75 Trendy Plants in the Philippines for 2021 (Part 4)

Plantiquarians, plantitos, plantitas, halamoms, batang halaman will always on a look-out for cheaper and trendy plants this coming 2021 and 2022.

Many are looking for small plants which can fill their limited space. They can be grown with minimal care. The crazy and abnormal rise in prices are brought by the limited supply and high interest by the general public in plants. This is called as plantdemics meaning plants are in demand.

75 Trendy Plants in the Philippines for 2021 to 2022

63. Nephrolepis exaltata ( Boston Fern)- This is a popular fern found in almost every part of the world. often grown in hanging baskets or similar conditions. They are grown near entrance or hung on main window. It is believes to invites good chi or good fortunes into one’s home or business.

Caladium hybrids -Photo credit: pixabay user: leoleobobeo-1487549

62. Caladium hybrids – Popularity of caladium hybrids will still be strong up until early 2022. Newer varieties and more colorful spotting will be flooding the local market. However, the prices of the caladium especially the older cultivar varieties will slowly taper off since there are a lot of backyard growers propagating those varieties.

61. Dracena sanderiana – popularly called Chinese lucky bamboo, lucky bamboo, friendship bamboo, ribbon plant, water bamboo and corn plant. This is very common and is found in almost every homes, business establishments and offices. This plant is quite hardy.

Commonly peddled by ambulant vendors, The demand for these plants will still be strong. Some people believes it bring good luck or good chi in homes and businesses.

60. Aloe vera and related species- Aloe had been quite popular succulent plant in the country for several decades. Aside from the medicinal value that the plant is known for. This can be grown in pots, the species requires well-drained, sandy potting soil and bright, sunny conditions.

mature plants can bear flowers and it is highly attractive. There are between 550 to 560 species of Aloes in which a lot are highly decorative. There are also several hybrids.

59. Ficus benjamina, commonly known as weeping fig, benjamin fig , ficus tree, balete. This is highly ornamental and commonly propagated in many garden centers. MMDA and some local government unit had planted hundreds if not thousands of this ficus along road side in the mid-1980’s to early 1990’s.

Ficus benjamina

Photo credit : pixabay user: manfredrichter-4055600

NASA determined that this plant was effective at removing common household air toxins like formaldehyde and xylene. Hence the popularity of the plant.

Weeping fig cultivars and its variegated types are in demand like ‘Danielle’, ‘Naomi’, ‘Exotica’, and ‘Golden King’ since these are much fewer compared to the ones found in garden centers, streets and parks. Propagation is quite easy- one can propagate Ficus benjamina thru seeds, air layering and to some extent cutting from stems with roots.

58 . Ficus elastica commonly called rubber fig, rubber bush, rubber tree, rubber plant, or Indian rubber bush, Indian rubber tree, banyan tree or Balete.

Ficus elastica

Photo credit: pixabay user: tortic84-2633672

Another well-known type of belete tree. One can encounter mature Ficus elastica in many parts of the country. According to some botanists, this was probably introduced into the country by Indian and other southeast Asian traders before the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century. Some would otherwise dispute this theory, Since the range of this ficus is found in Southeast Asia.

In the United States, This can be grown in sub-tropical areas of Florida and in USDA Zones 10-12.

Some of the cultivars varieties includes Ficus elastica ‘Robusta’, Lemon Lime among others surge in popularity during the enhanced community quarantine in early part of 2020. In recent visit to local garden centers in Metro Manila. Prices for the common types had been falling due to increase supply. An example was the 1 foot cutting newly established Ficus elastica ” Lemon Lime” which sell between Php 1,500 to Php 2,000 would now averages between Php 750 to Php 1,200. Variegated forms will still be in demand.

Croton or San Francisco

Photo credit: pixabay user:pixasandid-356019

57. Crotons hybrids- Locally known as San Francisco. This was popular as hedge plant, potted plant in the countryside for a long time. The leaves are used as accents in flower arrangements. Large scale farms like Costa Farm would grow these in large volume. Other Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan would have different cultivar varieties.

There are hundreds of cultivar varieties to grow and these plants are easy to propagate.

