Houseplants Trends For 2022 | 8 Trending Plants & How to Care for Them
Why are we even talking about plant trends for 2022?
Is there such a thing as plant trends?
Yes, there is.
Want to know why?
Because we are spending more time at home, or at least my kids and I are!!
Between required isolation times, public events cancellations, and frigid temperatures in our part of the world, home has become a 24/7/365 reality for many.
Hence the need to bring nature indoors.
More and more people feel this need. Plants have become increasingly more popular in the last few years, and rightfully so.
Not only they are beautiful and help us enhance the look of our space; plants have many physical and mental benefits we can all take advantage of.
Like fashion and home decor, plants seem to follow certain trends, or better, we create and follow certain trends.
Every year a few new plant species become the topic of conversation for either their beauty, their ease of maintenance, or mostly, their scarcity.
The plant trends for 2022 sees a combination of rare plants, particularly aroids, (plants that have spadix type of flowers, like the Peace Lily), and, on the opposite hand, plants that are practical; anything that is easy to grow and even edibles, such as herbs and veggies.
While the pale pink variegations are still in , the bright red and purples are taking over the spot light.
Let’s take a look at some of these plants specifically.
1. Wax plant, (Hoya Carnosa)
The Wax Plant, in addition to being one of plant trends for 2022, is also a low maintenance plant and a non-toxic plant, safe for children and pets despite its succulent leaves.
Native to Eastern Asia and Australia, The Hoya Carnosa isn’t technically a succulent. It’s a succulent-like plant.
This plant thrives in bright light conditions. The brighter the surrounding area, the more likely it will produce the sweet fragrant porcelain looking flower that doesn’t even seem real!
It needs to be watered when the soil is dry to the touch. I water mine once every two weeks in both Winter and Summer.
Wax Plants are extremely easy to propagate by simply cutting the stems and allowing them to grow roots into water. In-fact, my plant is the result of three stems I cut off from my friend’s plant!
Like for many other trailing and climbing plants, there are so many different ways to display a Hoya Carnosa; from ceiling hung, to arranged on special trellises.
Its trailing stems won’t grow terribly fast but the more bright light you provide, the faster it will grow.
Hoya Carnosa, aka Porcelain Flower or Wax Plant
Hoya Carnosa Compacta, aka Hindu Rope
2. Syngonium
The Syngonium is one of those rare aroids plant trends for 2022.
Native to the tropical rainforests of Southern Mexico, Central and South America, and the West Indies, this plant thrives in bright, indirect light.
It’s important that the Syngonium is not exposed to full sun as it tends to bleach its beautiful colours.
As it grows, this plant will let its vines trail from wherever is placed.
The Syngonium does well in the average home humidity but as a tropical plant, it prefers higher levels of humidity. You can either mist it regularly or keep its pot over a pebble tray filled with soil.
As far as watering goes, it is best to water when the top soil feels dry to the touch. Never allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. I water mine once a week and definitely notice the plant struggling if I miss that watering.
Fertilize twice during the growing season.
3. Phyllantus Mirabilis
This is probably the biggest plant trend for 2022.
Native to Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, this cauduciform plant, (plant with a caudex, which is a basal stem or rootstock from which new growth arises. It is comparable to the caudex of a Ponytail Palm), grows on limestone mountains and cliffs in its natural habitat.
The Phyllantus is a deciduous plant, which means that it looses its leaves and goes dormant in winter.
The plant thrives in bright, indirect light. However, a bit of gentle morning direct sun can benefit the plant, as long as it is not a scorching, full direct sun all day! This can damage its leaves.
Allow the top half of the soil to dry out between waterings. It is best to under-water this plant, rather than over watering it.
Mist the Phyllantus regularly to maintain a higher level of humidity around it. Alternatively, place its pot over a pebble tray filled with water, making sure the water is not touching the plant’s soil in order to avoid root rot.
Fertilize twice during the growing season.
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4. Peace Lily Domino, (Spathiphyllum Domino)
The difference between the Peace Lily Domino and the Common Peace Lily is in the variegation and splashes of white in its leaves.
This is one of the plant trends of 2022 that is also an excellent air purifier.
The Peace Lily Domino has the same care needs as the common Peace Lily.
It grows well in bright, indirect light conditions. It can also grow in low light environments, however, the variegation won’t be as stark and contrasting, and it won’t flower as much.
