It's my boyfriend's birthday next month and I wanted to buy him a plant he hasn't yet got. Currently we have:
Lots of monsteras
Syngonium
Pothos
Jades
Snake plants
String of hearts
Ferns (staghorn, blue star, boston)
Peace lilies
Rubber plant
Tradescantia
Spider plants
He particularly likes monsteras! But if there are any relatively easy to care for, or 'essential' house plants that it sounds like they'd fit well with what we already have I'd love to hear. Our house is pretty shady but there are certain areas that get a bit more sunlight in the afternoon. Thank you :)
Philodendrons - first one that came to mind, so many varieties! The care has been really similar to monsteras for me.
Hoya - agree with the other poster’s suggestion! I think a hoya would look nice next to your tradescantia, and there are so many interesting types. Plus they might flower if you’re lucky!
ZZ plant - a bit of a different shape/growth pattern from what you have and quite low maintenance
Peperomia - a more compact suggestion and somehow very giftable imo!
Many thanks for these suggestions! Philodendron Florida does look very nice, and I love the 'waxiness' of the leaves, a bit like the pothos we have. Are there any other philodendron varieties you'd recommend?
Rojo congo - deep color, can really grow to be a real beast with thick stems and big leaves
Black cardinal - even darker, glossy leaves
Billietiae - can be expensive, but the stem color, leaf shape and texture is super cool. Philodendrons atabapoense and 69686 are two others along the same vein; expensive, but unique leaf shapes
Brasil - can be hung and treated similarly to a pothos if you want a companion for it. Philodendron neon is another one that is nice hanging and the color is really bright!
May be too late on this one. But one of my fav philos is one of the simpler, cheaper ones, & reminds me a lot of my monstera because it grows very large. It’s technically not a philodendron depending on who you ask, but Thaumatophyllum Bipinnatifidum. Maybe get him two? Lol
Let me add Philodendron 'Glorious' to the already wonderful list by /u/oolong@lemm.ee. It's a hybrid of P. melanochrysum and P. gloriosum. It's an easy hardy plant with gorgeous huge leaves when it matures.