Trendy Indoor Plants for 2022: Must-Have Popular Houseplants
It’s a new year, which means it’s time for a fresh list of the most popular and trendy indoor plants. Trendsetters who want to have a social media-worthy spread of houseplants to photograph will love this years must-have trending houseplants. What are the trendy plants in 2022?
Here are the trendy indoor plants of the year for 2022:
- Slipper orchid
- Philodendron micans
- Silver leaf monstera
- Banana plant
- Satin pothos
- Begonia chlorosticta
- Phyllanthus mirabilis
- Hoyas
- Peace lily domino
- Kauri pine
- Syngonium
- Grape ivy
- Ficus umbellata
- Ferns
Some of these plants might be familiar to you and others, not so much. Not to worry! Ahead, I’ll talk further about each plant, including why it’s so trendy, as well as how to care for it.
The following trendy indoor plants for 2022 are presented in no particular order.
The 14 Trendiest Indoor Plants of 2022
Slipper Orchid
The slipper orchid, which is often referred to as the lady’s slipper or lady slipper orchid, is certainly grabbing the attention of indoor gardeners this year (2022).
The oversized pouches–technically called labella–that the flowers of the Cypripedioideae grow are very striking. When you combine the unique shape of these flowers with their petal patterning and coloration, you get an altogether irresistible plant.
The pouches of this trendy plant are not only for show, by the way. Insects can get trapped inside. To escape, the insect must pass the staminode, which increases their chances of pollinating the flower.
Care
Slipper orchids require moist soil that toes the line between not too dry and not too soggy. When it comes to how much light the slipper orchid prefers, shady or low light conditions are ideal.
Avoid acidic soil when growing the lady’s slipper, keeping the pH range between 6.5 to 7.0.
Philodendron Micans
Big plants as well as trailing plants are already very popular in 2022, so unsurprisingly, the philodendron made the list.
It’s not just any variety of the philodendron though, but the philodendron micans that’s making a splash in 2022.
The philodendron micans is a trailing plant that sprouts velvety soft leaves with an appealing heart shape.
I currently have my philodendron micans trailing across my main plant room and even though I’ve had it for years, I’m still amazed at how fast it grows.
Besides its looks, I also adore the philodendron mican’s low-maintenance care routine. I’ve been growing mine for 3 to 4 years and I’ve never had any pest or root rot issues with it.
Care
Hailing from the Caribbean and Mexico, the philodendron micans needs tropical conditions at home or the office too. Provide partial sunlight to mimic its home environment.
Fill its pots with well-draining, aerated soil that’s on the acidic side. Allow the philodendron micans soil to dry out two to three inches before watering again.
IMPORTANT: Avoid getting the velvet-like leaves of your philodendron micans wet when you’re watering it. If you happen to get the leaves wet it’s worth taking a minute to carefully blot the water off before it soaks into the plush leaves and causes a rotting or mold issue.
Silver Leaf Monstera
Monstera tends to top the most popular plants list just about every year, and in 2022, that’s no exception.
This year, it’s all about the monstera varieties, with the silver leaf monstera rising to the top.
The long, blade-like leaves of this monstera are green with a noticeable tinge of silver. Few monstera varieties are more Instagrammable!
Care
If you’ve successfully raised other monstera plants in the past, then silver leaf monstera care should be a snap.
Avoid soggy soil and standing water but maintain moisture. The soil mix should be aerated but chunky with amendments like coconut coir or orchid bark.
Provide bright, indirect light and temperatures up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Banana Plant
Here’s a third trending houseplant this year that proves that bigger is better: the banana plant or Musa.
Native to warm regions such as Australia and Africa, the size of the banana plant depends very much on where you grow it.
Some banana plants stand only two feet tall and a few feet wide, while others are 30 feet tall and 15 feet wide. The latter is much more common outdoors.
Judging by the inclusion of the monstera and philodendron on this trends list, indoor gardeners probably love the banana plant so much due to its oversized leaves.
Care
Moisture is a must for the banana plant, as is hydration, so water the plant frequently. Don’t let the soil become soggy though.
