10 Trendiest Plants to Spruce Up Your Apartment in 2022
That plant is so last year… Ok, maybe no one’s ever said that.
Houseplants are lovely house guests that brighten up and clean the air in our homes. As long as they’re happy with the light and temperature in your apartment, I say they’re all timeless. That being said, some houseplants are having more of a moment than others, mostly thanks to the growing plant parent Instagram community bringing awareness to previously lesser-known plant varieties.
When you spend hours shamelessly scrolling through Instagram plant porn like I do, certain plant trends start to stand out. Some of these will be instantly recognizable, especially ones with a dedicated weekday hashtag (we’re looking at you, #monsteramonday). Here are some trendy indoor plants that will continue to grow in popularity through 2022.
Rhaphidophora tetrasperma
Sometimes mistaken for monstera or philodendron in mini form, raphidophora tetrasperma is actually part of a completely separate genus. Found in Southern Thailand and Malaysia, this cute plant loves to climb up anything that will support it. They prefer bright indirect light and humid conditions, given its tropical origins. Give it a trellis to climb, and plenty of sunlight and humidity and your raphidophora tetrasperma will keep climbing for you.
Alocasia
Alocasia are characterized by a striking pointed shape and white veins. While there are around 80 species of alocasia, some of the most popular varieties include frydek (pictured), amazonica (“polly”), and zebrina. Consistent with their natural habitat of subtropical Asia and eastern Australia, alocasia love bright, indirect light and humidity.
Variegated Rubber Plant (Ficus Tineke)
If you like the more familiar variety of rubber plant, ficus elastica, you’ll love the variegated ficus tineke. It’s mesmerizing pattern almost looks painted on. Ficus tineke love direct light, and its variegation can actually fade if it doesn’t get enough. The best spot for it is by an east-facing window: it’ll get plenty of light in the morning, but won’t get scorched by the strong afternoon sun. Make sure it gets consistent watering, with less in the winter when growth naturally slows.
Neon Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Pothos are low-maintenance plants, requiring little water and light. The neon variety is extra eye-catching, with bright yellowish green glowy leaves. Pothos are trailing plants, so place them on a shelf or in a hanging pot to watch its beautiful vines grow up to 20 feet.
Monstera adansonii
While its counterpart monstera deliciosa has enjoyed Instagram fame for a while now, monstera adansonii has more recently gotten its share of the spotlight. Its characteristic “swiss cheese” holes are believed to help the plant withstand high winds and allow light to pass through to lower plants in its native Central and South American habitat. Monstera adansonii are happiest with bright indirect light and something to climb.
Pilea Peperomia
Who doesn’t love a pilea? While the epithet “peperomioides” originates from its relation to the pepper, I like to think it’s because it looks like pepperoni. Also called the Chinese Money Plant, pilea peperomioides is native to the Yunnan Province in Southern China. Its coin-shaped leaves tend to bend toward light, so make sure it’s placed in a spot with bright indirect light and rotated often. One of my favorite varieties is the watermelon (pictured).
ZZ (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
ZZ’s low maintenance characteristics and attractiveness definitely contribute to its popularity. Native to dry grasslands in Eastern Africa, ZZ plants are characterized by small, waxy leaves ranging in color from light to very dark green. They grow potato-like rhizomes underground, allowing them to store water and go without a watering for 2-4 weeks. They are also tolerant of low light, although they can also stand indirect light.
Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)
With its giant splayed out leaves, bird of paradise tends to be the star of any room it inhabits. While it's rare for them to flower indoors, in their natural South African habitat birds of paradise are known for producing beautiful orange flowers. Birds of paradise can grow to up to 5 ft tall, and need plenty of room to fan out their leaves. They can take bright direct or indirect light, and prefer to dry out between waterings.
Anthurium clarinvervium
Characterized by its heart-shaped leaves and contrasting veins, anthurium clarinervium is a beautiful addition to any plant collection. Native to Mexico, these plants like warm weather, high humidity, and bright and indirect or filtered light. Anthurium are epiphytes, meaning they grow on trees and branches. This means they require very good drainage, so make sure your potting soil is broken up with bigger pieces like bark.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree (Ficus lyrata)
Would a trendiest plants list be complete without including fiddle leaf fig? With its big, dark green wavy leaves, the fiddle leaf fig looks good anywhere. Unfortunately, they’re also one of the most difficult houseplants to maintain. Native to tropical Cameroon, they’re used to a hot, humid environment where it rains often but lightly. Because their leaves are so big, they require lots of sunlight to feed its cells. While most households have a humidity level of ten, fiddle leaf figs prefer a humidity level of 65 - get ready to buy it a humidifier or otherwise mist often. If it’s happy in its environment, a potted fiddle leaf fig can grow as tall as ten feet indoors.
Are there any trendy plants from this list that you want to add to your collection?
Comment which below!