Crassula
South African succulents built for sun and neglect. The genus that most rewards being under-watered and most punishes being over-loved.
String of Buttons
Crassula perforata
Botanical notes
Triangular leaves clasp the stem in stacked, perpendicular pairs, threading up trailing stems like buttons on a string. Under strong light the leaf margins blush red-pink.
Soil & moisture
Gritty cactus/succulent mix with excellent drainage. Water deeply, then let the pot go bone-dry before the next round — this is not a "keep evenly moist" plant.
Fertilizing
Diluted cactus fertilizer 2–3 times during the growing season is plenty; it thrives on relative poverty.
Common mistakes
- Overwatering — by far the most common cause of loss
- Too little light causing stretched, sparse, etiolated growth
- Water sitting trapped between the stacked leaf pairs, encouraging rot
Propagation
Stem cuttings root readily — let the cut end callus over for a day or two before placing in dry-ish succulent mix. Individual leaves can also root, though more slowly.
CR note
A sunny, covered ledge is ideal — it wants the intensity of CR sun but not the direct hit of tropical downpours, so keep it under an eave if it lives outside.
Dieffenbachia
A bold, cane-forming tropical aroid named for the numbing effect its sap has on the mouth and throat if chewed — worth knowing given the household's animals (see pet safety note below).
Dieffenbachia 'White Amazon'
Dieffenbachia seguine 'White Amazon'
Botanical notes
Thick, cane-like stem with large leaves heavily marbled in cream and green. Grows upright and can become leggy over years, dropping lower leaves as it goes.
Soil & moisture
Well-draining aroid mix; likes steady moisture but rots quickly if left standing in water — good drainage holes are non-negotiable.
Fertilizing
Balanced liquid fertilizer at quarter strength monthly during the growing season.
Common mistakes
- Overwatering, especially in lower light
- Cold drafts causing yellow, mushy lower leaves
- Letting it get leggy without addressing the cause (usually insufficient light)
⚠ Pet safety
All Dieffenbachia contain calcium oxalate crystals in the sap, which cause intense mouth/throat irritation, drooling, and swelling if chewed by cats or dogs. With ten cats and two dogs in the house, this is one to keep on a high shelf or in a room they don't access.
Propagation
Cane cuttings — cut a section of stem with at least one node, lay horizontally on moist soil or stand upright, and new shoots emerge from the nodes. Air layering works well for tall, leggy specimens.
CR note
Grows vigorously in typical CR indoor warmth and humidity — the main job is managing size and leg-legginess over time with occasional cane pruning.
Dracaena
Now includes the former genus Sansevieria after botanical reclassification. Both species below share one defining trait: they are far more likely to be killed by overwatering than by neglect.
Lemon Lime Dracaena
Dracaena fragrans 'Lemon Lime'
Botanical notes
Cane-forming shrub with strappy, chartreuse-and-green striped leaves arching from a central cane. Slow, upright growth habit.
Soil & moisture
Well-draining potting mix. Dracaena is notably sensitive to overwatering and to fluoride/chlorine buildup, which shows up as brown leaf tips.
Fertilizing
Light balanced feeding every 6–8 weeks during growing season — this genus needs very little.
Common mistakes
- Overwatering — the single most common cause of decline
- Tap water fluoride/chlorine causing tip burn over time
- Too little light muting the chartreuse variegation to plain green
⚠ Pet safety
Dracaena contains saponins that are toxic to cats and dogs if ingested, typically causing vomiting or drooling rather than anything severe — still worth keeping out of reach of curious chewers.
Propagation
Cane cuttings root well in water or soil; tall, leggy canes can also be air-layered to create a new, shorter plant.
CR note
Rainwater is an easy, better-than-tap option here — it sidesteps the fluoride/chlorine sensitivity entirely.
Snake Plant
Dracaena trifasciata (syn. Sansevieria trifasciata)
Botanical notes
Rhizomatous succulent with stiff, architectural upright leaves. Uses CAM photosynthesis, releasing oxygen at night rather than during the day — a fun quirk, though not a reason to overstate any air-purifying effect at typical houseplant density.
Soil & moisture
Gritty, fast-draining cactus/succulent mix. This plant's rhizome rots quickly in wet soil — err firmly on the dry side.
Fertilizing
Minimal — a diluted balanced feed twice during the growing season is enough.
Common mistakes
- Overwatering — by a wide margin the most common cause of loss
- Cold exposure below about 10°C causing mushy, translucent damage
- Pots without drainage holes trapping moisture at the rhizome
⚠ Pet safety
Mildly toxic to cats and dogs (saponins) — typically causes drooling or GI upset if chewed, rarely anything more serious, but worth factoring into placement.