Epipermum aureum also known as pothos, money plant, taro vine

Photo credit: pixabay user: sweetlouise-3967705

56. Epipermum aureum and varieties ( pothos, hunter’s robe, ivy arum, money plant, and taro vine) are just few of the common names given by sellers and backyard gardeners. The plant is a member of Araceae family. Price of the more common types have begun leveling off but the variegated forms are still in demand.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Lebon Ong, Dennis Lao and Mr. Jorge Sahagun

55. Asplenium australasicum plicatum Cultivar Variety ” Mini Philippine Cobra” This is a compact growing mutant fern (gamma irradiated Philippine Cobra) of Asplenium australasicum plicatum2021 population finally released to the industry. This is a project of Mr. Jorge Sahagun of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) in Quezon City.

Compared with the older variety in the market, This particular form is ideal for small growing area, office, condominium spaces. Fern collectors are already waiting for its release next year, There are already some reservation for this mutant form for release in 2022.

Note: These are just a partial list of the 75 trendy plants for 2021 and 2022! Happy Growing to all .

Special Mention : Mr. Lebon Ong, Mr. Dennis Lao , Mr. Jeorge Sahagun, Mrs. Letty Manalo, Ms. Esperanza Sanchez

Sources:

Personal Interview among plant center owners, Orchid and Plant Lovers of the Philippines FB, Mindanao Avenue Garden Center, Fairview Neopolitan Garden Center, Cartimar Garden Center, White Plains, Bulacan Garden, Arid and Aroid’s Farm, Quezon City Memorial Circle, Tabang -Guiguinto Plant growers, GreenScapes Garden Center– Novaliches, Farmer’s Garden Center -Cubao, Sidcor -Eaton Centris Sunday Market, Rona’s Garden.

Related article link 75 Trendy Plants for the Philippines in 2021 part 3) ( 75 Trendy Plants for the Philippines in 2021 Part 2) and ( 75 Trendy Plants for the Philippines in 2021 Part 1)

15 Fun Facts about Pothos

Pothos or Epipermum aureum and related species is now in demand. This a member of the of Aracea family that includes Caladiums, Colocasia, Xanthosoma which originates from Central and South America.

This highly ornamental plant is making a comeback, with dozens of new hybrids and variegated ones in the market.

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Epipermum aureum or golden pothos at a plant stall within Goodwill Homes 1, Barangay San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City

Prices used to be in between Php 25 to Php 75 for small hanging basket in Tabang-Guiguinto plant stalls in Bulacan. Almost the same price in Silang, Cavite few years ago, until the demand for indoor plant skyrocketed last year.

Some plant center in the province would give cuttings as freebies whenever one will bring large purchases. Plant enthusiasts sometimes called plantiquarians, plantitos, plantitas,halamanmoms, plantaddicts whatever would you prefer calling them, would swear that having pothos is on their bucket list of plants.

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Pothos grown in large cement vat within Goodwill Homes 1, Barangay San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City

15.) It is called “money plant ” by people living in the Indian subcontinent, Chinese, Taiwanese, Thai and some Southeast Asian countries. People believe that having one potted pothos can brings good luck, money or attracts positive chi inside one’s premises. This is also good in offices, condominiums and apartments which have minimal spaces.

14.) One can grow pothos indoors, preferably with bright indirect light, although it also will tolerate low-light conditions. Pale leaves means too much sun, and loss of variegation means too little.

13.) Pothos likes to have its soil dry out between watering. For potted plants dislikes soggy condition.

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Epipermum aureum or golden pothos cling on branches on an acacia tree

12.) One can fertilize pothos on weekly basis with water soluble fertilizer brand that is available in the market preferably 1/4 to 1/2 the strength diluted. This is done after watering the plant. One can also apply Naturamin which is distributed by Harbest Agricultural Business Corporation based in Pasig. Another way to apply small amount of slow release fertilizer that is commercially available.

11.) This had various common names like golden pothos, hunter’s robe, ivy arum, money plant, taro vine, Ceylon creeper, silver vine, Solomon Islands ivy, marble queen, water vine among others.

