Indoor plants are superfashionable again!
Bringing plants into the home is nothing new. We’ve been doing it for a millennium… for everything from functional purposes through to a symbol of status and wealth… and despite thousands of years of cultural change and technological progress, there’s still something fundamental in the human psyche that calls out us to place plants in our homes.
History suggests the fashion for indoor plants reached a dizzying height in the Victorian era.
Aspidistra – the Cast-Iron Plant – first appeared in Europe in 1823, for instance, after merchants brought it from China.
Victorian innovators developed new business models as nurseries sprang up and indoor gardening boomed. The turmoil of the early twentieth century brought the heyday of the indoor plant to an end only to re-emerge in the 1950s.
Indoor plants have gone from being humble décor to the centrepiece of many Australian homes over the past decade. We hear plant enthusiasts lovingly referred to themselves as ‘plant parents’, transforming their living spaces into lush indoor jungles.
The Plant Parenthood Phenomenon
Having a pot of basil on the windowsill or a fern in the corner is now no longer enough. Every available surface, shelf, and hanging space must be adorned with greenery. From towering fiddle-leaf figs to cascading devil’s ivy, modern plant parents care for their leafy companions like they would pets—or children.
Many commentators believe the power of the indoor plant is here to stay and give a nod to the Millennials. They recognise that the life trajectory of Millennials is very different from the generations that preceded them.
They are waiting much longer to own a home, settle down, have children and raise a family for well-documented reasons. Some go so far as to ponder whether Millennials are turning to plants to fill their primordial void. Also, mindfulness and self-care are big with Millennials and plants sit nicely with notions of wellness.
For some, the plant craze goes beyond decorating—it’s a way of life.
Spare rooms are converted into greenhouses, bathrooms become tropical rainforests, and entire walls become vertical gardens. It is not uncommon for humidifiers to be installed to keep precious ferns happy. A ‘plant-sitter’ is a must if holidays are taken.
The financial commitment can be astonishing, and rare plants can fetch thousands of dollars.
Foliage rules
Some of the trending plants can be hard to get and expensive, especially the variegated leaf ones, but it’s still possible to buy affordable on-trend foliage plants for indoors.
Talk with the plant nursery staff about your specific conditions and care and maintenance of the individual plant; but consider these suggestions.
- Variegated leaves, white and coloured patterns – calathea (prayer plants, peacock plants); alocasia
- Coloured leaves – Syngonium (goosefoot, arrowhead plants), philodendrons, pothos, rex begonias, calathea
- Glossy leaves – fatsia
- Sparkly leaves – rex begonias, calathea, watermelon peperomia
- Cut-outs – mini-monstera, monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine)
Don’t let the plants take over. Tips for keeping your jungle manageable:
- Start small: Begin with low-maintenance plants like pothos before diving into more finicky species.
- Learn restraint: Leave room for furniture.
- Consistency is key: Plants mainly fail due to overwatering and inconsistent or inappropriate lighting.
- Know when to stop: That’s when your home starts resembling a nursery, you have more plants than friends, or your plants’ needs leave no time for your family! It’s ‘time out’ on plants!
Have you noticed your social feeds are full of amazing leaves?