Cool Alternatives to Popular Houseplants | This not That

Popular houseplants and alternatives that look better or are more interesting. Just a light-hearted video sharing my opinions. Nothing against any of the popular houseplants mentioned! I just think there are some plants that fill the same role that are more fun (to me).

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[JohnNorman]

Basically just 15 minutes of Benji calling me basic 😭💖

[fatidiclunacy]

I love the way you combined the color of the shelf, the shirt and the blanket. The color story alone made the video really pleasant to watch!

[lucasbrady]

I find myself loving loads of plants that end up being way more expensive than I would want them to be. I'm super glad that you made this video to give some better alternatives that won't destroy my bank account. Thanks for the great content, the video came out way earlier than I expected!😃

[jekalambert]

As a low income retired person, most of my plants are "basic" easy care easy to propagate varieties. Now living in the desert in southern California, I've killed many of the plants I brought with me when I moved here from northern CA because the summer temperatures here reach into the 100s for weeks at a time combined with humidity in the 20% range in my mostly not air conditioned home. I have to monitor my collection of 100+ potted plants daily and sometimes don't manage to stay on top of everything. I cannot afford to spend on a plant with questionable resistance to the growing conditions in my home. I've come to love snake plants because they aren't fussy and their upright structure works well when combined with other plants and even as a focal point on my dining room table.

I loved seeing your examples and hearing you talk about them. You definitely have a green thumb combined with a great aesthetic.

[oliverpiong]

i really really love snake plants because of how their very structural and almost architectural leaves. it’s also a nice break from the other regular leaves.

[ellieella]

also, the same flowering anthurium you mentioned but with the black / chocolate colored flowers!!!! the super dark foliage and flower coloring is so stunning and aesthetically pleasing to me, and it’s always relatively cheap and easy to take care of. i wish i saw it around more, it’s the dark academia aesthetic perfectly wrapped up in a plant hahaha :’)

[ohhhitsalyyy]

In Los Angeles near Beverly Hills, there’s a shop called The Faun’s Daughter that had a really big selection of platyceriums (mounted and hung) that aren’t expensive! And the owners are super lovely.

[serenity]

If you don't have a lot of space but want a fiddle-leaf fig, trust me, get yourself a ficus lyrata bambino. This is actually my first plant. I found it to be very beginner friendly and extremely easy to care for. I didn't even fertilize it in the first year and it grew super quickly and was easy to branch it for a more tree-like look.

[LeilaSoleil]

I love the Australian tree fern. Wish I had one. I love the warmth of your home, and how you make us all feel welcome. Also, I finally was able to get one of your passiflora cuttings! It arrived in lovely shape, and is doing well so far. I love it! Thank you, Benji.😘

[tiffanytien]

The philodendron Congo is a great alternative to the BoP! It’s got big, broad leaves in green and red varieties!

[Tzippi]

Hi Benji! I have many snake plants because I used to live in Miami and they grow everywhere. I think they’re great for beginners because they’re indestructible. You can also trim them, but they look a little funky, but they won’t die. And they’re safe for animals. When you mentioned that you didn’t like them, I turned to my snake plants and I said did you hear what did you just said about you all? But they told me that they love you anyway! I have a dragon scale, which has been a very interesting plan for me. Thank you for this vlog. I’m getting ready to move to a spot with a screened porch in the Space Coast. I hope you and Chris are well and settling in. Love you all! ❤

[joey-plants]

I love videos like this. Gives us so much inspiration even by hearing about some plants we already have/known under a different look.

[joaquin_]

Omg Benji, yes!!! I absolutely love your recommendations! I especially love Bantel’s sensation snake plants cuz they give a very angelic look to a space without needing much care. I will def try the taller fuller plants for my home. Part 2 of this video please! ❤

[Hazelnutleaf]

Abutilons are so gorgeous - probably my favorite of my houseplants. I feel like they are very overlooked. They come in so many beautiful colors (peach is my favorite) and flower sizes and shapes. I love the soft fuzzy leaves and how the flowers dangle like bells. 😊

[juliettefrediere]

My favorite genus will always be Hoyas. They’re so easy and beautiful!

[dannykerdel]

I have a blechnum gibbum silver lady, it's one of the fastest growing miniature tree ferns. It's growing more up than wide, ideal for my apartment and maybe yours as well benji! 😉 Silver lady likes full shade instead of most tree ferns liking some sun. Mine is growing extremely quickly compared to all my other ferns and the leaves can get huge and go upright. The leaf turnover is pretty quick as well, old leaves get brown and you can remove them as it forms the trunk. The new leaves expand with a light yellow color and then becomes much bigger and more green. I wish I saw more YT channels talking about it for indoor care and growing. Tree ferns are like one of my latest obsessions haha

[juliaferguson]

I would definitely recommend an Australian Tree Fern! It is an absolutely stunning plant and i love it's fuzzy stems! I watched a video when I first got it and the guy said he watered his every 2 days and that's what Ive been doing and its been thriving for over a year now with so much new growth. It really enjoyed the Canadian summer weather outdoors

[ErikAndrew-qp]

3:45 a great alternative use for those cane dracaenas is to utilize them as a support for vining plants. Like, instead of a moss pole, for some type of vining aroid, hoya, or other vine… plant the vine in the same pot as the tree and train it up the trunk.

People freak out about nutrition and moisture, keeping moss poles wet, and I get it…but actually to use something like a tree or Dracaena is great. Most aroids and vines will attach to just about anything, including painted walls, tables, brick, cement, PVC poles, and more. Actually, the firmer surfaces are better and sturdier. Moss poles are nice, but the roots will always aim for the back of the pole, and attach for support there. The moss is simply for humidity and subtle nitrogen, probably. Not extremely stable. But I do have a heartleaf philodendron growing in the same pot as a cane Dracaena, attached to the bark. Even a dead or leafless cane dracaena can be utilized as a support and recycled that way.

[ilavalolipop]

Nooo, the snake plant slander 🥲 lol I love my snake plant, I think the tall blades compliment my minimalist style living room.
You’ve got me interested in Dracaena Marginata now, I especially like how it looks with that long arching shape.
Also, your living room is looking so cozy and inviting now. 😌 I’m blissing out while watching this vid with a cup of tea.

[javai]

these past two vid backgrounds and fit combo give very cozy casual almost artistic talk show host vibes but more informative and just helpful idk but its very comforting to watch, nice job 🫶🏽