House plants have become a sudden trend especially during the lockdown. As people are restricted from leaving their homes, many have turned into planting to keep them busy.
One year ago, interest in plants was not as hyped as it is today.
Now, more than ever, people are into house plants. Even those that have no experience in planting or the “less-gardeny” type of people, suddenly wanted to plant. Perhaps we can say, planting has now become part of the “new normal lifestyle”. And it is probably something that will stay for long.
House plant collection | Photo: Followtheflow | Shutter Stock Photo ID: 1079536967
Filipinos’ sudden interest in house plants is exceptional!
In fact, many places in the Philippines experienced a shortage of pots and planting essentials starting mid-June this year. Gardening stores, local stores and even malls are almost often “sold out” for pots on most days of the week. There was also a noticeable increase of prices because of the high demand.
Caring for House Plants: A Delightful Quarantine Routine
With so much idle time, planting has become a go-to activity during lockdown.
It is a delightful routine that adds life to day-to-day activities.
Getting the hands dirty to create a succulent dish garden
Cultivate a Green Space in Your Home
Most plant enthusiasts have probably started with outdoor plants but now, many are getting inspired to begin an indoor plant collection.
A collection of house plants
Even those who don’t have large areas in their homes can always find an indoor plant to fit.
You may utilize your window sill, living room, tabletops, room, balcony, your front or backyard as you own green space. Use of plant stands or hanging pots can also create more spaces for your plants. Indeed, there are many ways to create a green space in your home.
Perhaps you can get some plant inspiration and insights here – Decorate and Brighten Up Your Home with Indoor Plants.
Green workspace for a work-from-home setup
Finding the “Right” House Plant for You
It takes more than just eyeing the most beautiful plant to bring into your home. Getting that plant that you like must not just be the sole criteria. There are other more factors that you must consider.
Fittonia plant
Begin by asking yourself a few questions:
- What areas in your home receive the most sunlight? What is the intensity of the sunlight it receives? Is it indirect or direct sunlight? Soft morning light or bright burning light?
- How much time can you devote to checking and watering your plants? Everyday? Alternate days? Once a week? Twice a month?
- In case you have a pet, know if the plant you want is pet-friendly
- Is the plant you like free from harmful toxins that can possibly harm you or your kids?
Put simply, different types of house plants require different conditions and care. Basic understanding of these things will help you find the right plant for you.
For instance, someone who lives in a no-window studio room can never grow a succulent there. Succulent loves full sun and bringing them into a dark room is like torture to them.
As a plant parent, we actually have a hand in the growth of our plants. They are like our own babies – we must nurture them the best way possible and give them what they need so that they will grow up healthy and happy.
And remember, it’s okay if you don’t know everything at first. You gain insights as you start to nurture them. Plant parenting is always a learning process.
Here is a helpful video on “What Plant is Right for My Space”
Caring for house plants only brings out positive effects. Here are some of the reasons why:
- It purifies the air we breathe.
- It is basic knowledge that plants take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen. It is a symbiotic relationship between plants and humans. It’s a give-and-take relationship that definitely works.
- It allows us to bring a piece of nature into our homes. It helps create greener homes.
- It beautifies our home.
- House plants definitely add life and color to our mundane home spaces.
- Planting can also be excellent family bonding. It can help foster better connections among family members, especially with kids.
- It fosters our caring nature as human beings as “stewards” of the things around us.
- Houseplants are a good source of happiness.
- Seeing the seeds sprout, watering them, giving them proper sunlight, checking on them and giving them the minimal care they need are simple joys that bring meaning to our quarantine life. Seeing them bloom and flaunt healthy lush leaves are priceless moments for any plant parent. It also gives a sense of accomplishment to successfully grow and nurture them.
- Being surrounded by plants can help us feel more calm and peaceful.
- Studies show that plants actually have the power to calming effect and thereby stimulate a more peaceful state of mind.
This new-found hobby of many has allowed new ways to care for one’s wellness, home, and environment.
Popular House Plants
It can be expected that plant enthusiasts would target lovely looking plants and beautiful pots. We have listed down some of the most popular house plants categorized as Indoor Plants and Small House plants.
Indoor Plants: Best Low Light Indoor House Plants
Philodendron
They have one of the most appealing big leaves that can add volume to your green space at home. It is a popular and easy to grow indoor plant. There are many varieties of this plant that come in many sizes, colors and shapes. The two types of Philidendrons are the vining and the upright-growing Philodendrons.
Monstera Adansonii
Also called as Swiss Cheese Plant, this trendy houseplant is a popular choice for plant collectors. It is most famous for its unique oval-shaped hole formation and vining character. This is definitely an eye-catching ornamental plant.
Golden Pothos / Devil’s Ivy / Ivy Plant / Marble Queen
It is a popular houseplant in many tropical countries including the Philippines. It comes with a multitude of names but the most striking is “Devil’s Ivy”. It is called such a name because this plant is almost impossible to kill even when you place them in darker areas with minimal sunlight, they still remain green.
It is often confused with Philodendrons because of the appearance of their leaves. But pothos is relatively smaller and often with variegated leaves.
Zz plant
Zamioculcas Zamiifolia or simple ZZ plant has become an instagrammable icon in the last years making it a coveted houseplant today. It is also called a Welcome Plant. It has shiny dark green leaves that grow in an upward direction. It is simple to care for and does well in low-light conditions.
Aglaonema
Aglaonemas are most known for its beautiful leaf patterns that almost appear like nature’s painted work of art. They are extremely popular low-light plants suited for any indoor spaces like your living room, office, dim bedroom or study room. Aglaonema can add color to your home spaces.
