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 😭💖

[@Spangiee90]

🤣🤣🤣

[@fatidiclunacy7455]

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!

[@benjiplant]

After I put on the shirt I asked Chris if everything looks too “autumn” lol. It fits well with the season tho, I’m glad u like 🫶

[@faisalchowdhury1945]

@@benjiplant Hi @Ben can u please link those ceiling lights ur using for ur ferns on the wall. I have been looking for something like that. Ty

[@laurensuthons8665]

hey @@faisalchowdhury1945. I believe he left a link in the description of the fern wall makeover video which is part of the apartment makeover series. Hope this helps:)

[@lucasbrady4639]

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!😃

[@oliverpiong6558]

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.

[@oliverpiong6558]

therefore what u don’t like about snake plant is exactly the reason why i love them hahahha

[@josiemojica3674]

I also am a big fan of snake plants. I just got a Sayuri and love the silver and how it’s floppy sometimes.

[@jerrywhidby.]

@@josiemojica3674 just about to comment this. I have never thought snake plants looked nice until I saw a "floppy" silver (chalky light green and med dark green) Sayuri. The color and variegation is very elegant. Like the feeling you get from Pittosporum 'Cream De Mint'. There are just some colors that have a presence. And the fact that snake plants are easy to care for really makes it a wonderful plant. I have around 50 houseplants, and it's the attention getter among attention getters. I found mine at the PlantHouse (not The Plant House) in Augusta, Ga. if anyone is looking.

[@Letycs]

@@jerrywhidby. I've never heard of the Plant House, but I live in the area, where abouts is it, exactly?

[@jerrywhidby.]

@@Letycs It's in Evans, GA. I cannot post the address because KZbin won't let me. It's right around Belk. Have you been to Griffin's Greenhouses or Bedford Greenhouses? They both have a good collection of house plants. Further North in Aiken is Cold Creek Nurseries. Which is nice but pricey. Do you have any favorites near Augusta?

[@serenity8910]

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.

[@Theoneandonlyenelie]

I live in a small apartment and I wanted a small fiddle leaf fig. It was very hard to find, but I finally found one 4 inches tall. I hope that it grows at the same rate I can upgrade into a larger space.

[@ellieella2]

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 :’)

[@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.😘

[@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.

[@random-code1]

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

[@tiffanytien6231]

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

[@jmsl2027]

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! ❤

[@jerrywhidby.]

Sayuri is similar and I like the floppy look.

[@abetweene]

great vid as always. Would love to see more plant care/routine vids as well. theyre really relaxing 😌

[@schatorzin2958]

When I’m struggling to get out of my daily slumps I watch your videos and it gets me up and moving. You inspire and help me put effort into the things I’m passionate about - thank you 🙏

[@juliettefrediere8349]

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

[@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. 😊

[@_sabsab_]

I recently got into plants and youtube recommended your channel lol, I love how calming your videos are

[@FGFsMo]

Benji you literally influenced me to buy a staghorn fern. I just bought it on etsy yesterday and I can't wait to get it! 🥰

[@javai2035]

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 🫶🏽

[@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.

[@whatthefu3786]

I just got into the plant game and I have to say that I really love your style. Not only the plants, also the pots and your house/flat and all :)

[@dianebortle1141]

I love seeing plants living in homes. Great inspiration and decorating ideas.

[@osyros6698]

I've been really into Platyceriums lately, thanks to you ! So far, I have a Platycerium bifurcatum in a terra cotta pot and a P. grande that I found at my local nursery -I was stoked! I'd love to own a Veitchii too, those silvery fronds wonderful Thank you for providing such aesthetic and inspiring content !

[@GreenWitch1]

Agree on the common snake plant. I recently bought a Moonshine & put it in a southwest style pot & it looks great. I really like anything that’s silvery.

[@debjones60]

Hi Benji, I just wanted to say hi from Byron Shire, Australia . I absolutely love you videos. Your content and style is exactly what I love. Thanks so much ❤ Love Chris and of course little Theo too 🥰

[@dannykerdel9217]

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

[@anitatyvm]

Some of these alternatives are still very difficult to come by in my area but loved this video! One of my favourite filler plants would be cissus rhombifolia or alata or Ellan Danica - I like the way it grows fuller in comparison to hanging scindapsus or epipremnum.

