Thank you all so much for your comments, I am absolutely floored by the response!! There are admittedly far too many for me to reply to each one, but I just want to assure you all I am reading each and every one and seriously appreciating your feedback. Thank you! 💕

Maidenhair ferns cower in fear when they sense me in their vicinity

PLEASE continue with this topic! It's interesting and something we can all relate to and no one else is doing this topic. MORE!!

The calathea behind you must have listened to that while shaking in terror

Calathea Medallions seem to take one look at me and drop dead.

OMG!!! Houseplant experts like you have had bad luck with almost all of the ones I have managed to kill. Feeling better to know, I'm not alone

it really depends on the environment, my Stromanthe sanguinea “Triostar” is doing great, I even had to move it away from the grow light. I'm growing all these "hard" plants easily and at the same time I've almost killed a Christmas cactus... so really, pick plants for your environment, not what others say is easy to grow.

I feel I cant even look at Calathea. If I ignore them they thrive but as soon as I pay them any attention they just throw their toys out of the pram. I'm currently in the midst of a complicated relationship with 3 peace lily's. I split my huge, beautiful plant into 6. The original and 2 others of doing fantastic, but the others are driving me insane. Too much light, not enough light, not enough water, too much water, pots too big, pots too small. It's starting to feel personal 😂

I'm so happy you addressed English Ivy. I've had two of them and they were infested with pests almost immediately after I bought them and died a very quick death.

Calathea you need a specific climate, I live in Portugal it's warm and humid and all of my babies are flourishing

I'm convinced plants can smell the fear. We humans must emit pheromones that the plants can detect and that is enough to start their demise.

Yeah I hate calatheas, they can go rot in a corner! I ignore them when plant shopping and avoid looking at them. Needy drama queens that always die (obv me just. projecting my frustrations) Lol

My nickname is “plant killer” I go into my favorite nursery and the clerk asks me what did I kill this time, I will never try growing succulents again. I have killed several varieties of succulents more than three times. So no more for them. I am so bad I cannot keep an air plant alive.

I looked over at my dracaena marginata and told him to cover his ears. He's sensitive lol

I kill pothos, but do great with Calatheas......no sense at all.

I just bought a white fusion 30 min ago, bracing myself now lol

I've "three strike ruled" the Begonia Rex. They've withered away every time. ...but my Angel Wing varieties are THRIVING!

Damn English Ivy... I swear to god they just crispy up on me so quick.

Killed it. Killed it. Killing it. Killing it. Maybe it will survive? Killing it. Thanks for the videos!

This is god telling me to stop getting aloe veras lmao

Nick: Calathea roseopicta Me: side-eying mine

Strangely enough I seem to do really well with all calatheas (can't say the same for certain other plants!). My white fusion which I've had for ages, grows on a table in an east facing window. It get s small amount of very early morning weak direct sun but it is shaded from a lot of light by the leaves of a dragon plant. Mainly it's growing a like an understorey plant with dappled light between the leaves of the dragon plant early morning and just average indirect light the rest of the day. I find they don't need as much light as people think despite the white on them. They definitely do not like tap water. I water most of my plants with plain tap water but I make an effort with the calatheas and only use rain or distilled water on them and it's definitely paid off. as for the pink one (I know you mentioned it but the name escapes me at present - the rosie one!), if it's getting too much light, the colour fades so like the white fusion it's protected from direct light by growing under other plants. My white fusion and rosie are also directly under the humidifer and seems to love having slightly damp leaves all time. Again, using rain or distilled water really makes a huge difference. all my calatheas are fed with a half strength organic liquid feed called Charlie Carp in the growing season and they seem to love that as well. As for the ivy, well i wouldn't even go there. It's just a complete pest magnet and it's just not worth the headaches it gives. I'm glad you are conscientious as to what you recommend to customers when it comes to growing the more difficult plants. I wish more places would do it. I was in a nursery the other day and listened as a lady asked a staff member for recommendation for a beginner. the staff member tried to sell her calatheas. When the staff member left I went over to lady and told her not to buy them if she is just starting out with plants as they can be very difficult. I recommended some much easier care plants there for a beginner such as a zz and devils ivy and she was very grateful.

