The onset of the pandemic saw many people turning their homes into potted plant jungles. Stuck at home, people all over the world turned to gardening and collecting plants to relieve stress and make their homes feel that much more comfortable.
Two years later, houseplants are still having a major moment – and for good reason – having plants in your home has benefits.
Studies have shown that houseplants are great for mental health – boosting mood, productivity, concentration and creativity. Additionally, houseplants are therapeutic to care for, like little pets that don’t chew on your shoes or bark at the mailman.
Plants probably won’t solve all your problems, but at the very least they’re fun to look at. Tropical plants might remind you of exciting places to travel, and flowers on the kitchen table might brighten up your day.
If you’re interested in having plants in your home but don’t know where to start, that’s understandable. There’s a lot to choose from. Recently, allaboutgardening.com analyzed TikTok data to determine which leafy greens are the most aesthetically pleasing based on how many views each plant receives on the platform.
Here are the top ten:
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#1: Aloe Vera, 2,300,000,000 views
Aloe, is it me you’re looking for?
The #1 plant on TikTok is surprisingly easy to care for. This plant does well in sunlight and warmer temperatures and only needs to be watered every three weeks. Tropical plants like Aloe tend to go through slower growth periods during the winter, so water a little more sparingly during the colder months.
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#2: Pothos (Devil’s Ivy), 1,500,000,000 views
Pothos plants are a popular type of ivy that can grow up to 4 metres, but many long-time gardeners have seen them grow even larger. They require a little more maintenance than Aloe but are still relatively easy to care for. Pothos plants need water once every week and do well in bright, indirect light – but can withstand lower light levels if they need to.
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#3: Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera Deliciosa), 312,400,000 views
Known for their large and glossy leaves, Swiss Cheese plants are perfect for anyone looking to add dramatic tropical flair to their space. These plants need lots of sunlight and only need to be watered once the soil dries out.
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#4 Snake Plant, 242,000,000 views
Snakes freak a lot of people out, but there’s no need to be scared of snake plants. Their sword-like leaves can grow up to 12 feet high, but most varieties are relatively small. Notoriously hard to kill, these plants don’t need a whole lot of light and only need water once a month or when the soil gets dry.
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#5 Fiddle-leaf Fig, 161,900,000 views
Fiddle-leaf figs bring drama and height to any plant collection. Their large, violin-shaped leaves are heavier than most houseplants, but still manage to grow upright – giving a tree-like appearance. Fiddle-leaf Figs need water at least once per week and thrive in lots of natural light, so place them near windows to keep them happy.
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#6 String of Pearls, 109,600,000 views
Take one look at a String of Pearls and you’ll understand how it got its name. These quirky little succulents don’t have flat leaves – instead, they produce little balls that look a bit like peas. To make things even more bizarre, during the summer they sometimes produce flowers that smell like cinnamon.
Best suited for hanging baskets, these plants thrive in sandy soil with little water. Make sure they get lots of sunlight by hanging them near a window.
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#7 Calatheas, 76,500,000 views
Calatheas are known for their large, distinct foliage that look like they’ve been painted green with brushstrokes. Naturally grown on the floors of tropical rainforests, Calatheas can withstand low light levels, but need lots of humidity to survive. Keeping the soil damp and positioning them in indirect sunlight is the trick to successfully keeping your Calatheas alive.
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#8 Spider Plant, 52,300,000
First snakes, now spiders?
Spider plants produce long tufts of foliage that look a little bit like a bad hair day or a bowl full of cucumber peels. Their name comes from the small white spider-looking flowers that hang from long stems in the summer months. Spider plants are a bit like Goldilocks – they like soil that’s not too wet, not too dry, but just right. These plants do well in hanging baskets near bright to moderate indirect light, making them great additions to windowsills or covered balconies.
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#9 Chinese Money Plant 24,540,000 views
The Chinese Money Plant won’t sprout $10 bills, but it will produce flat, round leaves that look like green coins. Allegedly, putting a coin in the soil will attract financial wealth and good fortune. Just make sure the plant stays alive long enough for that luck to get back to you by giving it lots of natural light and watering once the soil gets dry.
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#10 Prayer Plant, 15,300,000 views
Prayer Plants are interesting little plants that actually move on their own. At night, their leaves close up like hands in prayer – a fascinating thing for plant collectors to witness. Prayer Plants are closely related to Calatheas and need a lot of the same care. Humidity, low light and consistently damp soil will keep your Prayer Plant happy.