[@juliaferguson7468]

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

[@b-m4401]

that's so interesting I never would have imagined they'd make good indoor/potted plants ! (Sincerely, an Australian who is used to them towering over me lol) Ill have to try it.

[@karenfreedman9180]

Your channel has been recommended by many. So I tuned in. Yes! I’m a subscriber now!

[@ponbounket8057]

Love all your videos!! I enjoyed watching you!! Thanks for sharing!

[@7Jennifer]

I love your videos and your home looks soooo cozy! Theo is adorable! My own green thumb has been a journey and I love learning about new plants and the "how to" with them. I purchased a China Doll plant about 3 years ago and I had no idea what I was getting into! It was about 6-8" when I first got it and now it's over 8' tall! I love her though. In another few months she'll be reaching my ceiling. I've tried to google the best way to trim her down and I only see info from the side, not the top. I'm hoping I can just trim the top and all will go well. Looking forward to your next video!

[@anthonymatthews3698]

Incredibly soothing voice, and very informative. I looking forward to watching more videos.

[@AerialistAlexis]

love u benji :3 I just ordered a plant off your website, i can't wait for it to come in the mail!!!!

[@ThatanOmega]

You channel is evolving so much! Was here near the beginning

[@bigkeve]

Seeing the tree fern was funny to me. The way you listed BOP being outside and not seeming like an indoor plant was the same way I felt. I grew up in a hilly area which was covered in ferns in Australia, and these guys are EVERYWHERE around me, it was very jarring to see them inside in a pot! Really does depend on perspective doesn’t it?

[@Sophie-kf7qk]

I live in Australia, and i must say, when they say tree fern they mean TREE fern! this plant gets the size of large trees. i do not recommend it as a house plant, unless care is taken to keep it small.

[@VideoSkin.]

Your vibe is so cool 😭😭😭

[@michelinedesarmes8386]

Hello Benji thank you very much for your interesting selection of alternative plants. One species I like that offers a lot variety is the rhypsalis family. Thank you for your sharing, it's always both instructive and relaxing. Take care.

[@lacroix3931]

4:17 “Wobby sobby” 😂😂 perfect description

[@gigihogan9348]

Wonderful alternatives! Thank you Benji :)

[@k.s5889]

Love the decor and plants ❤🐕🪴🌱🌿⚘

[@jenniferhowell8122]

I recently found your channel and love coming to it. You have such a sweet, pleasant voice and demeanor and hearing you talk about plants is really relaxing. I didn't use to like snake plants until I saw a bunch of them placed side by side in a long 6ft pot in an airport. They were all about 3-4ft tall and it looked like a jungle. They also remind me of Henri Rousseau paintings (because he painted them into jungle scenes). I especially liked your platacerium wall. You have definitely encouraged me to seek out more plants that I find interesting instead of just buying everything that's available around me. I'm really fond of hoyas, especially because they do so well in apartment life in NE Ohio, and they bloom and smell amazing. I really enjoyed hearing your suggestions, especially keeping in mind apartment plant life. I didn't even know sansevieria was reclassified as dracaena! I think most people I know still say sansevieria but this is helpful to know!

[@rreid498]

If you like platycerium then I'd recommend a birds nest fern! They're an Australian native epiphyte which like the same conditions as the Aussie platycerium. You can grow them in pots or mount them on the wall. They have a unique shape as the leaves grow in circles and they leave an opening in the middle to catches leaves and debris. I think you'd especially like the curly leafed varieties, they make quite the statement!

[@rebeccavalicoff1581]

I like the ponytail palm. It seems to grow well indoors.

[@MadKaddie]

I recently got a biophytum sensitivum because I love that prehistoric tree look that tree ferns have but I don't have the space, and it's so cute in a terrarium/dome 😊

[@marsf4883]

So many cool snake plants out there. I don’t like the usual straight up ones, but love the variegated ones, and the samurai types. So easy and you can put them anywhere, well minus the closet lol.

[@SJL07]

This is very helpful. Thank you, Benji!!!