Well-draining, acidic soil with lots of organic matter will help your banana plant grow.
Humidity is great, and temps between 75 and 95 degrees suit this plant just fine.
Due to the size of this plant, direct sunlight exposure for about six hours per day is usually okay. A few banana plant varieties might burn in direct sun though, so know which you have!
Satin Pothos
The satin pothos, also known as the silver pothos, is one of the most beloved variegated pothos, and for good reason.
In the same vein as the silver leaf monstera, the satin pothos has an appealing silvery sheen to its uniformly teardrop-shaped leaves.
It’s not just that silver is huge in 2022. Indoor gardeners are also selecting plants that are easier to care for, and the pothos is one of the easiest plants to care for that also happens to be trendy year after year.
Care
I wrote an entire care guide for the satin pothos that I very much recommend you read if you pick this popular houseplant for your own trending collection.
To recap, the satin pothos prefers water only when a few inches of its soil have dried out. Bright, indirect light is best, and well-draining potting soil is a must.
Begonia Chlorosticta
Of course, begonias are popular as always, but one variety has become extremely trendy in the indoor gardening world this year. It’s the begonia chlorosticta.
Native to Malaysia, the chlorosticta variety looks polka-dotted, as the dark green leaf base has smaller, lighter green dots spread across each leaf.
The rims of each leaf are bordered in that same hue and have a crinkly texture around the edges. Further, the veins close to the petiole are a bright and contrasting red.
To further sweeten the deal, this begonia variety sometimes sprouts appealing white flowers. Altogether, it’s a very attractive plant!
Care
Growing your own begonia chlorosticta requires acidic soil at a range of 6.1 to 7.5. Add soil amendments such as compost or peat moss, one part each, or a 1 to 1 mixture.
Allow the soil to dry out somewhat between waterings. Provide bright, indirect light to maintain the lustrous foliage without burning its leaves.
Phyllanthus Mirabilis
2022 is apparently the year the Phyllanthus mirabilis finally gets its due!
This indoor plant from Laos and Thailand grows natively on cliffsides and on mountains. The leaves are long and oval-shaped and are usually green but can be red too, even a combination of hues.
At night, each leaf will fold as the plant undergoes nyctinasty, a circadian reaction that only occurs in darkness.
Care
Due to the bulbous stem or caudex, the Phyllanthus mirabilis is drought-resistant. You can often go longer without watering it than you’d think!
Bright light is fine for this plant, but direct sun is not. Sandy or gritty soil suits this plant best, so you’re free to use succulent or cactus potting mix with plenty of sand, perlite, and compost.
Hoyas
Small, colorful, and easy to care for, hoyas check a lot of boxes. This is a plant that’s largely flown under the radar but is getting some time in the spotlight in 2022.
The hoya is a tropical plant with upwards of 300 different species. It grows natively in Asian countries.
The best part of growing hoyas is that the plant produces small, waxy, star-shaped flower clusters that grow on the peduncle or spur, which is technically a stalk.
As the flowers increase in numbers, the spurs grow too, which is how the flower clusters can continue to expand.
Care
Orchid mix or cactus mix with perlite will provide the aeration the trendy hoya plant requires. Hoyas need only the top layer of soil to dry out before watering.
High humidity suits this plant best and can encourage more floral growth.
Bright, indirect light will nourish hoyas without causing the flowers to burn.
Peace Lily Domino
The peace lily’s greatest appeal has always been its white “flowers,” which are really just leaves.
Well, this years trending peace lily is the peace lily domino. The peace lily domino has both lovely flowers and equally beautiful leaves.
As the domino part of the name might have indicated, this Spathiphyllum variety features white blotches on the long, lean, bright green leaves.
Getting your trendy peace lily domino to bloom can test the patience of even the most experienced indoor gardener. If your peace lily domino is a little bit on the slow side to produce flowers, allow its leaves to be your consolation prize for your patience.
Care
Maintain soil moisture throughout the seasons, which will require you to water the peace lily domino more often in the summer than in the winter.
While having to water more often in the summer is common with most “moisture loving indoor plants” this years trending peace lily domino seems even more finicky then most when it comes to its watering schedule.
