exotic indoor plants

If you are a lover of exotic plants, you may often go to nurseries in search of the rarest, that is, those that are not seen every day. Some, depending on their resistance to cold, are to have in the garden, but there are many others that can be kept at home.

And I am going to talk to you about the latter, because exotic indoor plants are so beautiful that, I don't know about you, but I have a hard time not stopping to look at them, and even more not to acquire any.

Aglaonema 'Red Zircon'

Aglaonema 'Red Zircon' is a very, very pretty cultivar, which reaches a height of about 30-40 centimeters and whose leaves change color as it grows. These are pink at first, but when the specimen is adult, they are red. It's amazing how much it changes over the years.

But yes, if you have animals at home, you must keep it away from them, since it's toxic. For the rest, do not hesitate to place it in the room where there is more light so that it can look beautiful.

Anthurium clarinervium

El anthurium It is a very beautiful tropical shrubby plant. In nurseries it is quite easy to find the most common species: anthurium andreanum, which has a red flower and green leaves, but if you are looking for something more exotic, we recommend A. clarinervium. As its name suggests, it has light-colored nerves; in fact, they are whitish, and their flowers are also white.

It grows up to 50 centimeters in height, but you must bear in mind that it is a acid plant. This is very important to know, because if you water it with alkaline water and/or if you plant it in soil with a high pH, ​​it will have serious problems due to iron deficiency. Also, it is toxic if ingested.

Caladium

All Caladium they are wonderful. It is very difficult for me to recommend just one, because… well, I am in love with them! As their common name indicates, painter's palette, they certainly look like they have been painted by someone. But no, they are natural. And there are so many cultivars that, I repeat, the difficult thing is to choose one, so I will name a few:

• Caladium 'Candidum': its leaves are almost white with green nerves.
• Caladium 'Party': Its leaves are yellowish green with nerves of an intense pink color.
• Caladium 'Frannie Munson': the leaves are pink, with darker pink veins.
• Caladium 'Miss Muffet': the leaves are yellowish green and have pink/reddish spots all over their surface.
• Caladium 'Pearl Blush': its leaves are almost whitish, with a green edge and pink nerves.

These are rhizomatous plants, reaching a height of about 40 centimeters. They love heat (not extreme), so they are ideal to enjoy at home.

Calathea ornata

Although there are more than 200 species of calatheas, all of which are suitable for indoors, the Calathea ornata is special. Its leaves are dark green with reddish nerves., and the plant can measure about 40 centimeters in height.

Also, it is important to know what pet friendly, so that if your cat or dog takes to nibbling it, nothing will happen to them (but I recommend keeping it in a place inaccessible to them so they don't spoil it).

Codiaeum 'Red Banana'

Or 'Red Banana' croton, as it is also called. It is a very attractive cultivar, with thin leaves that measure about four inches and whose colors are green, yellow and red.. It reaches approximately 50 centimeters in height, although it takes time, so it can be in the same pot for several years.

Now, it is a bush that you should put in the brightest room you have, because it has a hard time in low light conditions.

Ctenanthe pilosa 'Golden Mosaic'

This is a rhizomatous plant that could be confused with the calatea, but it has wider and somewhat shorter leaves, of different shades of green. It reaches about 70 centimeters in height by more or less 80 centimeters in width, so it is a large plant, which looks great in the living room or in another large room.

What do you need to be healthy? Well lots of (indirect) light, occasional watering, and mild temperatures. In this way, you can keep it for many years.

macodes petola

La macodes petola It is a terrestrial orchid known by the name of jewel orchid. It is an exotic indoor plant that it has green leaves with much lighter green veins that are very soft to the touch, velvety. Its flowers sprout from a flower stem and are whitish.

It is a very rare species, needs special care to survive, such as being in a place with lots of but not direct light, high air humidity, and warm temperatures.

Philodendron hederaceum 'Brazil'

Also called lemon pothos, it is a cultivar of Philodendron hederaceum which has heart-shaped, dark green and yellow leaves. It is a beautiful indoor climber that you can plant in a hanging pot, or hook, for example, on a door frame.

It grows about 4-5 meters tall, but as it tolerates pruning very well, you only have to take the scissors and trim its stems if you consider that they are growing excessively.

Pilea peperomioides

This is a most curious plant: it has long petioles from which practically round green leaves that measure about ten centimeters in diameter sprout when the specimen is adult. The maximum height of the plant is about 20-25 centimeters, and it measures more or less the same width, so it is perfect to have on a narrow piece of furniture for example. But yes: it cannot lack (indirect) light, otherwise it will not look pretty.

As a curious fact, add that in popular language it receives these names: chinese money plant, UFO plant or missionary plant. The motives? I do not know them, but what is certain is that it is a species that attracts a lot of attention.

Zamioculca zamiifolia 'Black Raven'

La black zamioculca. What to say about her? Unlike her green leaf sister of hers, this It is a dark green color, which does not become black, but it lacks a little. It grows to a height of about 50 centimeters, with fleshy stems 1 centimeter thick.

Although genetically it is able to flourish, indoors it is difficult for it to do so. However, if you see that one day a whitish or yellowish tube-shaped inflorescence sprouts, don't be scared: that is the flower, and it is a clear indicator that the plant receives the best care.

There are many more exotic indoor plants, but these ten are, of all the rarest, the ones that can be obtained more easily.