My Top 3 Planty Regrets — And What They Taught Me
We all have them, right?
The plant you bought because it was beautiful. The one you knew would be different this time. The pride loop you couldn’t escape. Here are my top 3 planty regrets, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll relate.
Regret #1: Buying Because It’s Beautiful Without Checking Its Needs
This one got me twice. First with a Monstera deliciosa (still fighting the urge on this one), and then with a fern called a Polypodium houndsfoot fern. Spoiler: these plants get huge and they need a lot of light.
When I brought the houndsfoot fern home, I proudly placed her in a prime spot, the “look at me” position, and stubbornly decided she would be fine there. Except she wasn’t. The fronds stretched out so far that everyone brushed past them, slowly damaging them, and the low light in our home just wasn’t enough to sustain new growth. A few months in, my lush, healthy fern with 6 or 7 fronds was down to 3 slightly tattered ones.
I had to face the music. I moved her outside to a shaded deck where the light is brighter, and now she’s thriving and fighting fit again.
And then there’s the Monstera. In their natural environment, they climb and spread, and you only have to see one in a garden to realise how massive they can get. I eventually had to accept that I just don’t have the space or light they need, so now, I admire them from a safe distance.
What I’ve learned from this:
A plant that gets in people’s way becomes annoying for both the plant and the people.
Always research the mature size of a plant before buying, so you know if you have the space for it.
Outdoor shade does not equal indoor low light. They are not the same thing.
Regret #2: Buying Rare Plants That Once Called a Tropical Jungle Home
It’s so easy to get caught up in FOMO when a new “rare” plant variety pops up. That word “rare” carries this weird sense of exclusivity, like I’ve got something not many people have. And yes, I fell for it too.
But here’s the thing: I don’t think most rare plants are worth the price tag. And the kicker? If you wait a year, that “must-have” plant will usually be half the price anyway.
On top of that, a lot of these rare beauties come from tropical environments, which means they crave high humidity — way more than your average lounge can provide. A friend gave me some rare propagations recently, and I’ve been growing them in a makeshift prop box (basically a mini glasshouse with moist moss in a 50L tub with a lid). They’re thriving in there, but here’s the problem: once they outgrow the box, I can’t give them the same humidity in my living room.
Honestly, I think we’ve been duped, plant friends. Exclusivity-shmivity. I’m not falling for it anymore.
Regret #3: Buying Calathea Again (and Again, and Again)
Ah, Calatheas. My toxic plant relationship. Their patterned leaves are hypnotising, and I’ve fallen for them so many times. You’d think after the first one crisped up, I’d have learned my lesson, but no. I kept convincing myself, “This time will be different.” Spoiler: it wasn’t.
There are a few low-maintenance varieties I can happily recommend:
Goeppertia insignis (Rattlesnake Calathea)
Calathea Gecko
Goeppertia orbifolia
Every other Calathea I’ve brought home has struggled, no matter what I tried. I don’t regret loving them, though. They taught me an important lesson: it’s okay to admire a plant without needing to own it.
These days, I enjoy Calatheas in shops, in friends’ homes, or while scrolling Instagram. My home isn’t their happy place, and that’s okay.
Looking back, I wouldn’t change these regrets for anything because they’ve shaped the plant parent I am today. Each “oops” moment taught me something valuable about patience, observation, and meeting plants where they are, not where I want them to be. I’ve learned to research before buying, be realistic about my space and light, and, most importantly, to admire plants I can’t keep happy without needing to bring them home.
At the end of the day, it isn’t about owning all the plants. It’s about creating a space where the ones you have can truly thrive and where you can enjoy them too. Can you relate?
Plant lots & love lots, plant friend.
Tarryn x
