Why our obsession with indoor plants is more important than ever

When music teacher Laura Moody bought her first potted plant from IKEA eight years ago, she had no idea that it would provide a gateway to an indoor plant collection that now spans over 200 plants. 

The home she rents in Ermington feels like an indoor jungle. Plants that range from the classic fiddle-leaf fig to rarer species like the Instagram-famous variegated Monstera Borsigiana are found in every corner of the home, which radiates with natural light and greenery.

“There’s something really refreshing and uplifting about plants inside. It genuinely does make you feel quite happy,” Moody says. “I feel like if I’m in an indoor environment that doesn’t have any indoor plants, it feels really stale to me now.”

According to Plant Life Balance’s 2020 report, 30 per cent of Australians now own at least five houseplants – a fact that will surprise nobody who has watched the trend soar in recent years. This rise has largely been driven by Millennials whose desire for wellness and rejection of urbanisation have developed into a nostalgia for the natural world.

“When I moved into my first apartment I had a balcony and because it was surrounded by construction, everything was very grey,” Moody says. “I wanted to have a lot of plants on it and had a vision of it being a jungle so it would be a little more refreshing. It then started to move inside and become a part of the decor.”

As Australians bunker down into their homes due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, having access to the natural world is more important than ever for those in smaller dwellings.

Leading the charge is an army of “plantfluencers”, encouraging people to greenify their lives with their envy-inducing Instagram feeds. Their collections engulf their homes and the plants require more complex care than the types you’d find at a nursery. 

This online community has played a huge role in educating and inspiring renters and apartment owners to create abundantly green spaces. According to PlantLifeBalance’s report, over half of Australians who own a houseplant use social media for information and ideas, and Facebook group Crazy Indoor Plant People Australia has almost 100,000 members.

One of Australia’s most well-known plantfluencers is Jason Chongue, with over 400 plants in his Melbourne home and 62,000 followers at @theplantsocietyau – a commercial and residential plant styling service with stores in Sydney and Melbourne.

So domineering is the indoor plant trend, part of Chongue’s job is to advise architects from the very start of planning how to design to provide the optimal light needed for a larger indoor plant collection. His advice is to work like a designer and have a clear vision.

“The problem is most people go shopping for plants and don’t think of it as design – they just chose what they like. It might not work with the lighting conditions and it also might be too chaotic for a small space,” he says.

“In small spaces, repetition is really good. That is to minimise it from being to chaotic.”

Chongue says people tend to forget plants are living things and are alive, leading them to make purchases that are trending on an Instagram feed but cannot survive in the space they’re living in.

Jana Stewart, biologist and owner of Microcosm in Sydney, agrees. 

“Plants are such a wholesome thing and slowly influencers have come in and turned it into a bit of a commercial thing,” she said. “It then makes the price of that plant really expensive and it makes people feel bad about that peace lily that they have.”

One such Instagram trend plant is the variegated Monstera Deliciosa, of which cuttings – some without roots – fetch exorbitant amounts on eBay.

Stewart, who offers workshops and personal plant consultations to those seeking to flesh out their collection, says to keep within humble beginnings.

“The best plant is always the healthy plant. You could buy an amazing, rare, variegated Monstera. But if it’s dead in two weeks, a classic normal Monstera is going to look a lot better.”

For a higher success rate, Stewart and Chongue both agree local, independent nurseries or boutique plant stores are your best bet.

“A rule of thumb is to stick with smaller, independent nurseries,” Stewart says. “It’s the same as buying your fruit and veg from the farmers’ market or local grocer. You’re going to get better quality and better help.”

For those who have successfully grown indoor gardens like Moody, finding the best home to rent in is no longer about having a large backyard. 

“Every place I’ve lived in had to have good lighting.”

Where to purchase plants online

The Plant Society

Melbourne

A one-stop-shop for your indoor plant needs. The Plant Society stocks beautifully curated ceramics and plant accessories alongside a small collection of some rarer indoor plants. The Home Plant Butler Kit is a must for those looking to get serious about their collection.

Microcosm

Sydney

The perfect perk-up, Microcosm delivers a plant and self-water pot of the highest quality to your home via courier.

Noraville Nursery

Sydney

Noraville Nursery is a fan-favourite with plantfluencers looking for healthy and well-loved stock. You can order online via click-and-collect with pick-up points available in Newtown, Toukley and Long Jetty. Their Instagram @noravillegreen is a great for inspiration or to stay across any plant sales.

Mosey Store

Melbourne

Get everything you need online from this carefully curated Melbourne-based store. Maintaining an indoor garden means having the right tools, and you can pick up soil, terrariums and pest sprays to ensure your plants get off on the right foot.

Plants in a Box

NSW, QLD, VIC, SA and ACT

Pick from over 600 plants with free postage to most states. You can buy small versions of popular plants – perfect for dipping your toes into rarer species without committing to a large, more expensive size.

Leaf Supply

Sydney

Each month a new selection of three plant and pot combos are released, with same-day delivery in Sydney. Great for a gift or to fill a hole in your current collection.