A Guide To All The Trendy Houseplants You're Seeing All Over Instagram

From the classic fiddle leaf to the unkillable snake plant.

If you always find yourself admiring plant-filled homes on Instagram, you probably also find yourself wondering what the hell all those ~on-trend~ houseplants are.

@mrcigar / Via instagram.com

Save yourself from having to google "big plant with leaves that kinda look like Swiss cheese" (like I had to) and enjoy this guide to everything you need to know about the houseplants that are all over your feed.

1. The fiddle leaf fig: iconic, glossy, and notoriously hard to take care of.

@intothewild_plants / Via instagram.com

Fiddle leaf figs need a lot of sunshine to survive, so placing them close to a window that receives a lot of light is your best bet. However, they absolutely hate cold drafts, so be wary of placing them near your air conditioning unit or vents. These guys are fussy!

In terms of water, fiddle leafs prefer to completely dry out in between drinks, so you shouldn't be watering yours more than once a week. To see if it's thirsty, look for droopy leaves and check that the top inch of soil is completely dry before watering. Also remember to wipe down leaves with a damp cloth whenever you notice dust build up.

2. The monstera deliciosa: easy to grow, super leafy, and at the heart of the botanical decor trend.

@irismariella / Via instagram.com

These fancy plants prefer "gentle sunlight," so placing yours between 5 and 10 feet away from a bright window is best, and when possible, keep the environment humid rather than dry. Monsteras like their soil to stay damp at all times, so keep on eye on them and water whenever the top couple of inches of soil are dry. During summer and spring, add a fertilizer to encourage new growth, and if you want the plant to grow upwards, add stakes for it to climb and lean on.

3. The bird of paradise: epic, hardy, and a true statement houseplant.

http://@tiff.plants / Via instagram.com

A leafy bird of paradise plant belongs in a bright room, in a position that's free from direct sunlight — so, if you have a west- or south-facing room, keep it at least 5 feet back from the window. If any leaves of your plant do die, trim them to encourage new growth.

When it comes to watering, these plants will tolerate short periods of drought — e.g., if you forget to water them for a week — but will thrive when watered consistently, so monitor your plant's soil and then work out a watering schedule that keeps it from completely drying out for long periods at a time.

4. The pothos: wild, air-purifying, and happy to be a little neglected.

@littlepawspottery / Via instagram.com

Pothos live their best life when their soil completely dries out between watering, so go easy on the water with this one. Keep an eye out for yellowing leaves, as they're a sign that you're watering too much. On the other hand, browning or wilting leaves mean you need to water a little more. The lovely pothos will tolerate fluorescent lighting, making them good for office spaces, but moderate indoor light is ideal. So, keep them out of direct sunlight and avoid super-low-light areas — something in between the two will be best! And since the pothos is a tropical plant, it prefers high temperatures and high humidity.

5. The snake plant: sharp, drought-loving, and basically impossible to kill.

@earthwindandcactus / Via instagram.com

There are around 70 different types of snake plants, which are also commonly called "mother-in-law's tongue." These houseplants are beyond easy to care for as you can leave them in low light, direct light, or anything in between. Since these plants originate from the desert, they also don't need much water at all — once every one or two weeks will do. But FYI, snake plants can be toxic to pets, so think twice if you share your home with one.

6. The kentia palm: tropical, sensitive, and big fan of humid climates.

@beetquer / Via instagram.com

Keep your kentia palm out of direct light with moist soil, watering when the very top layer of dirt is dry. To simulate the humidity of the plant's home on Australia's Lord Howe Island, you can mist the plant's leaves with water. Also be extra careful when re-potting your palm, as these plants have exceptionally sensitive roots — only do so when 100% necessary, otherwise, just leave them be.

7. The string of pearls: adorable but tough, and so easy to re-grow.

@pmportmelbourne / Via instagram.com

String of pearls plants belong in bright — but not direct — sunlight, so keep them in the brightest room in your home, just not right on the windowsill. They will thrive with proper drainage, so make sure your pot allows for that, and refrain from over-watering. This little houseplant will be at its best when left to dry out completely between drinks. They are are extremely easy to propagate, so get your hands on one, then grow many more.

8. And the spider plant: spindly, extremely '70s, and perfect for the bathroom.

@pots_and_tangles / Via instagram.com

Spider plants aren't into direct light at all, so keep yours away from it. Like a lot of houseplants they thrive in a humid environment, so consider misting or using an air humidifier if your place is especially dry. In the warmer months, avoid letting the soil of your plant dry out, but ease off with watering when winter rolls around. Healthy spider plants will have babies — yes, BABIES — which can be plucked off the end of your big plant and propagated in water or soil.

Plants 🌱 are🌱 the 🌱 best! 🌱

Marvel Studios / Via giphy.com

Even the painfully on-trend ones.

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