House plant Trends 2025, Seen Through a Plant Lover’s Lens
🌿 2025: A Year of Growth, Green Magic, and Creative Adventures.
2025 felt like wandering through a living rainforest — full of light, leaves, and hidden corners of wonder. It was a year shaped by plant challenges, creative growth, and quiet lessons, both in my home jungle and beyond. From exploring Cambridge University Botanic Garden with my besties at the start of the year, to diving deeper into houseplants, botanical creativity, and sharing personal plant recommendations, this year became a journey of steady growth and discovery.
As a plant lover, 2025 brought new obsessions and milestones. I fell in love with anthuriums, welcomed a new IKEA Milsbo into my growing plant collection, and made more Jungle Floor potting mats than ever before. Seeing these botanical creations find homes with fellow plant lovers was one of the highlights of my 2025 year in review, reminding me how meaningful slow, intentional making can be.
Creatively, opening Jungle Floor Creative allowed me to develop my photography skills, experiment with light and texture, and explore how plants, shadows, and reflections tell stories. Photography became another way of observing growth — much like plant care — noticing subtle changes over time rather than chasing instant results.
Not every part of 2025 was filled with light and leaves. This year also asked me to learn how to cope with ASD, process grief and loss, and find softness during moments of frustration and overwhelm. Like many houseplant challenges, growth didn’t always look neat or predictable — but it was happening beneath the surface all the same.
Alongside the challenges came deep joy: becoming an auntie, spending time with my besties, and experiencing the quiet magic of nature through my camera lens. These moments grounded me and reminded me why I’m drawn to plants, photography, and creative work in the first place.
As I reflect on 2025, I see it as a year of rooting — a season of learning, patience, and gentle expansion. I’m carrying these lessons forward into 2026 with intention, curiosity, and trust in slow growth.
Thank you for walking the Jungle Floor with me this year — through the growth, the grief, the creative sparks, and the leafy adventures. Every leaf, every moment, every photo mattered.
botanical photography
🌿 Plant Challenges in 2025
Like any growing season, 2025 came with its own set of houseplant challenges. Each plant tested my patience, observation skills, and ability to trust slow growth. These challenges became some of my most valuable plant care lessons of 2025.
🌿 Alocasia micholitziana Care Challenges
A true test of vigilance. Spider mites lurked quietly, requiring close observation and consistent care. This plant reminded me that early signs matter — and that staying attentive can make all the difference when caring for sensitive houseplants like Alocasia.
🌿Monstera dubia Growth & Support
Fast-growing climbers always reaching for more. These plants thrived when given proper support, proving that ambition — whether in plants or people — needs structure to grow well. One of my clearest reminders that support systems are essential for healthy plant growth.
🌿Begonia ‘Maurice Amey’ Recovery
Cut back to nothing at the beginning of the year, this begonia taught me a powerful lesson in rest and regrowth. Sometimes plant care means stepping back completely and trusting that new growth will return in its own time.
🌿 Philodendron ‘Paraiso Verde’ Variegation
Once beautifully variegated, now quietly green. This plant became a lesson in patience — waiting for warmth, light, and the right conditions for its hidden magic to re-emerge. A reminder that variegation, like creativity, isn’t always constant.
🌿 Pilea ‘Greyzy’ Semi-Hydro Transition
Post chop-and-prop and currently bald, this Pilea entered a period of transition in 2025. Moving into semi-hydro required trust in the process — especially after watching its sibling thrive. A gentle lesson in comparison, resilience, and letting plants adjust at their own pace.
🌿 Plants Thriving in 2025
Not all of 2025 was about challenges. Some plants have been, surprising me, and quietly flourished — reminders that when conditions are right, growth can feel almost effortless. These new plants became bright points in my 2025 plant journey.
🌿 Shattered Glass BOYCEANA Alocasia
A fast favourite. This plant produced loads of new leaves throughout the year, rewarding consistent care and stable conditions. Watching its patterned foliage unfurl felt like visible proof that patience pays off.
🌿 Monkey Tail Cactus Growth & Recovery.
A moment of drama — part of the plant fell off — followed by unexpected magic. Like a hydra, two new heads emerged in its place. A perfect example of resilience in plant growth and how damage doesn’t always mean decline.
🌿 Alocasia zebrina in Semi-Hydro
One of my strongest growers this year. Transitioning into semi-hydro helped support steady growth and healthier roots. This plant reinforced how experimenting with different care methods can completely change outcomes.
👉 I shared more about this process in my post on Alocasia in Semi-Hydro.
🌿 Monkey Jug (Nepenthes)
After struggling in the cold, this plant made a satisfying bounce back once temperatures improved. New growth and renewed energy made it a reminder that some plants simply need time — and warmth — to recover.
🌿 Euphorbia horrida Indoor Care
Chunky, sculptural, and thriving. This Euphorbia put out twisting new growth throughout the year, becoming a striking presence in my collection. Its slow but confident development felt grounding and steady.
4. 🌍 Exploring New Places (and Returning to Familiar Ones)
🌿 Cambridge University Botanical Gardens
One of the most magical plant-filled days of 2025 was my visit to Cambridge University Botanic Garden, a 40-acre sanctuary of botanical diversity right in the heart of the city. This living museum of plants hosts over 8,000 species from around the world — from tropical glasshouse giants to subtle desert survivors — making it one of the UK’s most inspiring gardens for plant lovers and photographers alike.
