Ensuring houseplants are spaced well apart makes it easier for air to move freely around plant leaves and it reduces the incidence of plant diseases, like powdery mildew. Not to mention, proper spacing increases the amount of light each plant leaf receives and it makes it harder for plant pests to spread through houseplant collections.
However, lighting and pest issues aren’t the only reasons why you should pay attention to plant spacing. Some houseplants just don’t get along and positioning the wrong plants together can cause issues and make plant care a lot trickier. In the list below, you’ll discover which houseplants to keep away from each other and learn more about plant placement from a houseplant pro.
Succulents and Ferns
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Placing succulents and ferns together may create an intriguing contrast of colors and textures, but this plant pairing just doesn’t work.
“They don’t like the same growing conditions and they don’t make for good partners,” Justin Hancock, a horticulturist at Costa Farms, says. “Ferns do well in medium to bright light with above-average relative humidity, while succulents need lots of bright light and more average relative humidity.”
Keeping ferns in full sun can often lead to leaf burn, while succulents stretch in lower light and can develop mold in the high-humidity environment ferns crave. To avoid these issues, place these plants far apart in your home or keep smaller versions of them in individual terrariums so you can adjust their growing environments as needed.
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‘Frankie’ Fittonia and ‘Golden Crocodile’ Philodendron
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Fittonias and philodendrons are both colorful plants that demand attention. But, as Hancock explains, their unique coloring can actually clash in the grow room.
“Visually, it’s a pretty specific color combination,” Hancock explains. “But ‘Frankie’s’ metallic pink tones don’t blend well with ‘Golden Crocodile’s’ bright yellow-gold, toothed foliage.””
Beyond that, fittonias love humidity and can wilt dramatically if you don’t pay close attention to their humidity needs. For better results, try fittonias in a terrarium with a few pint-sized ferns or waffle plants and pair ‘Golden Crocodile’ with other vibrant beauties, like ‘Prince of Orange’ philodendron and ‘Neon’ pothos.
‘Dottie’ Calathea and ‘Raven’ ZZ
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There’s an obvious appeal to pairing the colorful ‘Dottie’ calathea with the ‘Raven’ ZZ.
“This combination looks gorgeous—a goth mix of dark, purple-black leaves accented with ‘Dottie’s’ hot pink variegation,’” Hancock explains. “But like ferns and succulents, these two plants have very different watering needs!”
Calatheas prefer relatively moist soil, while ZZ plants of any color like it dry and are usually treated like succulents. Unless you’re super careful with your watering can, it’s all too easy to overwater or underwater either one of these plants if you place them too close together. That’s why it’s usually best to position ZZ plants near cacti and succulents and group calatheas with humidity-loving ferns and tropical plants.
‘Polly’ Alocasia and Majesty Palm
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At first glance, ‘Polly’ alocasia and majesty palms may seem like a good combo. They have similar care needs and their striking leaves make for an interesting contrast of textures. However, Hancock warns against growing these plants together since they both attract spider mites.
“A combination of these two plants could lead to an explosion of spider mites if any of those pests make their way into your home,” Hancock warns.
Make sure your plants are spaced far apart and check new arrivals carefully for signs of pests can help you avoid spider mites and other pest issues. But if spider mites have plagued your home in the past, you may want to grow houseplants that spider mites don’t favor, like snake plants. Having a bottle of organic soap spray on hand is wise too.
Rex Begonia and Flowering Kalanchoe
Another colorful plant pair, rex begonias are mostly known for their boldly colored leaves while flowering kalanchoe delight with their clusters of brightly colored blooms. But according to Hancock, it’s best to avoid keeping these plants together too.
“While they both like bright light, they have different watering needs,” Hancock explains. “Rex begonia prefers to stay on the moister side and the kalanchoe prefers to dry out.”
Spacing these plants far apart in your home will decrease the risk of watering issues—especially if you travel often and need to hire a plant sitter who’s not familiar with your plants. However, if you need to keep these plants together, using different colored pots or plant stakes can help you keep track of their different watering needs.