The Peace Lily thrives in high humidity, so frequent misting will really benefit the plant.
Both Peace Lilies need to be watered only when the top soil feels dry to the touch. Under-watering this plant is better than over-watering it. Make sure your plant is in a draining pot so that all the water can be drained and there is no stagnant water standing at the bottom of the pot, which can cause yellowing of the leaves tips, and eventually root rot.
Fertilize once a month during the growing season.
Click here to learn more about the Peace Lily.
5. Begonia Chlorosticta
The Begonia Chlorosticta is native to the forests of Malaysia.
It grows well in bright light conditions as long as it is not exposed to full sun.
While this type of Begonia doesn’t require a lot of water, it does however need high levels of humidity. It’s a good idea to keep its pot on a pebble tray filled with water and to mist it regularly.
Because of its need for high humidity levels, this plant is an ideal candidate for closed terrariums.
Water it when the top soil STARTS to feel dry to the touch. Keep the soil moist but not too soggy.
Fertilize it once a month during the growing season.
6. Philodendron Micans
The Philodendron Micans is one of those low maintenance plant trends for 2022.
It is a velvety leaf variety of the Heartleaf Philodendron.
Native to the tropical regions of Mexico and the Caribbean, the Philodendron Micans has quickly gained its popularity due to its beauty and ease of maintenance.
So, if you are able to put your hands on one of these plants, consider yourself lucky!
This plant enjoys medium light, but it thrives in bright, indirect light. Direct light exposure will scorch its delicate leaves.
The amount of light this plant is exposed to will determine the amount of water needed and the colour of its foliage; bright light will allow the leaves to turn a deeper brownish/red, while lower light conditions will maintain its leaves a deep green colour.
The Philodendron Micans needs to be watered once the top 2″ of soil feel dry to the touch. Under-watering this plant is better than over-watering it.
Fertilize it once a month during Spring and Summer.
7. Birds of Paradise plant, (Strelitzia Nicolai)
The Bird of Paradise Plant is definitely my favourite tall indoor plant.
I believe this plant ranked among the plant trends for 2022 because of its majestic tropical look and they way it can drastically transform the look of a room.
This plant is native to the coastal forests of eastern South Africa.
It is very easy to grow and maintain. It grows fast and produces beautiful and big unfurling leaves.
(I mean it; it grows really fast! Mine grew 4′ in 18 months! Make sure you have plenty of space for it before you buy one!)
It is a surprisingly adaptable plant that grows well in low light and direct bright light conditions.
The Strelitzia thrives in moist soil conditions but not too soggy. I water mine once a week from Spring to Fall and let the top few inches dry out in Winter before I water it. It’s better to to keep this plant on the drier side than soak it in too much water.
I fertilize it once a month with liquid plant food.
Since this is a tropical plant, it will enjoy regular misting to increase the levels of humidity it requires to thrive.
Click here to learn more about the Birds of Paradise plant.
This is the 3′ tall Strelitzia the day it came home.
Fast forward 18 months, and the same plant is 7′ tall!
8. Ferns, (different varieties)
Ferns are always a delicate topic for me.
I do believe that Ferns are finicky plants to grow indoors.
Or at least the great majority of them are; Boston Ferns, Maiden Hair Ferns, Button Ferns, etc…
However, there are two indoor Ferns that are easier than others to maintain;
- Staghorn Fern; This plant is a very fascinating plant to me. Like other Ferns, it’s an epiphytes, and in nature, it grows on other plants, which it means it needs very little medium, (soil). It requires medium light and it enjoys high humidity. I water mine once a week in order to keep its soil moist but not too soggy and I mist it regularly every time I water it.
- Bird’s Nest Fern; This Fern grows faster than all the other Ferns. Its curly leaves add so much vibrance to any space. It enjoys bright, indirect light. (No full sun). Like all the other ferns it thrives on high levels of humidity. Water it so that its soil is moist but not too soggy and mist it once or twice per week. Fertilize twice in the growing season.
You can see why this plant is called Staghorn Fern. Its horn-like fronds are velvety and soft.
This is the detail of the Staghorn Fern “shield” fronds.
I keep my Bird’s Nest Fern on a pebble tray filled with water to help increase the humidity around its pot.
A detail of the beautiful Bird’s Nest Fern curly leaves.
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