Great subject matter and yet another wonderful video!! I'd love to see a video where you show the care you give to a plant that's struggling but recovers. Sometimes I have plants that I'm not sure if I should bail on them and throw out or maybe they're salvageable. Heading to your hometown for flower show in March!! YAY! :)

I’m so in love with your plant videos and your lovely manner . I think I speak for many of us when I say you seem like the plant friend we would all like to know! Certainly makes me feel better about my plant losses when I hear about your losses!

In my experience Dracaena thrive on neglect more than any other plant I know. I hardly water them at all - probably like a zz actually. I don’t find them fussy with light either, keep them very root bound.

I have a stromanthe triostar and have found it easy, I put mine in a southern facing window and only bottom water... Never let it dry out completely. Maybe some tips to help someone

I really appreciate you making this video. I can’t imagine how hard it must’ve been to film this hahahaha but I feel like I really learned a lot from you talking about your mistakes and really boosted my confidence in trying out new plants that I’ve been quite intimated by knowing that it’s okay if some plants don’t work for me when I’ve tried my best so thank you!!!

Really love your videos! I've been binge watching plant videos and your channel has more realistic topics! Not just a bunch of bragging about their plants and how are their green thumb is. Thanks and I've learned so much from your videos so far! Subscribed!

My peace lily was doing well for almost a year, it grew twice the size of when I bought it. But as soon as I started using unfiltered water, it crisped up quickly and went downhill, I couldn't save it!! 😫 The only plants I've kept alive long-term so far are snake plants, pothos, and aglaeonemas.

My peace lily is pretty finicky sometimes but I've finally mastered what she wants! I was definitely underwatering her at first, but she lovesss being soaked once a week and being rotated once a week by my east-facing window. I love how clear their language is, it definitely makes it easier to care for. I personally don't mind when she doesn't produce any flowers, I think the foliage itself is absolutely gorgeous. I've learned that my peace lily likes to be completely left alone with as little change as possible (aside from the weekly rotation) and she'll let me know whenever she needs something

I really appreciate that you have made thus video coz it just goes on to show that you are as human n prone to make mistakes with plants...many people just make videos of plants that have thrived in their care n it just goes on to build a certain public image...this video only goes on to make me relate to you... kudos !!

Omg, you're listing almost every plant that I have and adore the most (while at same time you got a really impressive plant collection). My Pepperomia obtusifolia is at my south window and I think it as one of my succulents because leaves seem so though. Hasn't crown a lot but doesn't seem like it's struggling either. Maranta's can be really needy so I fully empathize with people that have given up on them. My Leuconeura has been pretty temperamental lately but is still also having a new growth. Haven't yet tried a medallion but would love to and have been looking for a right Princess Jessie... Should I be scared? Now I'm also curious what Calatheas have done well for you (others than musaica)? Ivy has been doing pretty well even tho it would probably like to have little bit more water at times.

Thank you for this vid post! Greatly needed for those of us who feel like plant parent LOOOOOSEEERRRS! I felt your frustration and comiserate with you. I can RELATE! Oye. Thank u!

When you said “Calathea Medallion” I looked up to my shelf to my very sad and struggling one. I will probably wait to try again until I have a house with a room where I can keep the humidity at 50%🌟 it’s too dry here in Canada

All Pothos and spider plants hate me! 🙄 Everyone seems to be able to just place them somewhere and splash a bit of water on them. And they THRIVE! I read, I blend soils, I care..... Even talk to them "please don't die!" But no.... They just give me a evil grin and die. Oh, that goes for Adansonii too.

