The Philodendron Rojo Congo is a stand-out among philodendron plants. While most of its relatives grow as climbing vines, the Rojo Congo grows upright with massive dark green to reddish-purple leaves. But this beauty can be hard to find and moderately difficult to care for. Philodendron Rojo Congo requires large pots with well-draining yet moisture-retaining…
The Philodendron Birkin flaunts streams of white on its leaves that can stand out from across a room. Or it can if it doesn’t revert. Unfortunately, this beautiful variegation is temperamental and can disappear, reverting to a pure dark green or purplish green. Philodendron Birkin’s variegation comes from a mutation that is inconsistent depending on…
The Philodendron Hederaceum ‘Brasil’ is a favorite among all houseplant enthusiasts, from beginners to rare plant collectors and experts. This plant is a cultivar of the green Heartleaf Philodendron, native to the floors of tropical rainforests in South America. The Brasil is undeniably a stunning plant, with its heart-shaped green leaves that have neon and…
Calathea Dottie (also known as Calathea Roseopicta “Dottie” or Goeppertia Roseopicta “Dottie”) is a beautiful and unique Calathea variety characterized by its rounded, dark green leaves and bright pink variegation. While their appearance may contribute to the belief that Calathea Dottie is tough to care for, they have very similar needs to all broad-leaved Calathea varieties….
One of the most common complaints from Calathea owners is that even if the plant is otherwise surviving just fine, there may be some brown patches on the very tip of the leaf or along the outer edges of the leaf. While brown edges & tips can be a symptom of a more significant, urgent…
The Philodendron McDowell is a specimen of large heart-shaped velvety leaves that trail. It’s hard to find and costs more than many houseplants. But when you know the basics, they are easy to care for. And they’ll give you long years of indoor greenery. The Philodendron McDowell loves bright indirect light, warm temperatures, high humidity,…
The two aroid houseplants Alocasia Melo and Alocasia Maharani are thick, richly textured elephant ears. Both are green, share a similar shape in leaf and habit, and need the same care. These traits make them difficult to tell apart at first. But with closer inspection, you’ll easily tell the difference. Though both dwarf or jewel…
If your Calathea is unhappy, it will curl its leaves subtly or completely fold over into a loop. This is often a warning sign before the problem worsens and may develop yellow or brown leaves. Your Calathea’s leaves are most likely curling because it is dehydrated, either due to being underwatered, receiving too much light,…
Commonly a favorite among houseplant enthusiasts, the Alocasia “Black Velvet” is a beautiful and compact plant known for its eye-catching foliage. Native to the jungles of Borneo in Southeast Asia, this jewel alocasia has dramatic dark leaves that are almost completely black with bold grey veins. The Black Velvet was once a very rare find,…
One day at a big box store, I found a sad plant on a corner shelf in the garden center. It had one brown leaf and one new leaf unfurling. The leaves were large, and I was interested to know what kind of plant this was. The pot was light as a feather, the soil…