Propagation
Division of the rhizome/pups is fastest and preserves variegation. Leaf cuttings will also root, but variegated forms tend to revert to solid green from a leaf cutting.
CR note
One of the most forgiving plants on this whole list for CR's humidity — the only real risk is overwatering during the long rainy season, so let it dry out fully between waterings.
Epipremnum
Fast, forgiving vining aroids — the genus most new plant owners cut their teeth on. Across all four cultivars below, the rule of thumb is the same: more light means more variegation and faster growth; low light means the plant reverts toward solid green.
Golden Pothos
Epipremnum aureum
Botanical notes
The classic, most vigorous pothos — heart-shaped leaves marbled yellow-green on trailing or climbing vines. In its native habitat it climbs trees using aerial roots and can produce enormous, differently-shaped mature leaves.
Soil & moisture
Any standard well-draining potting mix. Genuinely one of the most tolerant plants of both under- and over-watering, though soggy soil long-term still causes root rot.
Fertilizing
Light balanced feeding monthly in growing season supports its fast growth; it will survive with little to none.
Common mistakes
- Chronic soggy soil in a decorative pot with no drainage
- Expecting fast growth in very low light, then over-fertilizing to compensate
- Letting vines get long and bare instead of pinching to encourage fullness
⚠ Pet safety
Mildly toxic to cats and dogs (calcium oxalate crystals) — causes oral irritation and drooling if chewed. A trailing plant on a high shelf is safer than one hanging within jumping reach.
Propagation
Extremely easy from stem cuttings with a node — roots in water within one to two weeks, or directly in soil.
CR note
Thrives with almost no intervention in CR's warmth and humidity, indoors or on a covered, bright patio.
Marble Queen Pothos
Epipremnum aureum 'Marble Queen'
Botanical notes
Heavier white-and-green marbling than Golden Pothos, with a slower growth rate — the extra white tissue has less chlorophyll to fuel growth, so patience is part of growing this one well.
Soil & moisture
Standard well-draining mix; slightly less tolerant of deep drying than Golden Pothos because of its reduced leaf chlorophyll.
Fertilizing
Light balanced feeding monthly in growing season; skip if variegation is very heavy, since white sections can scorch more easily.
Common mistakes
- Keeping it in low light, causing leaves to revert to mostly green
- Expecting Golden Pothos growth speed and over-fertilizing out of impatience
- Sunburn on heavily white leaf sections from sudden direct sun exposure
⚠ Pet safety
Same mild toxicity as other pothos — calcium oxalate crystals cause oral irritation if chewed.
Propagation
Stem cuttings with a node root in water in one to two weeks; choose cuttings with a good balance of white and green for a vigorous new plant.
CR note
Give it the brightest spot among your pothos — an east or bright north window works well without risking leaf scorch.
Glacier Pothos
Epipremnum aureum 'Glacier'
Botanical notes
A compact cultivar with smaller, grey-green leaves speckled and edged in white — the most petite and slow-growing of the four pothos here, well suited to small spaces.
Soil & moisture
Standard well-draining potting mix; because it's a smaller, slower plant, it's easier to accidentally overwater relative to its actual water use.
Fertilizing
Light balanced feeding every 5–6 weeks in growing season — its slow growth means it needs less than the others.
Common mistakes
- Watering on the same schedule as a larger, faster pothos and overwatering it
- Too little light causing loss of the grey-white speckling
- Mistaking its naturally slow growth for a health problem
⚠ Pet safety
Same mild oral-irritant toxicity as other pothos if chewed by cats or dogs.
Propagation
Stem cuttings root in water, though a bit more slowly than Golden or Marble Queen — patience pays off.
CR note
Its compact habit makes it a good choice for shelving or a bathroom windowsill where humidity runs a little higher.
Brazil Pothos
Epipremnum aureum 'Brazil'
Botanical notes
Green leaves with distinctive yellow brush-stroke variegation that follows the veins rather than marbling randomly — a good middle ground between Golden's ease and Marble Queen's drama.
Soil & moisture
Standard well-draining mix; forgiving of the same watering range as Golden Pothos.
Fertilizing
Light balanced feeding monthly during growing season.
Common mistakes
- Chronic overwatering in a cachepot without drainage
- Very low light flattening the yellow vein-striping
- Letting vines trail unpinched until they thin out at the base
⚠ Pet safety
Same mild toxicity profile as other pothos.
Propagation
Stem cuttings with a node root easily in water within one to two weeks.
CR note
An easy, reliable filler for lower-light interior corners where you still want some variegation and movement.