[@mosslou9854]

theres so many calathea varieties that arent even that expensive that can look really cool and special! i personally love the look of the calathea musaica. i also have a bird of paradise plant and can say they dont flower easily without enough light but make good houseplants when you dont have the climate types of california 😹 if you want a similar look but a more niche plant you can also always try a banana ^^ i love the more velvety look of the foliage (only onsome banana varieties) they also look more tree-shaped than many bird of paradise varieties!

[@jennifersutton3115]

Benji 👋 I really appreciate all the knowledge and advice. I'm so inspired by all your beautiful plants. I watched many of your video's. I'm ready to start growing plants too. I will start with a snake plant as you said. Hopefully everything will work out for me too. Thanks for sharing 😊

[@kaiwenchen2258]

As someone who loves BoPs for their huge leaves, I would also recommend ornamental bananas (Musa species)! They also do require more sun but there are some varieties out there that are more tolerant toward indoor conditions

[@johndorosan2155]

Benji is so adorable, I can’t stop staring respectfully 😫

[@uhhsophia6047]

Benji is the one youtuber I actually wait for the weekly uploads lol every Sunday I'm like 👀 is the vid up yet??

[@hannahf5956]

i loveee the philodendron jungle boogie aka tiger tooth it's happy even with lower light and is one of my new favorites for sure

[@stokrotnie7]

Great video! Thank you very much! 🙏 I have the bird of paradise on my window sill. Recently I planted turmeric. They are both fairly small (though growing pretty quickly). And, I’d say they look fairly similar. Turmeric has more delicate leaves and won’t look as impressive when it grows up. (Unless it blooms.) But it looks cute and apparently the leaves are edible, so it may be an interesting substitute…

[@tigerlewis7370]

Benji is giving grandpa energy, in the best way possible

[@momo830223]

Hi Benji! Watching your videos made me buy a lot more plants recently and I even bought a passifloral from you last week! 😍 I also live in LA, so I was wondering if as we are heading towards winter (this is my first winter with so many plants) do you have any tips on keeping some of the more tropical plants alive thru lower temperatures? Do they go dormant? Most of my plants are living in my balcony (north face) Thanks! ❤

[@collinflowers56]

I love your videos :DD Your videos inspire me and I just want to say your videos are SOOOOO CALMING you probably get that a lot but they are calming! Keep up the great work! 🪷

[@anabelnguyen2275]

me too :)

[@ekorobo2082]

A good alternative to BOP is a larger-leaved variety of Spathiphyllum (not sure of the exact cultivar, could be "Sensation"). I picked one 10" pot up from Home Depot a couple of months ago for $25. They are not as tall as bird of paradise but mine flowers and thrives in lower light and has better looking foliage, imo. Highly recommend for anyone wanting a BOP but not wanting spider mites or a dead plant. I know another popular houseplant are Maidenhair ferns, which are usually more difficult to car for, but I highly recommend Adiantum peruvianum (sometimes called Silver dollar maidenhair). It seems to be much more resilient than other kinds of maidenhair but still gives that Ginkgo tree prehistoric wispy vibe.

[@dasel3695]

omg just looked up the peruvanium and i love how globby the leaflets are!

[@dianebortle1141]

I have a whale fin and a rhino horn "snake plant" in my bathroom. They are so interesting together. Favorites!

[@marvap8105]

Benji, I agree with about the Snake plant , it doesn’t do anything for me. I love your videos and look forward to your videos each week!

[@becausevideos8692]

Wonderful. Please make a video about good plants for a balcony. I would love to watch that.

[@kimdarby6622]

You have a really soothing voice

[@belindadawson3322]

loved this video, very informative :-) thanks

[@lauraburke4544]

I’m not the biggest fan of snake plants either but I absolutely love the look of a nice whale fin snake plant

[@emmacarena783]

Bonjour Benji ! Je suis française et j’ai découvert par hasard tes vidéos, j’ai du mal à comprendre l’anglais parfois mais j’essaie de m’améliorer ! En tout cas continue tes vidéos, tes créations et tes plantes sont magnifiques ! Gros bisous de France !🫶

[@patsommer4495]

My favorite house 'tree' I refer to as my parsley tree: Ming Aralia. Slow growing so I waited until a large one was on sale for a give away price after Santa Ana winds crisped it up badly. So worth nursing it back to health!

