Ways to Help Consumers Bring the Garden Indoors

Office plantscape

Indoor plants help people stay connected with nature all day long, even while at the office. Photo courtesy of Green Circle Growers

The current indoor gardening trends are exploding with everything used from blooming potted plants and succulents to herbs and vegetables. Different growing methods and recommended varieties come into question depending on a customer’s location, climate, and skill level. To help you choose plants that generate sales, let’s review some of the latest trends.

Advertisement

It’s All About the Container — or the Lighting
Containers continue to play a prominent part in the indoor gardening scene.

“People look for plants they can grow indoors year-round in fun pots and planters,” says Erin Marino at The Sill, a garden retail store selling plants online and through its brick and mortar stores. “We are seeing an interest in grow lights emerge, as not everyone has access to large, sunny windows. Design-friendly, easy-to-install options for lights are the most sought-after item by customers so far.”

Shane Pliska, President of Planterra, a leading interior landscape firm based in Michigan, recently published a white paper on lighting for interior landscaping because indoor gardening is so hot right now that the plethora of information out there caused confusion among his commercial clients. The comprehensive guide helps the reader optimize their indoor gardening investments and maintain longevity of the interior landscapes they design.

Top Articles
Two Horticulture Podcasts You’ll Want to Check Out

Hydroponic and grow kits are also available for indoor gardening, but they often require more time and skill than an average homeowner is willing to do, says Amanda Flint, Plant Project Manager at PlantHaven International. Overall, she says the popularity of indoor gardening depends on location and demographics. Suburban and rural areas are huge for outdoor gardening, while urban settings and younger demographics lean toward indoor gardening due to lifestyle factors such as limited space, funds, and time.

indoor plants as a lifestyle

Interior plants have become a lifestyle choice for consumers who want to be surrounded by greenery indoors. Photo courtesy of The Sill

Indoor Gardening a Natural Fit for Millennials
Social media platforms often show numerous influencers with lush indoor tropical jungles. This new culture of sharing perfectly curated social media posts to keep up with trends and inspire peers drives the need for indoor green spaces.

Instagram-famous plants, such as the Monstera or Pilea, seem to have the biggest traction, Pliska says. And if PlantHaven’s increased demand for Tillandsias, Monsteras, and Fiddle-Leaf Figs is any indication, these types of plants are becoming a staple in modern households. The Sill describes this growing trend of aspirational images of plant-filled rooms as The Works because it inspires a social media influencer’s community to bring the outdoors in and try out more varieties than ever before.

Plants have become a lifestyle choice rather than simply home décor, with millennials being a huge customer base.

According to Time magazine, there has been a 6% increase in millennial residency in cities within the last five years, which leaves less space for a more traditional garden.

The millennial generation trends toward delaying home ownership, marriage, and children, so indoor plants are an easy way to connect with life and nature while still having something to nurture. Also, millennials use their time differently than generations before them, with the development of social media and online streaming. According to the article in Time magazine, Millennials can easily spend eight to 12 hours each day looking at a screen. Indoor gardening gives people a reason to disconnect and do something tactile, so they feel more connected to nature.


ZZ plant standing out among indoor foliage

ZZ Plants are easy to care for and tolerate low light. Photo courtesy of PlantHaven International

Indoor Plants That Excite Breeders and Growers

  • Zamioculcas zamiifolia ‘Raven’ is a stunning new ZZ plant that won Best New Foliage Plant at TPIE in 2018.” — Amanda Flint, PlantHaven International
  • “I’m personally seeking out different varieties of peperomias that aren’t readily commercialized yet. Currently on my wish list is the Watermelon Peperomia (Peperomia argyreia) and a variegated Ripple Peperomia (Peperomia caperata), especially the pink variegated variety.” — Erin Marino, The Sill
  • “The only 5-inch Fiddle Leaf Fig grown in the U.S., our dwarf variety (Ficus lyrata ‘Bambino’), has been consistently selling out since its launch last year.” — Caitlin Fisher, Green Circle Growers

0