How many houseplants do you kill?

[Gabitule]

I know the title is a bit weird but I didn’t quite know how to put it…

I have around 20-25 plants in my house. Some are easy case such as snake plants and others more difficult to grow such as rarer Alocasias.
I make sure not to water them too much (I use a moisture meter) and that they have enough warmth, light and moisture. However, every so often, my plants die! I feel like I’m not doing anything different but out of the blue they start losing leaves etc and die. The internet is full of contradictory reasons for this (eg too much water, too little water, too much light, too little light). Is it me or is it them? 😀

What percentage of your plants die every year?

(a few examples just over the last year)

• I’ve had a prayer plant (maranta) for the last 3 years, grew beautifully but recently its leaves started going yellow and crinkly. I checked water levels, etc. looks like I can’t save it.
• my philodendron started developing brown spots- a fungus I guess. I took cuttings before it died but the new plants are also developing the same brown spots. My friend bought one at the same time as me, hers is beautiful.
• alocasia - also developed brown spots, couldn’t save it
• begonia polka dot leaves started to crinkle up and fall. In the end the plant lost all of its leaves.

The secret is not to take offence at the death of the ungrateful buggers.

I love pots cos they go in the bin quickly and efficiently if resuscitation fails.

Frightens the rest of this place’s inhabitants into a cabaret of greenery.

I am terrible with plants, actually managed to kill an indoor “lucky bamboo plant”….took three years but somehow it died. I do have a couple of “mother-in-laws tongue plants” which after five years are still looking relatively healthy (and I think they are good plants for cleaning the air).

Buy an aspidistra. It will survive.
Alternatively neglect house plants until they droop or turn pale green - or lose all their foliage. Then water them. (Winter) Put them outside all summer. (nb. Slugs like tradescantias and some succulants. Not spider plants, cacti... Experiment!)
If you are trying orchids - don't. I have managed to kill all but the sort with very skinny leaves. That one is nurtured a bit in the winter if it decides to flower. Spring time it's put in the garden in the shade and ignored. Just before frost it's brought in and examined for signs of flowers, and encouraged accordingly (its flowers are lovely and last for ages if it obliges).
Don't water cacti or succulants in the winter, keep them in a coolish room.

Very interesting thread. My orchid died recently after a year. I had to bin it.

Any tips on how to revive pink anthurium? Its leaves are going brown and had a bit of fluff / fungus in soil. I read somewhere that fungus won't kill the plant. I've kept it on the windowsill facing SE. kept briefly in the bathroom but the window is same side but darker so it was becoming worse. Moved back to normal window. Also the house is always at 18 degrees. Windows are sealed off. Vents are closed for winter.

Sticky traps work really well. It's amazing the amount of flies/gnats they catch.