10.) It is also referred to as devil’s vine because it is quite impossible to kill the vine. This plant can tolerate low light levels. Some areas like in Florida, Hawaii, Southeast Asia,Tropical America, India, Sri Lanka the Epipermum aureum completely overgrows the forest floor as well as the trunks of trees and block the natural vegetation.

9.) Epipermum aureum, the golden form of the species use to be native over Mo’orea in the territory of French Polynesia. Epipermun pinnatum is native to many parts of the country and south This is under the family of Araceae.

8.) This is now one of the most common house plant and was introduced in many parts of the world due to human activity. The plant became naturalized in many tropical,sub-tropical area all over the world. Among the big farms includes Costa Farm in the United States of America.

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Pothos growing on a large tree within Philvirra Homes, Barangay Tandang Sora, along Road 20 Project 8, Quezon City

Locally, one can buy varieties of pothos in several online sites and established farms like Unigreen Farm in Batangas, Bulacan Garden, Tabang-Guiguinto plant stalls, Araneta Farmers Garden, Mindanao Avenue Garden Center, Quezon City Memorial Circle, Cedarhills Garden Center in Mother Ignacia Avenue,White Plains, Cartimar Plant Center, Neopolitan in Fairview, Pasig among others.

7.) NASA and other scientist made studies in the 1980’s on the effects of pothos indoor pollutants such as formaldehyde, trichloroethene, toluene, xylene, benzene, carbon monoxide and dust.

6.) Other genus like Scindapsus pictus commonly called satin pothos/ silver pothos or silver vine are also lump as pothos. This vine is widespread in many southeast asian countries. Some small leaf philodendron are also mistakenly sold as different cultivar variety of pothos.

5.) The vine can be propagated via nodal cutting planted in aquariums, placed on top of the aquarium and allowed to grow roots in the water. The plant roots can filter some nitrate.

For those living in Calumpit, Bulacan One can contact Mrs. Vivian Sumilang (0920-915-8975) or ( 0922-819-6414). She also have other ornamental plants for sale.

4.) It is popular in the Philippines with many schools, make shift altar, cemeteries, family shrines have pothos planted in clear bottles as water plant. According to some old time local horticulturists and backyard hobbyists. They have encountered this vine way back in the early 1950’s and was extensively featured in several magazines.

3.) The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) listed this plant as mildly toxic when ingested to pet dogs, cats and small mammals. Avoid letting your pet animals chew the leaves or any parts of the plant.

2.) Avoid constant touching the leaves and stems of Epipermum pinnatum and Epipermum aureum since parts of the stems and leaves contains calcium oxlate crystal which may cause general skin irritation.

1.) Leaves are used in general flower arrangement, ikenobo arrangement and adds color.

Sources, References, Bibliography, Interview:

Personal interviews – with Ms. Charita Gunao, Mrs. Leticia Cabiao, Mr. Lebon Ong, Mrs. Marilyn Montemayor, Professor Purita Marquez, Mr. Allan Marquez , Mrs. Vivian Sumilang

Royal Horticultural Society

Wolverton, B. C. How To Grow Fresh Air, Penguin Books, New York, 1997.

Wolverton, BC (1996) How to Grow Fresh Air . New York: Penguin Books.

Sawada, Ayako; Oyabu, Takashi (2008). “Purification characteristics of pothos for airborne chemicals in growing conditions and its evaluation”. Atmospheric Environment. 42 (3): 594–602.

Nauheimer, L., Metzler, D. and Renner, S.S. 2012. Global history of the ancient monocot family Araceae inferred with models accounting for past continental positions and previous ranges based on fossils. New Phytologist, vol. 195, p. 938-950.

Missouri Botanical Garden

Madulid, Domingo; Winner, National Book Award, Science, 1995. Revised Edition, 2000 with 388 pages. Araceae Epipermum aureum pages 89 to 90, Bookmark, Makati, A Pictorial Cyclopedia of Philippine Ornamental Plants.

Steiner, Mona Lisa, PHD;Care, M &L Licudine Enterprises, First Edition 1952, Second Edition 1960, Third Edition 1986, Atlag, Malolos , Bulacan. Gabi Family page 142, Philippine Ornamental Plants And Their Care.