I've struggled with calathea, ripple peperomia varieties, and spaths as well. I'm learning they need more light and less water, because they're such a dense foliage plant, the light doesn't make it to the soil and help dry it up. So it weakens them, invites pests and bacteria and they're not long for this world. I haven't outright killed any yet, but did bring several back, that were close to the end. When they die back, they're less dense in foliage and get the right balance of light and moisture. Another interesting development which happened on my plant journey recently, is the return of rain in summer. We've had drought the past 2 years. Summer is normally when advice recommends, increasing watering - because it's warmer. However, because of the rain and high humidity (we were at 100% recently) I had to water sparsely, like in winter. The plants just didn't need extra moisture in a high humidity situation. Even though there was plenty of heat! Calatheas and spaths can handle more moisture, than the peperomia's (especially obtusifolia). Although I nearly lost a couple of peperomias, which didn't actually have anything to do with how I was treating them. It was the nursery I got them from. They left them in their little jiffy-pots, planted inside the plastic pot. Unbeknownst to me, the jiffy-pot was drying out the soil around the roots, because it wasn't rotting down. Why would it, because I was sparsely watering my peperomias. The soil around the jiffy pot, was moist (where I was feeling for wetness) but the invisible jiffy pot was making the soil around the plants roots hydrophobic. As soon as I re-potted them, and saw what the dry jiffy-pot was doing to the roots, they've rebounded back to health! So sometimes, it's not always "us". I've rescued 3 small plants, that were being starved of moisture by their Jiffy-pot cage. Even if you don't re-pot straight away, it's still a good idea to pull your plant out and check it's roots.

The peperomia obstufolia, I hardly water mine, and west facing window 3 feet in a terra cotta pot. Doing awesome, hope I don't jinx myself, lol, love your info!!!🤗🌱🌾🍃

About My English Ivy .... 3rd try was a charm: *Hanging in a SW window. *Light on top of the Plant (Not just the trails) *Distilled water *Tip....Shower with them...(not Shower water in the soil)... But grabbing the Humidity from the Shower... P.S. Learned So much from U... Also.. I doesn't hurt to live in California 🌿💚

I’m glad you have been truthful enough to admit it by being a you tuber. I subscribed to you because you have been truthful. I’ve killed several and like you say once I’ve had one die I try to find out what I did wrong and then try to be more attentive to their needs..

Loved this video! Makes me feel so much better about my plant killing.... several on your list are on my list as well!

I've had an English ivy for a year now, and I've thankfully never seen pests on it. I make sure to shower it most of the time when it's time to water since I've heard they're likely to attract pests. And when ive receptly shoped for ivy, I heavily inspected the leaves, stem and soil before deciding to purchase them. And sprayed them with neem oil /castile soap/ water mixture and wiped them down and am isolating them from my other plants for a little while. Hopefully these new ones i have don't surprise me with any pests one day.

This makes me feel so much better as a new plant owner😭 I felt like I didn’t have a green thumb because I was killing my plants at first but I’m getting the hang of it. Thanks for this video.

Thank you so much for posting this!! I'm still pretty new to plant keeping, and have killed many, many plants already. My biggest challenge is a ZZ I love to death but over watered; I'm trying to coax it back to life now. Dracaenas for die often a lot too, but with the cheap price I keep trying. I have one now that's thriving in low light in regular Miracle Gro potting soil that I take out to see the sun maybe once a month. They do seem to like water though, mine gets a good amount weekly. Good luck with your future endeavors! Can't wait to see what you post next!

Thank you for this video. I love your VLOG and am always envious of all of the variety of plants you have...all so beautiful and healthy. Pepperomias are beautiful, but I have no luck with them. I do have 2 Pileas...still alive and recently repotted. They are in limbo with growth, and wish the leaves would get bigger. Stramenthes (sp?) is another one. I got a plain one and it started to decline as soon as I brought it into my home...so, not again. There are others, but I appreciate that someone like you, who has such green thumb, with a beautiful collection of plants....also struggles and has killed some along the way, and is open about it. Thank you, Nick!

My mother's Dracaena Marginata is standing in the darkest corner of a living room, it was over watered (literally standing in water for few days) and surprisingly it's growing very fast. :O

Struggling with Peperomia... They usually do well for a while and then slowly die off....

Thank you for that video! Could you maybe also explain some of the plants diseases? What is fine and what can be alarming? Or give some information on which book on topic would you recommend for reference? There seems to be not a lot of videos about those issues. Great job with your channel 👍

Thank you for making this video it really made me feel better! I've stopped bringing ferns into my home because they always die from the lack of humidity. I feel better knowing losing plants is part of the hobby :)

I laughed out loud as soon as you said Draceana Marginata - I'm in the process of slowly killing one. I laughed even harder when you said you'll def find one in IKEA, because that's where i got mine :p I definitely overwatered it but i think i might be able to save the main trunk!

