GROW THIS. NOT THAT

Six easy-to-grow houseplants—and six that may not be the right choice for you

- LUKE MILLER

TODAY'S HOUSEPLANT

selection is almost as impressive as the many benefits of having them in your home.

Some options are better than others, though, so consider skipping the problematic plants and growing the more prized picks instead.

▲ GROW THIS: BIRD'S NEST FERN

Bird's nest fern is more adaptable than other ferns. "Its thick fronds hold up better to dry air and missed waterings-and it has a fun architectural form," says Justin Hancock, horticulturist at Costa Farms, one of the largest horticultural growers in the world. With thick, glossy, leatherlike fronds, bird's nest fern is drought tolerant and can go one to two weeks without water. It can also put up with low light conditions, although it prefers bright, indirect lighting. This fern is a slow grower, but over time it can reach more than 2 feet across.

NOT THAT: BOSTON FERN

Boston fern is not necessarily hard to grow, but it is hard to keep in good shape. The plant is sensitive to lighting, so it's not uncommon to see some of Boston fern's fronds shrivel up and the root ball dry out if watering is forgotten. Once the spent fronds are removed, the plant's handsome shape suffers. Before you know it, you've got a sad sack plant to hide in the corner whenever company is expected.

GROW THIS: ANTHURIUM

"If you want a steady show of flowers indoors, you can't beat anthurium," Justin says.

"Newer anthurium varieties have flowers that can last a month or more in good growing conditions and appear on and off throughout the year," he says. The blooms come in a wide range of colors including red, pink, purple, white and orange.

Anthurium won't put up a fuss if you miss a watering and it grows fine in average indoor temperatures and humidity levels. It prefers medium to bright light and grows 2 to 3 feet. tall and 1 foot wide.

NOT THAT: MINIATURE ROSE