---
title: "Hi, I have yet to keep a plant alive for more than 4 months, but I…"
description: "Hi, I have yet to keep a plant alive for more than 4 months, but I got some new ones and I’m really trying to keep them alive. I have a money tree, a calathea,…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/rHavn5ES7tLVGlLQGv0W2x?language=es"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "Sarah"
published: "2025-05-09T12:28:20.382815Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/eP1V20mSuWtFtFSviKT63mrTM-F-XggJ2CHIkLoWcck/iAwKvpb6Qc--VTn80LxAhg.webp?size=large"
---

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# Hi, I have yet to keep a plant alive for more than 4 months, but I…

_Publicado por Sarah el 2025-05-09_

Hi,  
I have yet to keep a plant alive for more than 4 months, but I got some new ones and I’m really trying to keep them alive. I have a money tree, a calathea, and a birds nest fern. They’re in my office near a southwest-facing window with a grow light. (The ones on the bottom shelves are fake).

Anyway I would appreciate any and all suggestions and advice if you have any!

![Adjunto 1 de 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/eP1V20mSuWtFtFSviKT63mrTM-F-XggJ2CHIkLoWcck/iAwKvpb6Qc--VTn80LxAhg.webp?size=large)

## 9 comentarios

### Lucygoosey comentó el 2025-05-09

Water the calathea and bird's nest with distilled water!! Calathea doesn't need too much light 😊

### Brianna Miller comentó el 2025-05-09

Just give up on the Calathea now. She will only let you down. It’s not worth the trouble sis.

#### Sunny respondió el 2025-05-09

Calatheas are not my friends! 😁Ctenanthe Burle-Marxii ‘Amagris’ is a well behaved cousin with smaller leaves. She can live in a north window and drinks tap water. Just remember to fertilize her. 😂

![Adjunto 1 de 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/wefqOljjhEOiS9LRzOB1-QhxkVJiB4A5DGumXhnNrhs/xJYvKA67Qcy-vGjQ8tvvdw.webp?size=large)

#### Gaileen Joy respondió el 2025-05-09

I’ve had no issues with my calatheas. But I will mention that if you ever plan on turning on that window fan, your plants will HATE it! They don’t like drafts.

### Yolanda comentó el 2025-05-09

I was told the Calathea is a hard one. It will get pest quickly spider mites namely so play close attention, also it likes humidity if not the leaf tips will brown. Consider a humidifier or pebble tray.. also if that’s a air conditioner they are sitting in front of I would recommend maybe putting your plants in a different location

### Sunny comentó el 2025-05-09

You may have to move them when using the window air conditioner. The cold air could shock them.

The plants on the lower shelves will need grow lights running at least 12 hours a day. The top shelves plant will benefit from grow lights especially if the window light is insufficient. 🪴🍀

### Nunyabzwx comentó el 2025-05-09

Get some more "forgiving" types of plants to start out with like golden pothos, ZZ, snake plant, aloe veras, Spiderplants, dracaenas.

### Sarah comentó el 2025-05-09

Thank you everyone!

### Yolanda comentó el 2025-05-09

Yes the pothos plants, ZZ’s and snake plants are the best for beginners.. I have been taking care of plants for years and I will never purchase a Calathea plant 😊good luck you may be a good plant mom to it 🤞🏽

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