{"title":"Rare","description":"\u003cp\u003ePlants that don't show up at your average garden center and aren't sorry about it. Rare varieties occupy the sweet spot between widely available and completely unobtainable—special enough to turn heads, collectible enough to trade stories about, and interesting enough that your non-plant friends will actually stop scrolling and ask what that is. Not common. Not a unicorn. Just genuinely, satisfyingly hard to find.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"monstera-deliciosa-var-borsigiana-albo","title":"Monstera Deliciosa var. borsigiana albo","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Description\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMonstera borsigiana 'Albo Variegata' is the one that started the collector Monstera obsession that the entire hobby is still recovering from—those iconic split leaves with bold, irregular white variegation splashed across deep green in a pattern that's different every single time have been making collectors part with serious money for years, and the demand has not cooled even slightly. She's the faster-growing, more manageable sibling of the full Deliciosa Albo, climbing eagerly and pushing new variegated leaves with enough regularity to keep the anticipation going indefinitely. Every new unfurling leaf is an event—heavily white, lightly kissed, or somewhere dramatically in between, and you never know which until it opens.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare Card\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🌿 \u003cstrong\u003eLight\u003c\/strong\u003e — Bright indirect, consistently. White variegated sections have reduced chlorophyll and need good light to sustain healthy growth; low light causes reversion toward green and the variegation that makes her valuable slowly disappears.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e💧 \u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e — Top 1–2 inches dry between waterings, then water thoroughly and drain. Chunky well-draining aroid mix essential—white variegated tissue is less forgiving of soggy roots than standard Monstera and root rot on an Albo is an expensive and avoidable tragedy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e💨 \u003cstrong\u003eHumidity\u003c\/strong\u003e — 60–75% preferred. Humidifier recommended; white sections show browning edges faster than green tissue in dry air and on a plant this valuable that's not a trade-off worth making.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🌡️ \u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e — 65–85°F. Never below 60°F. No cold drafts—white tissue takes cold damage faster and more visibly than green; stable warmth keeps those variegated leaves pushing consistently.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🪴 \u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e — Chunky well-draining aroid mix with a moss pole or climbing support. Borsigiana climbs eagerly and produces larger, more dramatically variegated leaves with a proper support structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🌱 \u003cstrong\u003eFertilizer\u003c\/strong\u003e — Half-strength balanced liquid every 2–3 weeks in spring and summer. Monthly in early fall. Nothing in winter; white variegated tissue is fertilizer-sensitive—gentle and consistent wins every time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e⚠️ \u003cstrong\u003eToxicity\u003c\/strong\u003e — Toxic to pets and humans. Calcium oxalate crystals cause oral irritation and vomiting if ingested.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🐣 \u003cstrong\u003eBeginner Friendly?\u003c\/strong\u003e — No. Collector pricing, variegated tissue, and climbing habit require experience and intentional setup—but for intermediate to experienced growers with the right conditions this is one of the most rewarding aroids in the entire hobby.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHOW OUR SHIPPING WORKS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe ship all live plants with custom packing, insulation, and lots of cushioning so they arrive in the best condition possible. Shipping rates are based on the packed weight of your order (plants + soil + pot + box + insulation). This helps us cover the real cost of getting breakable, living things safely to you.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn cold weather, we strongly recommend adding a Heat Pack add-on for each shipment. Heat packs are priced separately and add additional weight to your box.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSHIPPING NOTE: Shipping includes wrapping and insulation. Heat packs are not included by default—please add a Heat Pack add-on to your cart for cold-weather shipping. Shipping Days are Monday–Wednesday to avoid weekend and holiday delays.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePLEASE NOTE: What you see is the vibe — not the exact plant. 🌿 Each plant has its own personality (some a little more dramatic than others). Leaf shape, size, and variegation will vary, but pot size is consistent.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cascade Tropicals","offers":[{"title":"3\"","offer_id":58139950514563,"sku":"MONS-DELI-VAR-BORS-ALBO-3","price":64.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"4\"","offer_id":58139950547331,"sku":"H375737","price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2\"","offer_id":58139950580099,"sku":"522701R","price":44.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1007\/7578\/8931\/files\/original_f2061fdd-7e31-4633-a5db-67a269d2117e.jpg?v=1782058342"},{"product_id":"hoya-sunrise","title":"Hoya 'Sunrise'","description":null,"brand":"Cascade Tropicals","offers":[{"title":"4\"","offer_id":58139951563139,"sku":"4537747","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"philodendron-florida-ghost-mint","title":"Philodendron Florida Ghost Mint","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Description\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhilodendron 'Florida Ghost Mint' is the Florida Ghost's softer, more ethereal sibling—those distinctive multi-lobed leaves emerge in the palest mint-white before transitioning through soft cream and finally deepening toward green as they mature, each leaf a slow color journey that makes new growth feel like an event worth scheduling your day around. She climbs with the same vigorous Florida Ghost energy but in a colorway so unexpectedly soft and luminous it looks less like a Philodendron and more like something that grew in a greenhouse that only gets moonlight. Rare, distinctive, and entirely worth the humidity setup.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare Card\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🌿 \u003cstrong\u003eLight\u003c\/strong\u003e — Bright indirect, consistently. Those pale mint new leaves have minimal chlorophyll and need good light to transition through their color stages properly; low light causes etiolation and the mint fades to a washed-out yellow-green that misses the point entirely.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e💧 \u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e — Let the top inch dry between waterings, then water thoroughly and drain. Pale new tissue is more sensitive to overwatering than mature green leaves—chunky well-draining aroid mix is essential and root rot on a Florida Ghost Mint is an avoidable and expensive mistake.