Gardens are a physical personification of the gardener’s love, care, patience, and hard work. While we at Ugaoo truly believe that our garden’s should be a true representation of ourselves, it is fun to know what’s trending on the gardening world green carpet.
With every new year comes new possibilities, new trends, and new predictions. So let’s take a look at the top ten plants that are all set to make a bigger splash globally based on how people have reacted to them in the last year.
From the humidity loving ferns that can transform homes into a tropical forest to the quirky crinkly Hoya and exotic orchids, there is plenty to love in the trending plant list for 2022. And if you decide to include them amongst your plant babies, we also have their care tips for you.
Hoya is truly having its moment under the sun. These gorgeous plants come in a plethora of shapes and sizes and have some of the most beautiful blooms in the indoor plant category. Place them on top shelves or in hanging planters for maximum impact.
Care: Hoyas are partial to bright indirect light, so a spot with at least a couple of hours of light in a day will be the best. Allow the soil to dry out in between waterings but don’t let it sit dry for long periods and use a rich but well-draining soil.
If there is one plant in this list that screams variety, its syngonium. They come in all sizes and colours, from the tiny Syngonium pixie for your tabletops to terrariums to the flamboyant Trileaf Wonder and the colours can range anywhere from white and green to pink and gold. Display them with pride on tabletops or in metallic stand planters.
Care: Syngonium or the arrowhead vines love bright light but can live happily in medium to low light areas, provided you give them a few hours of bright light every couple of weeks. Water your arrowhead when the top two inches of soil dries out and use a good mix of garden soil, compost, 10% perlite or drainage.
Philodendrons have ruled the plant world for decades simply because of their sheer variety and how easy it is to take care of them. In the philodendron world the Micans is still unique and exotic and just as easy to care for. With its dark velvety leaves that tread the line of coffee and maroon with ease and its quick growth rate – it is here to rule our home. Let your Micans trail from shelves or hanging macramé planters for the best visuals.
Care: The Micans will live happily in bright indirect to medium light areas indoors as long as it is planted in a well-draining soil. Allow the soil to dry out in between waterings, curling leaves are a sign of dehydration. Use a mix of garden soil, compost, and perlite or wood chips for good drainage, Ugaoo’s Pot-o-mix works best.
Begonias
Begonias have some of the most interesting leaf patterns and shapes amongst all indoor plants. Begonias have always been loved by gardeners who are confident of their skills, from the silver patterned rex begonia to the Dusty Rose begonia for their flowers. Give your begonia a spot by the East window for morning sun and watch it create magic.
Care: Begonias love humidity – so misting is a must or plant them in terrariums. Use a well-draining but rich soil with organic matter and let the top two inches dry out in between waterings.
Ficus umbellata
The lesser known and the nicer cousin or the finicky boho prince of the indoor gardening world the Fiddle Leaf Fig, the Umbellata is steadily but surely coming into the limelight. It has large deep veined and heart shaped leaves on thin stems, making it a stunning centre piece for your home. Give it a spot by any window on in view of a natural source of light and it will be happy.
Care: The Umbellata thrives in bright indirect light and will appreciate a few hours of morning sun at least once every two weeks. Water it when the top two inches of soil is dry and keep the leaves clean. The plant prefers small pots with a well-draining and rich potting mix.
Also known as the Satin Pothos, the Sciandipus pictus is garnering new admirers in the plant world every day. The plant is easy for new gardener’s and is loved by experienced ones for its distinctly coloured leaves and silvery variegations. This fast growing vine with heart shaped leaves looks equally good trailing from hanging planters and climbing moss poles.
Care: On account of it being a member of the pothos/money plant family the care is easy. It thrives in medium to bright indirect light and loves being watered when the soil is fairly dry. While it will be happy in most soil types, fertilise it in spring and summer for good growth.
It rose to never seen before popularity in 2021 and it’s all set to rule the scene in 2022, the Strelitzia Nicolai is also famously known as the banana plant or the bird of paradise plant. If you are going for the urban jungle vibe or if you just want one plant to do the job in your minimalistic décor, the banana plant is your answer. Place it in a well-lit spot by the south window for a good amount of sun and choose a dwarf variety when placing it indoors.
Care: The Bird of Paradise plant loves sun, give it at least 3-4 hours of direct sun and bright light at other times. Plant it in a rich soil with plenty of organic matter and good drainage and water it when the topsoil is dry to touch.
Ferns are the oldest and most resilient plant on this planet, most of our current fossil fuel deposits are fossilised ferns and they are back to being favourites in 2022 – maybe they never went away. Ferns love humidity to grow and bright indirect light, much like the forest floor where they thrive. Plant them either in hanging planters or regular and cluster different varieties for maximum impact
Care: Ferns love humidity and more humidity, so misting regularly, humidifiers, or creating a plan microclimate is your best answer. Keep the soil moist at all times, but not soggy by using a potting mx that is extremely well draining with wood chips, perlite, garden soil and compost. Water when the topsoil dries out and place it in bright indirect light.
Smaller monsteras
Who doesn’t love the big leaved, fenestrated monsteras that spread tropical jungle vibe with their mere presence – but space is always an issue. This very problem made other monstera cousins super famous in 2021 and they are ready to take the mantle in 2022. Whether it’s the Raphidospora tetrasperma or Monstera momoi, they are just as stunning with a compact growth. While they will trail happily, we think they are excellent when allowed to climb.
Care: They are easy to care for and thrive in bright indirect light - a view of a natural light source is the best bet. Plant them in a well-draining mix and water when the top two inches of the potting mix dries out, fertilise it every two weeks in spring and summer for good growth.
Orchid
Once considered exotic and unattainable for the common folk, orchids are now grown easily in homes by the experienced few and are slowly catching steam and people are daring to try their hands at it. Orchids love spots with bright indirect light brightest possible with no direct afternoon sun and they don’t like to be shifted. Plant them in stunning ceramic planters and marvel at their beauty.
Care: They love to stay on a spot with bright indirect light and high humidity and don’t like to be moved frequently. Plant them in a mix of 80% woodchips and the rest sphagnum moss and cocopeat. Keep the mix moist at all times and fertilise only when the plant is not in bloom.
Happy gardening!