[@SafianiMahat]

I have one ming aralia too! It often gets thirsty tbh but suits my overwatering persona 😂

[@persiagil1488]

I love eating pachira nuts. And they grow sooo fast as well! I eat then raw, right frim the ground where I picked them from!

[@quayswae]

Bookmarking this for if I ever get my own place

[@loes6839]

Here in the Netherlands the Strelitzia/bird of paradise is super populair as a houseplant. They are cheap and get huge pretty quickly. Our climate is very dark and rainy but they still do okay. They only bloom when outside the whole summer though. But people love the tropical vibe

[@aimansyazwan5355]

loveeeee your videos like your channel has been giving me so much peace and joy💗 A good alternative that I can share is to swap out typical succulents to agaves if you want rosette/ flower shaped plants with similar watering needs but less sensitive to light since most of the pretty succulents will stretch and lose all their colours if not given enough light but agaves are less likely to do so.. Love you Benjii

[@ThaoNguyen-hl6mb]

For the tree-like look, avocado plant is easy to start and looking quite lush and pretty. For broad-leaf beauties, I fall for philodendron 'imperial red'. It reminds me of a small banana tree but tolerates apartment lighting better.

[@pjuk]

Good video. There's so many other varieties of snake plants that might interest you; a starfish, cylinder or whale fin all look different than the standard. All of mine growing well and putting out pups.

[@TheLidy26]

Ive also been recently thinking of the Norfolk pine. Seen them around Mexico and Peru, and lots of people have them as house plants here in Canada. I like them for a more Nordic look as a stand-alone rather than layered with aroids.

[@evelynhill4826]

Love to watch your vlog

[@katielabelle9662]

Also a good alternative to the Strelitzia is the Spathiphyllum Sensation. It also gets huge, wide leaves and is a tall plant. And it doesn't need as much light as the Strelitzia 😊

[@ninajazzy1840]

Great suggestions, thank you.

[@JaxNoodle]

I am so surprised that you found snake plants boring. Particularly, since they remind me so much of sea kelp. A great place to see that visually is the Monterey Bay Aquarium up in Northern California. I purchased a moonshine snake plant 2 years ago and been struggling with it. It’s just the one and I ain’t ready to quit on it!

[@LulaMae21]

I find moonshine to be a bit more finicky. I rotted my first one and have killed at least one more lol. It seems to like light and occasional watering, mine is doing OK but not growing much.

[@aayushkarmacharya9548]

I love anything you make

[@dianal3827]

If you love Bird of Paradise, look for Cannas. They can grow super tall, but not to the point where they get squished by the ceiling. They have a similar visual structure of the leaves without the extreme stems/petioles. They also bloom and the flower really fills that tropical void in your heart. There are also a ton of varieties you can get. They need a lot of light, plenty of water, and fertilizer, and if things go wrong, can be cut back and restarted from the rhyzome.

[@areefakhan8032]

Hey Benji! Love your channel. Could you please do a video on pet friendly indoor plants? thanks alot

[@carlosaguilera8615]

I love your videos, you make my day when its the worst

[@sellmoon]

always thought the "typical" snake plant (the green and yellow one) was boring but I now love the silver varieties and the "fat ones" like the Dracaena hanningtonii or the cylindrica; I never got the ficus lyrata craze, i think the common ficus tree (the carica) has a much more interesting shape and it actually produces edible figs😊 a plant i adore and i don't see many people talking about is the Medinilla magnifica... it's beautiful even without flowers and so far, it's easy to care for

[@ilovemylilly]

A banana plant is a great alternative for a bird of paradise. I have a red banana and I love it so much

[@Kyddoemiko13]

No large ferns, or palms, or bird of paradise. Just some Highland Nepenthes 🍃😍🍃 and various other carnivorous plants. Mexican Pinguecula, Sundews. Outdoors temperate American pitcher plants and Venus Fly traps. I do enjoy watching and learning from your videos. 🤗❣️

[@GreenhornBonsai]

Thanks for the suggestions! I think Agave americana 'Variegata' is a good alternative to snake plants. It does need more light, but if you have a south window it's a great choice and easy to grow.

