When it comes to the best indoor plants and how to decorate your home with plants, new ideas come and go each year. Some trends stick around for a long time, while others will make a comeback after falling out of fashion.
In the age of social media, it's never been easier for houseplant lovers to share fun and inspiring ideas for indoor gardening. Whether it's using tall indoor plants for height, hanging plants to add charm, or even something more unique like air plant arrangements, there is a plant trend for every home aesthetic.
easyplant has already revealed the plant hero of the year to be the Dracaena 'Janet Craig' Compacta, but what other trends can we expect to see this year?
Bold, colorful and strong structures are on the cards for plant owners, and we've spoken to experts to put together a list of the indoor gardening trends to watch in 2024.
7 houseplant trends for 2024
Whatever your plant style and home aesthetic, there's an indoor plant trend for you this year. We've gathered expert opinions about the plants and arrangements that we will see everywhere this year.
Trailing houseplants
As a long-loved favorite, trailing plants will continue to add a touch of elegance to homes this year.
Indoor hanging plants are great for small spaces because you can keep them at your desired length by trimming and they don't take up floor space. With more and more gardeners living in urban settings, space-saving plants are ideal.
It's likely we will continue seeing pothos and ivy styled on mantlepieces, trailing off shelves and suspended from ceilings. String of hearts is also a popular choice for a charming trailer, with its dainty heart-shaped leaves.
'The string of hearts' delicate trailing vines add a touch of elegance to any indoor space. It is known for its heart-shaped leaves and is highly versatile for hanging baskets or trailing along shelves,' says Autumn Hilliard-Knapp, houseplant expert from Perfect Plants.
They're low-maintenance and tend to be resistant to pests and diseases, so it's a reliable option if you're hoping to incorporate this plant trend into your home.
Autumn is a horticulture specialist and marketing professional at Perfect Plants Nursery. With four years of experience in the horticulture industry, she has developed a passion for helping people create beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces to enjoy. Her expertise in horticulture encompasses a broad range of activities, including plant care and selection, landscape design, and maintenance.
Colorful cacti
For 2024, think bold, bright and colorful. Cacti have always been popular for the different shapes they offer. There are so many varieties to choose from and it's no doubt that more colorful ones will rise in popularity this year.
Moon cacti, or Gymnocalycium mihanovichii, are beautiful spherical and cylindrical plants. They come in bright reds, pinks and yellows, making them an eye-catching, quirky addition to your plant collection.
'The colorful part of moon cacti don't produce chlorophyll. This means they have to be grafted onto another cactus to survive. The green cactus it is grafted onto is the part of the plant that needs sunlight, while the colorful top can't tolerate direct sun,' says Cate Kowalsky, marketing manager at Pafe Plants.
The lack of chlorophyll is what gives the cacti their vibrant colors. They can be watered sparingly and left to dry out between watering, so they don't require too much care to thrive.
A passionate plant parent, Cate has been working with plants for the last 14 years. If she's not at her friends' house watering their plants, you'll find her shoving fallen vines or cactus pads in her purse so she can propagate at home. She is currently the Marketing Manager at the online plant shop, Pafe Plants. When she finds the time to stop fussing over her plant collection, Cate's hanging out at home in Jersey City with her husband and dog.
Pink plants
It's no secret that pink houseplants are becoming increasingly popular. Their striking foliage are great for providing an uplifting mood and adding a pop of joyful color to any room.
There is a whole range of pink houseplants to choose from, including the larger Calathea ornata with its prayer plant leaves, or the smaller fittonia.
'Fittonia, also commonly known as nerve plant, is attractive due to its foliage being adorned with an intricate pattern of veins, resembling the network of nerves in the human body. The plant is pet-friendly and safe to keep around curious pets and children,' says Paris Lalicata, head of plant education and community at The Sill.
These plants do well in bright, indirect light and appreciate higher humidity, which can be achieved by using something like this mister from Greendigs.
Paris has been at The Sill for five years, looking after Plant Education and Community. She is a self-taught plant expert with over ten years of experience growing houseplants and is currently working on becoming a certified sustainable gardener. She maintains an indoor garden of over 200 plants in the north-east of the USA and is passionate about making plant care more digestible for budding plant parents.