Ficus
Woody tropical figs grown as statement foliage plants. Shared traits across the genus: latex sap that irritates skin and is toxic if ingested, sensitivity to being moved or drafted, and a tendency to drop leaves dramatically in protest before settling into a new spot.
Rubber Plant 'Burgundy'
Ficus elastica 'Burgundy'
Botanical notes
Glossy, deep burgundy-to-near-black leaves on a sturdy, upright, tree-forming stem. One of the more forgiving Ficus for beginners.
Soil & moisture
Well-draining potting mix; the deep color holds regardless of light level, though growth slows in lower light.
Fertilizing
Balanced fertilizer at half strength every 4–6 weeks in growing season.
Common mistakes
- Overwatering leading to root rot and leaf drop
- Moving it frequently between light levels, triggering stress-shedding
- Dusty leaves reducing light capture — wipe glossy leaves occasionally
⚠ Pet safety
The milky latex sap is a skin and GI irritant for pets if chewed or if sap contacts skin — handle pruning cuts with care and keep cut ends away from curious noses.
Propagation
Air layering is most reliable for a mature stem; tip cuttings can also root in water but are slower and less consistent than air layering.
CR note
Handles CR's bright, humid conditions well as an indoor floor plant near a large window.
Ficus altissima 'Yellow Gem'
Ficus altissima 'Yellow Gem'
Botanical notes
Large, glossy leaves with bold yellow-green variegation on a naturally vigorous, tree-like species — in the wild, a strangler fig that can grow enormous.
Soil & moisture
Rich but well-draining mix; its size and vigor mean it appreciates slightly more frequent feeding and watering than the other Ficus here, still with full dry-downs between.
Fertilizing
Balanced fertilizer at half strength every 4 weeks in growing season, given its vigorous growth habit.
Common mistakes
- Too little light causing loss of the yellow variegation
- Under-potting a naturally large, fast-growing species
- Cold drafts causing sudden leaf drop
⚠ Pet safety
Latex sap irritant, same as other Ficus — keep pruning debris away from pets.
Propagation
Air layering works best for a plant this vigorous; stem cuttings are possible but slower to establish.
CR note
Given its size and light appetite, a bright, covered outdoor patio spot works well in Costa Rica's climate as it matures.
Ficus elastica 'Shivereana Moonshine'
Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' (Moonshine)
Botanical notes
A delicate, slower-growing rubber plant cultivar with pale mint, cream, and grey-green mottled leaves — the reduced chlorophyll means it grows and photosynthesizes more slowly than green-leaved relatives.
Soil & moisture
Very well-draining mix; because growth is slower, it uses water more slowly too, so err toward letting it dry a touch more between waterings.
Fertilizing
Quarter strength balanced fertilizer every 5–6 weeks in growing season — light feeding to match its slow, delicate growth.
Common mistakes
- Watering it on the same schedule as a vigorous green rubber plant, causing rot
- Too little light, muting the pale variegation to plain green
- Direct hot sun scorching the thin, pale leaf tissue
⚠ Pet safety
Same latex sap irritant as other Ficus.
Propagation
Air layering is the most reliable method given its slower, more delicate growth; standard cuttings root but more unpredictably.
CR note
Best kept as a bright, protected indoor specimen rather than full outdoor sun — CR's midday intensity can scorch its pale leaves quickly.
Fiddle Leaf Fig
Ficus lyrata
Botanical notes
Large, glossy, violin-shaped leaves on a tree-forming species famous for both its striking presence and its reputation for drama — it dislikes change of any kind (light, location, watering routine).
Soil & moisture
Chunky, well-draining mix; find a consistent watering rhythm and stick to it — inconsistency (not the exact schedule itself) is what causes the most leaf drop.
Fertilizing
Balanced fertilizer at half strength every 4–6 weeks during growing season; avoid feeding a stressed or newly relocated plant until it stabilizes.
Common mistakes
- Moving it between rooms or rotating it too often, triggering leaf drop
- Both over- and under-watering cause brown spots — the difference is in the spot's location and texture, so it's worth learning to tell them apart on this specific plant
- Cold drafts near doors or AC vents
⚠ Pet safety
Sap is an irritant to skin, mouth, and GI tract if pets chew leaves or stems — its large, tempting leaves make it worth placing well out of reach.
Propagation
Stem or single-leaf-with-node cuttings root in water, though slowly and inconsistently; air layering is more reliable for an established plant.
CR note
Pick one bright, stable indoor spot and leave it there — the "drama" reputation is really just sensitivity to change, which is otherwise easy to manage in CR's steady warmth.