[@AcrylDame]

I think you underestimate Anthurium Andreanum. There's a black variety with really dark foliage and I also got a variety called rainbow which is insanely beautiful with new leafs emerging a bright red and a really attractive growth pattern. There are so many varieties to chose from.

[@katherinespencer2073]

Love 'mother-in-law's tounge' (snake plant) cus they are so easy in low light locations where otherwise we could not have plants w. our 6 months of winter/low sun. Think of them as a background plant behind a small maidenhair fern or something like that. 2 very different textures to draw the eye into a corner. In Nova Scotia the power costs are way too expensive & unreliable to commit lights etc to plants unless one can eat them or sell them. I am more happy to do P. cuttings inside, then keep young plants until I am sure that they will survive outdoors, which then a few yrs later end up at the next property to do quick landscaping. Right now I have trays of boxwood, camellia & mum cuttings in sand-perlite mix. Never tried camellia before but treated myself to a $10 bouquet of just 7 green stems & several leaves had indications of future growth so I am experimenting w. 3 of the branches cut into short pcs. The others I will let develop incase I want to try softer cuttings...these were thick as a pencil but still green, not really flexible. What do you think? Bag said product of Columbia.

[@thatcrazyhindu]

Anthurium vietchii imo is the easiest, I have let mine dry out so much and it doesn’t get crispy Also I have a small 2 feet wide, 8inch tall tree fern and they are SOOO easy! It drinks a lot and grows fast. I even have it hidden behind other plants so it doesn’t even get great light. I haven’t gotten any crisping if I let it dry out too much or forget to check it (I keep my living room at 60% humidity)

[@gypsylee333]

Alternative to Monstera Albo- Epipremnum pinnatum albo 👍 much cheaper and gets the split leaves, bright cool white variegation, and easier to grow for me. Idk why but I've killed a few green deliciosas.

[@Miranda-vw6vz]

I think another great alternative to a BoP is a dwarf cavanish banana. Big broad leaves and relatively low height ( in my experience so far)

[@corruptedteka]

Anthurium ! My creole zodiac flower ! It's all over the place where I live, and for good reason considering this is a tropical island ! It always makes me happy to see them on the internet ! EDIT: TREE FERNS. I LOVE TREE FERNS SO MUCH. TROPICAL RAINFOREST PLANTS MY BELOVED. They just look so cool ! Ferns, but TREES ! How cool is that ?

[@hamaragarden111]

beautiful nice sharing friend 🌿🌿🌿🙏

[@delll372]

birds of paradise (strelitzia)-> heliconia family (such as densiflora, etc) also they are much cheaper alternatives. but also thrive in sun though :")

[@remsan03]

I gave up on my fiddle leaf fig. The two that I have are not happy with me. I tried moving them to find the best spot but they complained too much. Yesterday, there wasn't enough light and the leaf fell. Today, it's too bright and the leaves burnt. In the end I just leave them be. I love your Platycerium superbum. Looks so grand. I tried look for it in the shop but the prices are terrifying.

[@rock2946]

My mom neglected her snake plant for a year. Barely any water, too much heat, too much sun. I brought it inside and watered it regularly. It has now exploded in growth

[@ReynaandKeithCanada]

Anthurium flower are gorgeous

[@ReynaandKeithCanada]

I love that kind of fern but they like soft moss

[@gregmeissner9960]

My ex hated Sansevieria (Dracena now?) because they are grown as big hedges in Vietnam, and when he was a kid he was often injured by the sharp tips. Another category of alternative plants would be caudiciform succulents. You already have Dioscorea, but check out Pachypodia, Fockea edulis, etc.

[@jem3560]

Love the video !! Thank's for all those advices !🥰🌿

[@jinxly420]

To those that aren't into the red flowering anthurium Benji mentioned but still are interested in anthuriums with showy flowers, I highly recommend the Anthurium "rainbow champion". The leaves start out a dark red then darken to a dark green. The flowers are a pretty coral pink and aren't as waxy and plasticy? looking as the red one. I have one and it is so much more interesting than the typical anthurium. It also looks way prettier in person than in photos! I'm not sure why, I think the depth of the different shades of green and red get washed out in photos.

[@faisalchowdhury1945]

Hi @Ben can u please link those ceiling lights ur using for ur ferns on the wall. I have been looking for something like that. Ty