In the beginning, I've struggled with Stromanthe thalia and Goeppertia [ex-Calathea] roseopicta (Medallion, Dottie and Rosy), but after I've changed from using tap to rain water, or filtered/de-chlorined water, boom! It was like magic. No more brown/burnt edges. But, maybe a big but, I live in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, and maybe they feel at home here, with our warm and super humid weather (70 to 80% is normal. It feels dry when it's around 60%, because we're used to high humidity). My Goeppertia roseopicta Medallion even bloomed by the end of last fall.

Love the thumbnail. Thanks for sharing your plant deaths. I have heeded the advice of others and resisted the white fusion. I'm all good with caparatas, but the Eden Rosso just hates me (yet I love it!).

I am so with you on the fusion, and triostar. They are/were a struggle. I absolutely love the triostar and it is on the struggle bus in my bathroom. I have heard horror stories about the bugs and ivy so for that reason I don't even bother. I am on my third SOP so if I kill this one, I am done with it. This video absolutely made me feel less of a failure and I feel much better about just saying "no thank you" to some plants! Love your videos Nick!! Keep up the great content!!

This makes me feel better. I have killed all three calatheas I’ve owned, two of which were the first plants I ever bought not realizing how challenging they are. I only have one peperomia now as my others would be doing great but then would switch overnight to not liking their home. 😩 same with begonias... I tend to stick to unique philodendrons and scindapsus now due to their heartiness but there are also some great variations out there now. 😊

Love love love this video ! More plant KZfaqrs should so this and keep it real. Thank you 😊

I feel for you. I would say I’m very good at taking care of Calathea plants but a Calathea Medallion is so hard to keep alive during the winter season. They go dormant on me. Such a bummer as they thrive in the growing season. Also, Ivy is one of the plants that I can’t keep all that well however I discovered the more I ignore my ivy plants, the better they grow. This video is fun to watch. It’s interesting to know what type of plant’s plant tubers are struggling with.. xo

You made me feel so much better when you mentioned dracaena! I keep seeing that they’re easy but I’m on plant number two and it’s like on the edge. My dad has one that’s thriving and he has it right up against an east facing window in a terracotta pot, so I tried to recreate that & we’ll see how it goes! They typically have wrinkly stems off and on and slowly kick the bucket. 🤞🏻hopefully it works better this time.

English Ivy is a low light plant. At least the ivy growing everywhere in England will tolerant heavy shade.

Never knew English ivy was difficult to raise. I've had mine for years. Repotted it a month ago and it grows even faster. Never had any issues with pests.

Your videos are so interesting. I love watching them. Thanks for sharing your beautiful plants and their stories with us

Thank you for helping me realize this is a trial and error effect. I 've started growing my house plants about 3yrs ago and have lost quit a few over the years.

This video made me feel so much better about myself! Plants I’ve killed: English Ivy, Peperomia Obtusifolia, Peperomia Caperata, Peace Lily and Aloe Vera 🙈 Thank you, Nick!

Calathea Freddie is the best member of a very troubled family!😂

Love this video! Please do another! I definitely am on the same page with you on the calathea & Ivy but the peperomia & dracaena are my go to, I have like all of the varieties for those but maybe that’s because I always wait for my plants to tell me they’re thirsty like drooping or a yellow leaf from a dracaena

OMG. I feel so relieved after watching this video. I thought I wasn't a great planty because I killed calatheas, a whole bunch of peperomia, hedera helix, and dracena marginata. And yes, my peace lily looks so stumpy now. Thanks for informing us about peace lilies being pumped with gibberellic acid. Usually, when one plant dies, I wouldn't try growing the same plant again, except for a few like peperomia prostrata. You always produce great content, Nick!

I cant seem to get the hang of dieffenbachia. I have 2 really crappy looking ones.😅

I grow multiple english ivy’s, for me they do best grown in water with clay pebbles. I most them daily. They grow very well, especially the non variegated ones.