Ruby Rubber Plant
Ficus elastica 'Ruby'
Botanical notes
Striking pink, cream, and burgundy variegated leaves — the most colorful and typically the slowest-growing rubber plant cultivar, with new leaves often emerging in a vivid pink sheath.
Soil & moisture
Very well-draining mix; given its slower metabolism, it's easy to accidentally overwater relative to how much it actually uses.
Fertilizing
Quarter strength balanced fertilizer every 6 weeks in growing season — light feeding to avoid burning the delicate pink/cream tissue.
Common mistakes
- Too little light causing the pink variegation to fade toward green
- Overwatering a naturally slow grower on too frequent a schedule
- Full, hot direct sun scorching the pale/pink sections
⚠ Pet safety
Same latex sap irritant as other Ficus.
Propagation
Air layering is the most reliable method for this slower-growing cultivar.
CR note
Reserve your brightest, most protected indoor window for this one — it rewards the extra light with more saturated pink new growth.
Fittonia
A low, creeping rainforest-floor groundcover known for intricate leaf veining and a dramatic — but usually recoverable — wilt when it gets thirsty.
Nerve Plant
Fittonia albivenis
Botanical notes
Creeping, low-growing groundcover with intricate white, pink, or red vein patterns tracing every leaf. Native to humid South American rainforest floors, which explains its dramatic response to dry air.
Soil & moisture
Moisture-retentive but still well-draining mix. When it dries out even slightly, it wilts theatrically within hours — this is actually a useful, very visible watering cue, and it usually bounces back within an hour of watering if caught early.
Fertilizing
Light balanced feeding, quarter strength, monthly during growing season.
Common mistakes
- Growing it in open, low-humidity room air without any cover — leaf edges crisp permanently
- Direct sun scorching the thin leaves
- Letting a wilt go too long before watering, causing crispy, non-recoverable dieback
Propagation
Stem cuttings root easily in water or moist soil; the creeping stems will also root naturally wherever a node touches soil, making division simple too.
CR note
One of the easiest humidity-lovers to place well in Costa Rica — a bathroom with a window, or a spot away from AC vents, will usually keep it happy without a humidifier.
Goeppertia
Reclassified from Calathea in recent years, though still widely sold under that name. Famously particular about water quality and humidity — the reward is some of the most striking foliage patterning in the houseplant world, plus leaves that visibly fold up at night.
Peacock Plant
Goeppertia makoyana (syn. Calathea makoyana)
Botanical notes
Large, oval, paper-thin leaves with an iridescent pattern resembling peacock feathers, purple-red beneath. Leaves rise and fold at night and lower again by day — a genuine circadian movement, not a stress response.
Soil & moisture
Rich, moisture-retentive but well-draining mix. Water quality matters as much as quantity here — hard tap water with fluoride or chlorine causes crisping.
Fertilizing
Quarter strength balanced fertilizer every 4–6 weeks in growing season; this genus is easily over-fertilized, which shows up as leaf-edge burn.
Common mistakes
- Watering with untreated tap water, causing brown, crispy leaf margins
- Low humidity causing curling and crisping
- Direct sun fading the iridescent pattern
Propagation
Division only, at repot — separate the rhizomatous clump into sections with roots and shoots attached. Leaf or stem cuttings do not work on this genus.
CR note
This is where Costa Rica has a genuine edge: naturally soft rainwater, free of the fluoride and chlorine that cause tap-water crisping elsewhere. Collecting rainwater for this genus specifically is well worth the effort.
Rattlesnake Plant
Goeppertia insignis (syn. Calathea lancifolia)
Botanical notes
Long, narrow, wavy-edged leaves marked with dark alternating blotches resembling snake markings, with deep purple undersides. Slightly more tolerant of average humidity than Peacock Plant, making it a common "first Calathea."
Soil & moisture
Rich, well-draining, moisture-retentive mix; same water-quality sensitivity as Peacock Plant — filtered or rain water strongly preferred over tap.
Fertilizing
Quarter strength balanced fertilizer every 4–6 weeks in growing season; easy to over-feed, so err light.
Common mistakes
- Tap water causing brown, crispy leaf margins over time
- Assuming it's as easy as a pothos — it isn't, though it's more forgiving than Peacock Plant
- Placing it near an AC vent or drafty window, which dries it out fast
Propagation
Division at repot, same method as Peacock Plant — separate rooted rhizome sections rather than taking cuttings.
CR note
Like its Peacock Plant relative, this one specifically benefits from Costa Rica's naturally soft rainwater — worth keeping a dedicated watering can filled with rainwater for both Goeppertia species.