One Big, Easy Plant That Deserves More Love

If I had to choose one big, super easy plant that looks somewhat like the well-known Monstera deliciosa but is much less fussy, I’d definitely go with this big guy.
It looks great, pushes out a new leaf about once a month, and will forgive — or maybe even enjoy — being watered a bit late. You can skip watering for a few days, and it won’t even drop a single leaf.
If I had to name one drawback, it’s probably the size. It takes up a lot of space. While Monstera is somewhat manageable if you give it a moss pole to climb, this guy will try to grow in every direction. Okay, maybe not every direction — just towards the sun. But if you rotate it regularly, it’ll keep a symmetrical look, though it might still spread over more than a meter in every direction.

☀️ Seems to really like sun — a lot of it

I’ve read and heard plenty of times that even so-called shade-tolerant plants would be much happier with more light. On one technical blog, I read that even a south-facing window with triple glazing doesn’t count as direct sun.
So, if any of my plants were struggling and I ruled out the usual suspects — overwatering, rootbound issues, pests — I moved them closer to my south-facing window. For the variegated or lighter-colored ones, I even placed them right on the windowsill. For many of them, that worked like magic — they bounced back quickly.
Some plants, though, started showing signs of too much light, like brown spots on my Neon Pothos. But when it comes to Philodendron ‘Hope’, just like most philodendrons I have, there seems to be no upper limit to how much sun they can take — both in terms of brightness and hours of exposure. They still bend toward the sun, showing they want even more.
What’s more, they seem to tolerate lower light too. Even 2 meters from the window, they keep growing — just a bit slower. Luckily, the leaf size doesn’t seem affected at all.

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🌱 Soil

I’ve heard many plant enthusiasts say that most philodendrons will grow in pretty much anything. That may be true, but because I tend to overwater, I still play it safe and stick to a well-draining aroid mix — orchid bark, perlite, and some high-quality, compost-free soil.
I always check the moisture level before watering. So far, no root rot (fingers crossed!), and I’d like to keep it that way. Especially since I never see any signs of underwatering — better safe than sorry.

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🌿 Growth pattern

I mentioned earlier that this plant looks somewhat like a Monstera deliciosa, but the growth pattern is different. Monstera is a classic climber that will head straight up a pole, while this guy is more of a clumper — it grows in a bushy, spreading way.
That said, young Monsteras — especially the large-form ones with shorter internodes that crawl — can look visually similar and pair really well together. They’re also quite similar in their care needs.
The only real “complaint” is that if you give Philodendron ‘Hope’ total freedom, it’ll spread out horizontally. Its petioles won’t point upwards; they’ll arch outward, trying to soak in as much light as possible.
Maybe if it were kept in a dark room with just a grow light, it’d grow more vertically. I might test that theory next winter and let you know how it goes.

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✅ Summary — short and sweet

There isn’t a whole lot to say about this plant — and that’s a good thing. It doesn’t need much: some light (actually, it loves light) and the occasional watering. In return, you get a beautiful, lush plant that rewards you with big new leaves every month — or even more often.
Highly recommended, as long as you’re not short on space. And if you are tight on room, there’s a smaller version called — you guessed it — Philodendron ‘Little Hope’, which reportedly maxes out around 50–60 cm (~20 inches).
I actually bought mine as a Little Hope, but when it arrived and was already over a meter tall, I realized something didn’t quite add up. But it looked so stunning, I couldn’t bring myself to send it back — even though my home office was already nearly full.
But hey, like most plant lovers, my room is always almost full of plants — and there’s always a way to shuffle something around and make room for another green friend. 😉

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🌿 Related topics and keywords

If you’re searching for an easy houseplant that grows big, loves light, and doesn’t need much attention — Philodendron Hope might be your perfect match. It’s often compared to Monstera deliciosa, but it’s more forgiving and easier to care for. Great for plant beginners or anyone who wants a bold green statement in their home.

Tags: easy houseplant, philodendron hope, monstera alternative, large indoor plant, philodendron care, low maintenance plant, aroid mix, bushy plant, south-facing window plants