Potting mix with plenty of peat moss and perlite will aerate the soil enough for trending peace lily domino plant to thrive.
Direct light is too much for most peace lilies, and that’s true of the domino peace lily as well. Provide indirect light with some periods of shade.
Kauri Pine
Here’s a plant that you might not have expected to be so trendy in 2022, the kauri pine or Agathis robusta.
This evergreen from New Zealand won’t ever reach the heights it would when outdoors in a rainforest, so you don’t have to worry about that!
Resembling a ficus, the kauri pine is a lovely little desktop or living room plant with dark-colored, spindly foliage. That foliage can sometimes turn white or bronze.
The bronze color denotes new growth on the kauri pine while the white is a protective layer that can prevent sun damage.
Care
Full sunlight is a-okay for this plant due to the abovementioned protective coating. Maintain soil moisture through watering and use organic soil.
Syngonium
The arrowhead vine or Syngonium is having a BIG MOMENT in the limelight right now, and that’s due to all the creative cultivars being introduced to the mainstream public.
One of these is the Milk Confetti cultivar, which produces pale-colored, pastel leaves in very light green, baby pink, or white.
The Mottled Mojito cultivar resembles the alcoholic beverage with bright green leaves splotched with darker patches throughout.
I must talk about the Strawberry Cream arrowhead vine cultivar too, which might be the most popular one. This cultivar has single-colored leaves in delicate shades of pink. It’s a real head-turner of a plant!
So far this year the plant community has had a deep appreciation for the many colors, and shades the lesser known plants have to offer. It seems as though many houseplants with an array of colors have finally become trendy.
Care
Although the arrowhead vine is beloved for its adaptability, you don’t want to bend the rules too far if yours is a variegated Syngonium. You might cause its coloration to fade.
Let the soil get mostly dry before watering the plant again but not bone-dry.
Provide medium indirect light and perhaps periods of bright light but look for signs of leaf damage after exposure. The symptoms can include wilting, drying, and browning.
Grape Ivy
Tropical, lush, and lacy are three words you can use to describe the trending grape ivy or Cissus alata.
The Ellen Danica variety especially is a favorite among indoor gardeners this year.
The shapely tendrils and leaves are lovely to behold, and its easy care routine is another desirable facet of the non-fussy grape ivy.
Care
When the soil gets dry, only then should you water the popular grape ivy. Always avoid standing water, as this plant is sensitive to root rot.
Give the Ellen Danica variety bright, indirect light with periods of shade if preferred. You can also skip the shade altogether without impacting the plant’s growth.
Ficus Umbellata
The Ficus umbellata was a trending plant in previous years, and now in 2022, its popularity is just as white-hot.
The closest cousin to this Ficus is the fiddle-leaf fig, but the umbellata is a lot easier to care for. If you’re taking proper care of this multi-year trending ficus and you’ll see large, healthy, heart-shaped leaves.
Care
Bright light, with some brief periods of direct light, is best for the Ficus umbellata.
Allow for the soil to get dry before watering the plant, and always use well-draining potting soil.
When you’re sourcing the best soil for your ficus umbellata, succulent or cactus mix can work really well as long as you pay close attention to not overwatering this year’s trending Ficus.
Ferns
I would be remiss to exclude ferns from this list, as they’re really trending in 2022.
Ferns can be difficult to care for, as they have thin, fragile fronds that don’t do well in direct sun. Then again, that can depend on which variety you choose.
Some fern varieties are hardier than others and are lower-maintenance as well. That could explain why ferns are popping up again and again on indoor plant trends lists.
Care
Keep your trending fern’s soil perpetually moist. Think “moist” not damp.
Ferns generally favor the occasional misting but If the fern’s soil is allowed to dry out, it could induce stress.
Standard potting soil that’s well-draining is best for most ferns. The soil should be more on the acidic or neutral side, between 4.0 and 7.0.
Allow me to stress again that direct sunlight can be a fern’s biggest enemy. Provide indirect light to be on the safe side and move your trendy fern closer to the indirect light source rather than further away from the indirect light.