Strong leaf structure
If large plants with structural foliage are your thing, this is the year to incorporate them into your living spaces for a bolder look.
We're expecting to see indoor gardeners use plants with strong shapes as staples in their plant arrangements this year. This means plants like dracaenas, rubber plants and alocasias.
'Alocasia plants have large, dramatic leaves that bring a tropical vibe to indoor spaces. They come in various leaf shapes and colors, making them attractive statement plants,' says Autumn.
Alocasias love humidity so regularly misting their large leaves will be beneficial. Be careful not to over-water them, however, as it could cause waterlogging and their leaves to droop.
'Avoid waterlogging by allowing the top two inches to dry before watering,' says Autumn.
Succulent arrangements
Succulents are a good choice when it comes to finding easy indoor plants to grow and continue to be favored by plant parents of all gardening skill levels because they don't require much fuss.
They retain water well and will thrive in bright spots, like a windowsill. They are also incredibly versatile and can be styled in different ways, like in containers. You can get lots of terrariums and succulent bowls online to suit different aesthetics, like this DIY terrarium kit from The Sill.
Jade plants are a beautiful choice for a succulent arrangement, with their tree-like appearance and red-hued edges.
'The jade plant is popular for a reason. They can survive as water propagations, or establish them in soil so they can eventually grow into huge, bush-like plants that many use for Bonsai. They're one of the easiest plants to care for - find them a bright spot and water when the top 25% of the soil is dry. With the right care, these plants can last around 70 years,' says Cate Kowalsky.
Kokedama
A plant trend with Japanese origins is sure to be adored by indoor gardeners this year. Kokedama is a ball of soil covered in moss, used to grow ornamental plants on top.
Kokedama can be used to grow most popular houseplants, including asparagus ferns, prayer plants and African violets. They can be handmade by creating a mixture of potting compost and bonsai compost and wrapping it in a sheet of moss, using string to tie it in place. You can also buy them online, like this kokedama kit from Amazon.
'Kokedama is a beautiful way of displaying plants in a non-traditional way, embracing nature and imperfections. Place your Kokedama in the correct lighting according to your plant's needs,' says Paris Lalicata.
'Depending on the plant and its watering needs, you may be watering your Kokedama 1-2 times a week. You can water it by soaking it in a tub or tray of water, or you can shower the moss ball with a hose in the sink or shower. You can virtually make any plant as a Kokedama as long as you provide the correct environment and care,' she adds.
It is most common to see kokedama plants suspended, so it also works well for trailing plants, but you may also choose to place your kokedama on a surface as a statement plant.
Trusted classics
Even with new plant trends gaining popularity, you still need those reliable old classics to have in your collection.
Houseplants that have been favored for a long time will still play a vital part in indoor plant arrangements this year. We'll still see plant parents loving staples like ZZ plants, philodendrons and, of course, monsteras.
'Monstera plants, with their iconic large and fenestrated leaves, have become trendy indoor plants. They add a tropical and exotic feel to any space,' says Autumn Hilliard-Knapp.
Their big, fenestrated leaves are attractive in any home and can serve as a statement large plant. They're generally easy to care for, doing best in bright, indirect light. If you notice the leaves turning yellow, it might be because this tropical plant is being watered incorrectly.
'When one hears the word houseplants, they're most likely going to picture a Monstera Deliciosa first. Monstera plants are almost like an unspoken right of passage for the serious plant owner – we've just got to have one,' says Cate Kowalsky. 'The huge, green, shield-like leaves reach toward the sun and are known to grow pretty quickly when they're happy.'
FAQs
What are the garden trends for 2024?
While bold colors and strong structure are being embraced indoors for 2024, the best garden trends will focus more on resilient, planet-friendly gardening. We're expecting to see gardeners make more drought-tolerant planting choices and prioritize plants for pollinators this year, such as wild flowers. As gardeners make more conscious choices, it will not be surprising to see grow your own incorporated into more backyards, too.
If you think you want to hop on any of these houseplant trends for 2024 but you're not sure where to start with indoor plants, there are so many easy indoor plants to choose from. Starting with some staples can create the perfect foundation for building your trendy houseplant collection.
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