Best Indoor Plant Trends of 2023
Plants are here to stay. They are central in our homes, vital in public spaces, and enriching companions in our daily lives. Plantcare is increasingly a collaboration wherein we understand just how much plants bring to our existence, balancing out what we bring to theirs by aiding their growth and survival.
With a better understanding of our connection to plants and a deeper respect for our shared planet, we dug deep into the upcoming houseplant trends for 2023, with our own predictions for the future of plantcare.
Artificial Lighting
The surge in popularity of grow lights has risen over the years. Now, with expanded options — hanging, clip-on, mounted, etc… — and reduced cost, using indoor grow lights is less niche and a go-to for houseplant lovers.
Lighting for indoor plants isn’t just for gloomy winter days or for varieties that need a lot of sunlight. Artificial lights are a small investment that makes caring for a wide variety of plantcare needs a no-brainer.
Each different kind of light has its own benefits and it can be overwhelming to choose the right fit for your needs. We recommend a white fluorescent or LED light for your plants because white light best replicates the sunlight that plants get outside during daylight hours. Look for grow light bulbs that have a CRI (Color Rendering Index) rating of 95 or higher — 100 CRI is equal to direct sunbeams on a cloudless day.
Indoor Edible Plants
This isn’t the Windowsill Scallion Club we joined (and abandoned) in 2020. This trend stems from the desire to nourish ourselves in our day-to-day life, and to reduce food waste. If you have purchased a bunch of herbs that went bad before you could use them up, this trend is for you. Culinary herbs and salad greens like basil, arugula, parsley and kale can be grown indoors in shallow containers with just 4-6 hours of sunlight per day.
Beyond the kitchen, fruiting trees are a stunning addition to sunny living areas. Get an indoor tree that can strike a pose and pop-off brightly colored fruit to eat and share. Citrus, fig, olive and apricot trees grow well inside, just opt for dwarf fruit varieties for size, so their leaves don’t get crushed against the ceiling, and look for self-pollinating trees to speed-up the fruit harvest.
Rare Varieties
This year is all about turning so-called defects into assets. Rare plants have uncommon variegation because of genetic defects and we love them for it. When it comes to houseplants, standardized is out, weird is in.
Rare doesn’t mean high-maintenance, though. Many of the rarest plants are easy to care for and perfectly fine for new plant lovers. Rarity comes from plant variegation that causes unpredictable speckling, spotting and bold streaks of white or pink color like the Philodendron Pink Princess, or in color-changing leaves that transform from bright green to jet black like the Black ZZ Raven.
Uncommon geometric and anatomical shapes in plants are as bespoke as variegation. Cacti and succulents can be found with these rare characteristics, like the spiky spiral-twisted Euphorbia Tortilis Cactus or the bouncy head of succulent ‘hair’ on Agave Geminiflora.
Plant Education
Last year was a big year for plantcare books. Our founder, Puneet Sabharwal’s own beginner’s guide, Happy Plant, joined dozens of other plant-focused books that were published, each offering their own special insight for plant lovers.
This year, we are putting all of that knowledge into practice. Plant nerds are trending. We are reading books, taking notes, swapping plant cuttings, and asking for help instead of letting our plants die in shame. Here’s to deepening our love for plantcare by digging into the best practices for keeping our green friends alive and thriving.
Sustainable Plantcare
Our favorite trend for 2023 is seeing more environmental concern in the plantcare world when it comes to sourcing, shopping and disposal. We feel the effects of climate collapse more each day, and our individual choices do make a difference.
This year, plant lovers are bringing awareness of their environmental impact to their plantcare practices. We are examining ingredient labels more closely, opting for potting soils that use renewable resources, conserving water, investing in tools (from watering cans to potting containers) that are made with ecological care, and sourcing from local nurseries and plant shops that strive to be environmentally responsible in their growing practices.
Whichever trends you follow this year, we hope it includes consideration for our shared world. Everyone deserves a bright green future this year and beyond.