Calathea
All Calatheas have beautiful foliage, often with wide leaves, striking spots, lovely colors and some of its species are flowering. It makes an excellent decoration in your home or office and grows in low-light conditions.
Peace Lily
They are most known for their dark green leaf and lovey white bloom. They can tolerate low-light conditions which makes them an excellent indoor plant.
Spider plant
It is a popular hanging plant. They are undemanding plants that thrive in indirect sun. Their leaves are green with white variegation. They also produce flowers when full grown. It is also enlisted by NASA as one of the best air purifying plants.
Snake Plant
It is also known as Sansevieria. There are many varieties of snake plants, ranging from short to tall plants and leaf color. It is characterized by strong and hardy leaves. It is recognized by NASA as one of the best air purifying plants which makes it one of the best indoor plants to clean air.
Best Small Houseplants
Fittonia or also known as Nerve Plant
This cute little houseplant is a delicate one that prefers indirect light because of its sensitive leaves. It is an eye-catching plant with its dark green leaves with vivid vein patterns thus the name “nerve plant”. They only grow from less than an inch tall up to 6 inches.
Fittonia in small black pot
Succulents
Social media platforms like Instagram proliferated people’s interest for succulents. Today, they have become one of the most popular small house plants.
The term succulent came from the word “sucus” which means “juice or sap”. They have the capacity to store water in their leaves and they require less watering. These are easy to care for plants which are perfect for beginners.
Collection of rare succulents
Succulents love full sun but can grow indoors too. Place them on the window or areas in your home that receive the brightest sunlight throughout the day. They are low-maintenance and are an adorable decoration to your home or office.
Popular Succulents
Haworthia
Kalanchoe
Sempervivum / Hens and Chicks
Christmas Tree Succulent
Echeveria
Crassula Ovata (Jade Plant)
Cactus
Rare and Exotic Tropical Plants in the Philippines
The Philippines being a tropical country, is also home to some of the rarest and most unique tropical plants. Many of these are considered endemic, including the Philippine Jade Vine, Nepenthes Sibuyanensis Pitcher Plant and Rafflesia. Learn more on on this blog: Tropical Plants: Rare and Exotic Plants in the Philippines
Buy House Plants Online
Before the lockdown, one will have to go to a garden center or a plant shop to find a plant. Today, there are many online shops that sell different sorts of items, including house plants. Most of them also offer delivery services, especially during this period of lockdown.
Delivery services and scheduled meet-ups are especially helpful for people who cannot go out. This way, customers can limit their movements and contact points as compared to shopping in malls or garden stores – truly plant shopping made easy!
Online plant shops have become an avenue for plant enthusiasts to buy house plants and get plant inspirations while staying home.
Houseplants for Sale
In the last months, the rise of online shops that sell houseplants has been significant. Plants for Sale Bicol is an example. They recently opened their Facebook page in May 2020 and since then, received sustained interest from both the long-time plant enthusiasts and the first-time “plant moms / dads”.
Plants for Sale Bicol is a Bicol-based family-owned online store that sells potted and rooted houseplants and succulents. Most of their houseplants came from their family’s collection, each plant being individually nurtured before they are shared to the public.
Their tagline is “Houseplants grown with care”. They also give plant care tips and help customers when in trouble growing their plants.
They wanted to cultivate a green culture in Bicol by offering affordable, beautifully potted and well-rooted houseplants. This way, they can help increase people’s interest in growing their own plants at home. Even those who perceive they lack a “green thumb” can also be empowered to begin with one plant and hopefully sprout more confidence in nurturing more.
Plant Community
There was also a rise in special interest groups on Facebook.
For instance, Cebu Plant Barter Community (CBCP) is a thriving Facebook Group established in May 2020. It is a Facebook group that made possible acquiring houseplants without having to spend money.
In this platform, people apply the concept of “barter”. That is, to offer their plants in exchange of any goods available in their homes. Items such as grocery, rice, fruits, a tray of egg, books, clothing, apparels, gardening items or another houseplant can be offered for barter.
This fb group has also captured the Filipino’s spirit of generosity. Some touching barter stories feature people extending help and really going beyond the trade value of plants to provide better help to those who are in food supplies or items during this crisis.
CBCP is more than just a bartering community, it is an inspiration during this most difficult time.
How to Transport Your Houseplants
Transporting houseplants from point A to point B can be a bit tricky especially if it entails long distance, diverse plant groups, quantity, plants sizes and the type of vehicle to be used.
Of course, every plant parent wants to make sure that plant babies are safe and sound for the big move. There are small and doable steps you can make to help prepare your plants and ensure the smooth flow of your plant transport.
Check out some helpful tips for moving houseplants.
House Plants: Part of the New Normal Lifestyle
Rain Lily bulb ready for repotting
With extended lockdowns, many plant enthusiasts and new planters have turned into planting to keep them busy while at home.
The new normal has cultivated in us some new lifestyles like “greenefying” our homes. We will probably come out of this pandemic with greener spaces and greener mindsets.
COVID-19 lockdown may have limited our movements but it can never limit people’s creativity and capacity to find beauty in the simplest things. Life continues amidst the lockdown. We can still do so much in our idle quarantine life. #stayhome #plantmore
Have you also started your own house plant collection? Which one is your favorite? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. 🙂
Perhaps you might also be interested to learn more activities to keep you busy while on quarantine. You may find some worthwhile lockdown activities here Quarantine Life of a Traveler: Managing My Itchy Feet During COvid-19
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