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e💨 \u003cstrong\u003eHumidity\u003c\/strong\u003e — 60–75% preferred. Pale new growth and the multi-lobed leaf structure both benefit from elevated humidity; humidifier recommended. Dry air causes browning on pale sections that shows immediately and dramatically.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🌡️ \u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e — 65–85°F. Never below 62°F. Stable warmth keeps those mint new leaves unfurling on schedule; cold drafts damage pale tissue faster than green and the color journey gets cut short in the most disappointing way.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🪴 \u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e — Chunky well-draining aroid mix with a climbing support. Florida Ghost Mint climbs enthusiastically and produces increasingly lobed, more dramatically colored leaves with proper support—a moss pole is the right investment.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🌱 \u003cstrong\u003eFertilizer\u003c\/strong\u003e — Half-strength balanced liquid every 2–3 weeks in spring and summer. Monthly in early fall. Nothing in winter; pale new tissue is fertilizer-sensitive—consistent and gentle over aggressive and occasional.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e⚠️ \u003cstrong\u003eToxicity\u003c\/strong\u003e — Toxic to pets and humans. Calcium oxalate crystals cause oral irritation and vomiting if ingested.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🐣 \u003cstrong\u003eBeginner Friendly?\u003c\/strong\u003e — No. Pale variegation, climbing habit, and collector pricing require experience—but intermediate growers with good light and a moss pole will find the Florida Ghost Mint one of the most rewarding and visually distinctive Philodendrons in the hobby.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHOW OUR SHIPPING WORKS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe ship all live plants with custom packing, insulation, and lots of cushioning so they arrive in the best condition possible. Shipping rates are based on the packed weight of your order (plants + soil + pot + box + insulation). This helps us cover the real cost of getting breakable, living things safely to you.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn cold weather, we strongly recommend adding a Heat Pack add-on for each shipment. Heat packs are priced separately and add additional weight to your box.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSHIPPING NOTE: Shipping includes wrapping and insulation. Heat packs are not included by default—please add a Heat Pack add-on to your cart for cold-weather shipping. Shipping Days are Monday–Wednesday to avoid weekend and holiday delays.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePLEASE NOTE: What you see is the vibe — not the exact plant. 🌿 Each plant has its own personality (some a little more dramatic than others). Leaf shape, size, and variegation will vary, but pot size is consistent.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cascade Tropicals","offers":[{"title":"2\"","offer_id":58139952447875,"sku":"D533555","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"alocasia-venom","title":"Alocasia Venom","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Description\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Alocasia 'Venom' looks exactly as dangerous as she sounds—deep, glossy dark green leaves with striking pale yellow-green venation that pulses across the surface like something biological and slightly threatening, the kind of pattern that makes you feel like the plant is watching you back. She's bold, graphic, and unapologetically dramatic, the plant equivalent of a warning label you ignore because it's too beautiful not to. Give her what she needs and she delivers some of the most visually striking foliage in the entire genus—vivid, intense, and completely on brand.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare Card\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🌿 \u003cstrong\u003eLight\u003c\/strong\u003e — Bright indirect preferred. That high-contrast venation needs good light to stay vivid; low light dulls the yellow-green to grey-green and the whole effect collapses.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e💧 \u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e — Top 1–2 inches dry between waterings, then water thoroughly and drain. Moist but never soggy—she's called Venom, not Swamp Thing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e💨 \u003cstrong\u003eHumidity\u003c\/strong\u003e — 60–75% required. Dry air causes browning edges that interrupt that dramatic venation pattern. Humidifier recommended; don't let her suffer quietly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🌡️ \u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e — 65–85°F. Never below 60°F. No cold drafts, no AC vents—stable warmth keeps those venation colors intense.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🪴 \u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e — Chunky well-draining aroid mix. Good drainage, good airflow, happy roots, dramatic leaves. That's the deal.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🌱 \u003cstrong\u003eFertilizer\u003c\/strong\u003e — Half-strength balanced liquid every 2–4 weeks in spring and summer. Monthly in early fall. Nothing in winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e⚠️ \u003cstrong\u003eToxicity\u003c\/strong\u003e — Toxic to pets and humans. Calcium oxalate crystals cause serious oral irritation if ingested. The name is not entirely a joke.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e🐣 \u003cstrong\u003eBeginner Friendly?\u003c\/strong\u003e — Not quite. Humidity and consistent care required—best for intermediate growers who can appreciate the aesthetic and actually keep it alive.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHOW OUR SHIPPING WORKS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe ship all live plants with custom packing, insulation, and lots of cushioning so they arrive in the best condition possible. Shipping rates are based on the packed weight of your order (plants + soil + pot + box + insulation). This helps us cover the real cost of getting breakable, living things safely to you.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn cold weather, we strongly recommend adding a Heat Pack add-on for each shipment. Heat packs are priced separately and add additional weight to your box.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSHIPPING NOTE: Shipping includes wrapping and insulation. Heat packs are not included by default—please add a Heat Pack add-on to your cart for cold-weather shipping. Shipping Days are Monday–Wednesday to avoid weekend and holiday delays.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePLEASE NOTE: What you see is the vibe — not the exact plant. 🌿 Each plant has its own personality (some a little more dramatic than others). Leaf shape, size, and variegation will vary, but pot size is consistent.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cascade Tropicals","offers":[{"title":"3\"","offer_id":58139956380035,"sku":"755112L","price":64.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"2\"","offer_id":58139956412803,"sku":"190707S","price":53.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1007\/7578\/8931\/files\/original_ce0e79e8-7aa1-407d-9e35-74e7606e77e0.jpg?v=1782227957"}],"url":"https:\/\/botanybooksandbooze.com\/collections\/rare.oembed","provider":"Botany Books \u0026 Booze","version":"1.0","type":"link"}