How do you deal with problems when your plants do not thrive, even though you are sure that you have provided them with ideal conditions?
Indoor plants are a wonderful addition to any home, as they beautify the space, improve air quality and bring nature closer. However, we face many challenges in growing and caring for these plants. Despite our best intentions, some houseplants just don't seem to do as well as we'd like them to.
Some plant lovers may even find themselves in a quandary when a plant that should be beautiful and healthy suddenly begins to wither or lose its leaves.
Is improper care to blame? No. Some are simply unbearable.
Not all indoor flowers can develop and grow when sharing space and 'air' with someone else. It happens that some of these plants compete for light and moisture, so to speak, destroying their 'neighbors'.
The correct combination and maintenance of plants in the apartment is crucial for their development.
Plants you should never put together
1. Ficus and cactus
Ficus are known for their high need for moisture and light, while cacti are succulents that survive with minimal watering. If you place such a pair next to each other, the ficus can begin to compete with the cactus for moisture and light, and the cactus will not tolerate excessive moisture due to regular watering of the ficus. The result? This will negatively affect the development of both plants.
2. Orchid and geranium
Orchids require special care, as they are used to high humidity, while geraniums are quite undemanding. Do not place orchids and geraniums next to each other unless you are sure you can create a humid enough climate for the former. In addition, the two plants can compete for scent, with geraniums usually being dominant.
3. Ficus and violet
Due to different care, ficuses do not coexist well with violets. A large flower needs abundant regular watering and a sunny place, and it also needs a lot of free space. Violets also require good lighting. When the ficus reaches an impressive size, it will simply shade the small violet flowers and prevent their development.
4. Calathea and cactus
Calathea are plants with colorful leaves that like high humidity and shade. Therefore, they do not go well with cacti that need drought and bright light. This combination can slow or stop the growth of both plants, as the cactus will get too much moisture and the calathea will get too little light.
5. Sanseveria and violet
Sansevieria or 'mother-in-law's tongue' is known for its ability to survive in extreme conditions with minimal water consumption, while violets require abundant watering and moderate humidity. If you place the sanseveria next to the violet and do not increase the humidity in the room, the latter will suffer from dry air.
6. Anthurium and orchid
If you place an anthurium and an orchid next to each other on a windowsill, both plants will stop blooming. Even if buds appear, they quickly dry up and fall off. Anthurium will begin to fade, and the leaves will begin to dry, which will negatively affect the development of both plants.