I love that you have the same challenges as we do! My prayer plant died a long sad death and yet my stromanthe triostar is spectacular...maybe the radiation falling on it from the tv is a good thing? Thanks for the laughs! 🇨🇦

Hi Nick! I really appreciated this video. It's so real and down to earth, but then all of your videos are. It just helps a lot of us to know that even someone with your experience has come across plants that won't survive in your environment. There are not very many on YT that show their failures but I really appreciate those that do. I was surprised that there were some Peperomias on your list since you love the species and have so many beautiful ones. I've tried a couple Peperomia obtusifolia (I think). I know I overwatered them from watching your videos. I do have one that is dark green with light green variegation that is neglected and ok for now and a teardrop that I really like and is doing ok. I've never tried Calatheas, but so many of them are so pretty! My sister has a Stromanthe sanguinea “Triostar” and it's doing really well. I want to try that one if I can find one at a good price. I love my Dracaena Marginatas. They seem to do good for me. I don't water them very often, they get medium light and I keep them away from drafts. My biggest was moved closer to the front door when I got a new table and it didn't like it, so I moved it and it's happy again. I have two Peace Lilies and they're doing really well. My bigger one is in a small pot with no drainage, which I need to repot, and my small one hasn't flowered yet, but I have high hopes for it. I agree with you on Ivy's. They are so pretty, but all that I've tried have gotten spider mites. The last ones I bought, years ago, I sprayed immediately and they still got spider mites. Also, can't grow succulents or cacti and I've been struggling with Syngoniums, but will keep trying them for a while because I love them! Thank you so much for sharing this with us and I'd love for you to expand on your plant fails!

I felt like the biggest failure when my Pilea started to die... RIP Pepe.

I always kill maidenhair fern.

I've grown plants for about 30 years I have always been very lucky I've also mostly mixed my own soil mixtures for different plant requirements A few months ago I decided to buy an expenaive quality soil mixture( I got a bit lazy)..so I went mad and repotted about 20 of my semi favourites ( I have over 300) and all of a sudden have just experienced a bad case of root rot for the first time ever OMG to say I was devastated is an understatement ...I love your honesty and advice and found this video very refreshing and reassuring its a journey of learning no matter how long you have had plants in your life. .

Calathea Medallion and Dracena marginata were two of my first house plants, I have had them both 2 years now and they thrive. Both are in large terracotta pots and get watered weekly/fortnightly depending on the season. Average English indirect light for both seems perfect for me. I now have over 60 plants 😊 love your vids! ♥

Hey Nick, thanks for sharing your experience, I killed a lot of Ferns and Begonia's and I'm forgetting one type of plant too Lol. They are so pretty but like you said I will just appreciate them from afar Lol.

I live in England so English ivy is literally everywhere. I think that spraying spider mites off with water usually deals with them.

One of my first plants was a giant peace lily... I have put this plant through so much. I could not keep it happy until I put it under a grow light right next to a southwest facing window. Also I put it in a compact pot. Since then I’ve had more success. It’s still kind of a drama queen but it’s popping out much better leaves and has fluffed back up. I really think it loves light.. as in not as low light as it’s marketed. (Medium to bright indirect or supplemented) We shall see. This all works in progress, after all. Thank for the video. You have become a player in my plant journey. Cheers!!

I so glad you made this video. Every plant you have trouble with are my problem children, except dracaena fragrans. Have one that is. 35 years old, touching the ceiling in my house and has gone through moving twice. Don’t know what to do with the stem hitting the ceiling, was told I should cut it....ugh, hard to decision to make.

I have a 20 year old dragon tree I took in a few months ago, and it’s in a shallow pot, and it’s not in direct sunlight, I water it every 3 weeks or so, and it works well for me

My english ivy has been thriving for 6 months now. It has tripled in size since I bought it! I keep it hanging in my south facing window and I water it in my shower whenever its dry. I fertilize it once a month. I spray it with neem oil once a month. That's it!

Nick- you are my favorite plant person! I know what you are saying about peace Lilly they can be fussy! It took me a little bit but I learned that they really like liquid seaweed fertilizer! It makes them green and bloom! I found that added rocks on the top keeps the moisture in a little bit longer. I use rainwater as well! I hope you try these tips!

