pot dries out completely, which can take weeks. Just like a sea star that can grow a new limb, Aloe can regenerate any leaves that have been forcefully torn off, which makes it pretty hard to pluck it to death.

Parlor Palm

We know what you are thinking but a parlor palm will not grow as tall as the palms you know of. They grow up to 4 feet in height which makes them ideal houseplants. They are originally from Southern Mexico and Guatemala where they live in the lower parts of the jungle. That is why they don’t require a lot of sunlight to grow and even less water. Needless to say, a Parlor Palm is basically a no-maintenance plant that can solely live off rainwater if planted outside. However, beware of frost as it is intolerant to it. Wherever you decide to plant it, it will usher a touch of the tropics and elegance (its Latin name is Chamaedorea elegans) to the room.

Snake Plant

A fast-growing plant that is ideal for large spaces that have to be converted into indoor gardens swiftly. This is no wonder when you know that this plant is originally from West Africa where they receive plenty of strong sun and rain. That is why they grow so fast but they have evolved to require less water and sunlight. One watering per week and indirect sunlight is more than an average snake plant could ask for. It takes as little as one year before it reaches the ceiling!

Fiddle-leaf Fig

Another African plant is fiddle-leaf fig. This one is not that low maintenance and it must be planted outside due to its size. Although it belongs to the Ficus genus, it is much taller and has a huge canopy. It shies away from direct sunlight and it should be watered once the top layer of earth gets dry. Its violin-shaped leaves are the most distinctive characteristic these figs was named after. However, due to their size, the leaves collect a lot of dust which inhibits their ability to soak up sun rays. This is why you should dust it regularly, especially if it is near the road or at the entrance to the office.

Air Plants

The penultimate plant on our list is so amazing and resilient that it doesn’t even need hard soil to grow. Tillandsia or Air plants are carried by wind to the remotest of places and they simply cling to the surface they get thrown on. This is because they have a minimal root system that can survive even if you plant them in the middle of the desert. They are ideal indoor plants for minimalist spaces as you can just leave them on the table and they’ll grow just fine. They should be kept away from the sun and water can be sprayed onto them every second week. Just remember to provide them with a lot of fresh air. After all, they aren’t called Air plants for nothing.

Philodendron

It might be hard to pronounce the last plant on our list but its upkeep is much easier. There are over 500 species in the Araceae family they belong to and most are suitable for indoor keeping in order to make the space feel more tropic. Yours is just to place the pot with a Philodendron in some corner that suits you and the plant will do the rest. Just water it once a week, keep it away from direct sunlight, and you’ll have the best floral decoration money can buy.

If a plant refuses to die, properly treating it is not that hard. Most of the 7 plants listed here require infrequent watering, protection against the sun, and … well, there’s no “and,” as that’s all the care they need.

 

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What Plants Are Hard to Kill and How to Treat Them
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