We spoke to a rare houseplant pro Enid Offolter to bring you some tips to keep your own alive. She recently published a book, Welcome to the Jungle, on this very topic. “I’ve always liked unusual plants and got hooked on aroids like philodendrons and anthuriums. Coincidentally they grow very well indoors,” says Offolter. It can often be overwhelming when expanding your collection, especially when getting into rare plants, but listen to her and you just might find that there’s no reason to be intimidated by rare houseplants. Another way to find these plants is from recommendations from friends. “Often if you have friends that are into plants you can ask them for any reputable sellers or good experiences they have had when purchasing plants,” suggests Offotlter. There are a few shady sellers out there so be sure to read reviews before purchasing. On social media you’re sure to find people posting about untrustworthy sellers who send a cutting that has no node or a dead leaf. If that risk puts you off, you can always head to a plant shop that specializes in rare plants. A quick internet search will help you find one. As always make sustainable plant purchasing choices!
The Fear of Killing an Expensive Plant
When it comes to being a rare houseplant beginner, all of your previous plant knowledge feels like it has to go out the window. But the truth is that most of the care is the same as it is for common houseplants. A lot of people are afraid to dabble in rare houseplants for fear of killing expensive plants. “This is one of the reasons I wanted to write Welcome to the Jungle. I wanted to show people that a lot of these rare plants are really quite easy to grow and not to be scared to give them a try,” says Offolter. The key things to consider are the same: Do some research before buying, and make sure you have enough light for the plant you’re looking at. “I think most plants are killed from too much care rather than not enough,” notes Offolter. “One of the biggest issues can be improperly watering your plants. If it is still wet from the last watering, it doesn’t need more water. I generally will stick my finger all the way down into the soil because sometimes it’s dry on the top inch but soaking wet on the bottom.”
Expanding Your Collection
Once you have a few rare houseplants that are thriving, you’ll probably want to get some more. However it can often hurt your finances. “Once you get into rare plants, it can get expensive. Trading with your friends can be a great way to expand your collection without taking a huge hit to your wallet,” says Offolter. Take cuttings or sections of your plant and find out if there is a plant swap group on Facebook in your area. You can also see if there are any in-person plant swaps happening (and if there aren’t, you can plan one!). Images are reprinted with permission from Welcome to the Jungle: Rare Tropical Houseplants to Collect, Grow, and Love by Enid Offolter copyright © 2022. Photographs by Sonya Revell copyright © 2022. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