Just found your channel, and I'm loving these different chat topics. I've killed a ponytail palm, african violets, alocasia frydek, parlor palm, and of course fiddle leaf fig. I actually did well with the african violets until they got a fungus, so I'll be trying them again soon. I am gonna wait a while on trying the others again. I live in New England as well and the summer is amazing here. It's 75° and 55% humidity in my house right now. The winter is tough though.

idk my ivy is thriving and i do literally nothing special and my peace lily is just straight vibin tbh

Next time can you please pick up the kitty and briefly introduce us?

Omg! Ivy and all of the pests in the world!🙄 Thanks for talking about it. I've had thrips and other pests on my Ivy and it was the absolute worst experience! I wish I knew before I brought the plant into my house.

Oh man those dracaena marginata give me a headache. I killed one and my current one I’ve actually had the longest of the two just always looks awful!! I can never get it to be happy. No matter where I put it or how much water I give it. It looks droopy and sad always. It drives me absolutely insane!!! Great video!

I never let my peace Lillies wilt. It's very stressful for them. By then they are already beginning to die and it halts new growth.

Nick and Calathea : a story.

Yes and yes! I have had many of these plants die on me as well. I usually only try once though. Good video.

I have an ivy and while watching the video I was like "how weird mone never had pests" Go over to look at it and OMG IT DOES 😩

My calathea medallion and triostar are doing fine, but my white fusion is absolutely committing plant suicide! Its in a humid, warm environment and gets watered with rain water but still is not happy 😭

Thanks for your honesty. I find that I can be neglectful to water plants in rooms I don't go in very often and also when I see a pest to not deal with them right away. Very bad habits.

I’ve had the same experience with the very same plants. Thanks for coming clean.

I have a dracaena (that exact one from IKEA haha). When we got a cat I needed to put it somewhere he wouldn't get to it (he loves plants that have long thin leafs and dracaena is very toxic). I had to put it above the toilet. We don't have windows there. But it's thriving. I'm still confused how.

Damn, I’ve found my white fusion extremely easy to care for, I treat it just like all of my other calatheas. But I’ve always found them to be easy. When I first started my collection I actually bought a calathea rufibarba not knowing what it was or their reputation. I personally think people smother mother them and that’s the downfall. 🤷‍♀️

Love love ur channel & you .. 3 strikes & you’re out is in my home too .. Mb 🇨🇦.. I’ve killed quite a few of the same plants as u .. sop is 1 I love to bits but cannot make a go of it .. my daughter gave me a few rooted strands & they r doing well .. didn’t know what I’m doing differently but not complaining .. look forward to ur videos 😍😍😍

Knowing how you love peperomias, it is very encouraging? for me to hear that you struggle with caperatas. I love them but I simply cannot figure out why they do what they do! I don't outright murder them, but I seem to always have 2 or 3 varieties that look awful at any given time. They are sooooo frustrating and the fact that you think so too makes me feel much less like I'm screwing something up. They are just temperamental!!

You talking sh*t on the calatheas that have broken my heart is theraputic AF 🤣

I've killed sooo many plants 😭 and I mourn each of their deaths still.

You're thumbnail was everything. I only give myself a second strike on a plant because I have killed a lot . . . hence my account name. And when you mentioned a failed plant, I immediately checked my wishlist to make sure it's not on there. Because if you can't grow it, then I certainly can't grow it. However, I have actually done well with the white fusion. Besides the tips you mentioned, the key for me was to keep it in a shallow pot. I do that with mostly all of my calatheas. And every time I see a nice ivy for sale, I wag my finger at it and mutter "Nick says no, no, no."

Thanks for this refreshing show and tell video Nick. I live at 450m in South of France, probably zone 8/9 BUT the air is incredible dry here.. So great for succulents but like you Calathiers (?) and anything needing humidity is out, which is a shame as there is a magnificent mosaic Calathier at my local shop atm... I must stay strong! Hoyas, pothos, and scindapsis are my surefire ones.... Although my Brésil is looking peeky! I am also slowly converting to hydro to help with pests and extend watering times.... Jane (France)

They say m. deliciosas are super easy to grow, but I've never been successful with any of them. My wallet is empty and so is my soul.