Many people struggle to keep their houseplants alive<\/a>. While some may put the demise of their beloved plants down to not having \u201cgreen fingers\u201d, houseplants are much easier to care for than we realise. In fact, the most common reason houseplants die is because we love them too much<\/a>. While you may religiously follow a plant label\u2019s advice to water weekly, your home is in fact its own micro-climate. Where you put your houseplant has a huge impact on how much water it needs.<\/p>\n You also need to consider where your houseplant comes from. Understanding houseplant adaptions in their natural environments is the key to success. <\/p>\n Orchids<\/p>\n Orchids are a go-to plant for gifting with their glamorous colours and elaborate flower patterns. This beauty often gives the impression they are hard to care for<\/a>. This is true for some orchids, but not the species commonly found in supermarkets: the phalaenopsis or moth orchids. Moth orchids are super easy to care for, and they need far less<\/a> water than you might think. <\/p>\n Struggled to keep an orchid looking this happy? This may seem strange until you realise many orchids are epiphytes<\/a>. Epiphytes are plants that grow on trees, gaining most of their water and nutrients from mist in tropical rainforests. This explains why their roots are green \u2013 they have adapted to photosynthesise like leaves to make the most of the light through the tree canopy.<\/p>\n Instead, partially retire your watering can and place them in a bathroom where there is plenty of humidity. Only water if the roots are dry (more common in summer). Here they will thrive and produce beautiful blooms, which in the wild have evolved to attract a species of bee known as the Amegilla nigritar bee<\/a>. <\/p>\n Bromeliads<\/p>\n Bromeliads have spiky leaves, giving the impression of colourful pineapples \u2013 a valid comparison given they are related<\/a>. Bromeliads are epiphytes<\/a>, so again they require little watering. Roots are used for anchorage, while water is absorbed via the leafy cups between their spike leaves. In the tropics, the cups create mini-ecosystems for insects and tiny frogs no bigger than your fingernail. Some frogs spend their entire life<\/a> in the plant. <\/p>\n However, even with correct watering, bromeliads fade after flowering. Many people assume the plant is dying<\/a> but this behaviour is completely normal. Bromeliads are monocarpic<\/a> meaning the mother plant dies after flowering. Wait a little longer, and your bromeliad will soon produce baby plants (called pups) multiplying itself. <\/p>\n Frogs like bromeliads too. Swiss cheese plant<\/p>\n Swiss cheese plants are favoured for their perforated glossy leaves, adding tropical drama to your home. But they can end up with sad yellow<\/a> or brown leaves<\/a> if they don\u2019t get the right care. <\/p>\n Native to the humid rainforests of Mexico and Central America, the Swiss cheese plant lives up to its Latin name, Monstera deliciosa, of being a \u201cmonster\u201d. Given the right conditions, this plant will often send out weird brown tendrils from its sprawling leaves.<\/p>\n The tendrils are in fact roots, more specifically aerial roots. They help the plant climb up trees to reach light in tropical rainforests. Research has even suggested its aerial roots<\/a> are better at absorbing nutrients than the roots in the soil. Humidity is essential and misting the leaves will help your Swiss cheese plant grow even faster.<\/p>\n You could also add some liquid feed to your misting solution. If you are lucky you may even get flowers, which in the wild turn into edible fruits (hence \u201cdeliciosa,\u201d denoting delicious edible fruit). <\/p>\n The Kentia palm<\/p>\n Palms are part of a huge family of culturally significant plants, with new species regularly being discovered<\/a>. They may remind us of relaxing vacations, with our most popular being the Kentia palm (also known as a Howea palm). <\/p>\n Kentia palms prefer dappled sunlight.![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/file-20260921-50-ufr8qf.jpg\")
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\n Yavuz Eren G\u00fcng\u00f6r\/Pexels<\/a><\/p>\n