I arrived just as the rain finally washed months of dust from the leaves, and immediately the garden felt like a green exhale — soft, vibrant, and full of life. Walking through the lush glasshouses, I was struck by how every environment seemed to tell its own story: the steamy tropical humidity turned leaves into glossy canvases for light, while the arid house’s silvery succulents and cacti stood in calm dramatic contrast to their lush counterparts.
What really made the visit unforgettable were the textures, colours, and layers of planting — verdant tropical fronds, sculptural desert forms, and the subtle colour shifts across the garden’s many landscapes. It was a reminder that plants communicate through light and form, and that being present in spaces like this feeds both the eye and the creative soul.
Whether you’re wandering the glasshouses, pausing by the lake, or capturing reflections on mossy paths, Cambridge University Botanic Garden is a place where joy, wonder, and curiosity are all in bloom.
🌿 Blue Diamond Huntingdon — An Honest Reflection
In April, a new garden centre opened near me: Blue Diamond in Huntingdon. I want to share my honest experience. One thing that often doesn’t work for garden centres is placing the houseplant section right at the entrance. This spot can expose plants to cold and pests before anyone has a chance to browse properly.
The store layout felt like a maze, and as someone with ASD, navigating it became tense and anxiety-filled. Reaching the tills meant walking through the entire centre, with hardly any staff at the front to help. While the plants themselves were fine, the setup made me uncomfortable buying anything.
Even when visiting with support, the experience wasn’t enjoyable, and we left through the front entrance. I’ve not returned since — sometimes, even when a place has good stock, accessibility and atmosphere matter just as much as the plants themselves.
IKEA Milton Keynes (buying the Milsbo in May)
🌿IKEA Milton Keynes (plant cabinet shopping)
After saving for a bigger plant cabinet all year, I finally made the trip to IKEA Milton Keynes. I had been searching high and low on Facebook Marketplace, but nothing matched what I needed — so the IKEA trip was unavoidable.
I officially remembered why I don’t usually go to IKEA: it takes even longer than Blue Diamond to reach the tills, and wandering the vast store with my lovely friends meant we were moving at a slower, more leisurely pace. Walking through the maze of displays, I felt the familiar mix of determination and mild frustration.
But it was worth it. Not only did I come home with a new Milsbo cabinet, perfectly sized for my growing collection, but I also treated myself to a beautiful Philodendron ‘Ring of Fire’, which was massive and only £6.99 — a tiny price for such a striking plant. That moment of triumph — finding both the cabinet and the plant — was one of the small but magical highlights of my 2025 plant journey.
More Garden Centres
Visiting garden centres has become one of my favourite ways to reconnect with my own plant collection. Stepping outside my usual surroundings and seeing plants thrive in different conditions often helps me reflect on how my indoor jungle is evolving.
Poplars Garden Centre, Marks Tey
I’ve visited Poplars near Marks Tey a couple of times now, and it’s always a genuinely lovely experience. The staff are friendly and welcoming, making it an easy place to slow down, browse, and enjoy the process.
What I appreciate most is the variety. Alongside familiar favourites, Poplars often stocks slightly rarer plants, which makes each visit feel like a small moment of discovery. They also carry Soil Ninja mixes, decorative pots, and practical plant tools that quietly support healthier plants long-term.
This time, I was drawn to a Caladium ‘Tapestry’, its striking whites and rich reds standing out immediately — a reminder that sometimes one plant is enough to inspire a new chapter.
Perrywoods Garden Centre, Tiptree
Some garden centre visits feel calm and reflective. Others feel like stepping into a living archive of plant possibility.
My visit to Perrywoods, Tiptree fell firmly into the second category — helped along by a National Garden Centre voucher I received for my birthday, which made the whole experience feel like a small celebration.
Perrywoods has one of the largest houseplant selections I’ve ever seen. From a towering giant Euphorbia, to quirky cacti, lush Marantas, and some truly incredible Thai Monsteras, it’s a place where every corner offers something unexpected.
Where some visits invite slow contemplation, this one was about abundance, inspiration, and letting curiosity lead the way. Choosing plants here felt less about restraint and more about delight — a reminder that plant collecting can hold many moods, all equally valid.
Notcutts Garden Centre, Brampton
It was nice to revisit Notcutts in Brampton, partly because it feels familiar and comforting. The day I visited was quiet, which made it an easy place to wander and take things in at my own pace.
I no longer have a Notcutts card, simply because over the past year I didn’t find myself visiting often or connecting with what was on offer. Returning without expectations felt different this time — less about searching for something specific and more about enjoying the familiarity of the space itself.
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After a chop that left it looking a little bare, this Pilea ‘Greyzy’ found a new rhythm in semi-hydro — and it’s been thriving ever since. Moving it into a more consistent setup has encouraged steady, healthy growth, filling out far better than I expected.
Semi-hydro has taken away much of the guesswork, keeping moisture levels even and roots happy without the peaks and dips of traditional soil. It’s been a gentle reminder that sometimes plants don’t need more effort — just a change in approach.
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After months without rain, the first drops feel like a homecoming. The earth sighs, the air thickens, and suddenly, everything seems to drink. Greens deepen overnight — moss is plotting its next explosion of green, leaves glisten, even pavements catch the light like tiny mirrors. Dust, which has been quietly blocking sunlight from fuelling photosynthesis, is finally washed away. It’s the same dust that dulls a camera lens; once gone, suddenly the world snaps into focus.
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PACHYPODIUM LAMEREI. Madagascar Palm.
Anthurium Pallidiflorum
Dracaena Fragrans White Jewel
Alocassia Sp. West Java
Alocasia Mandalay
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I brought many beautiful plants for this shop this year pretty sure i spent most of my plant money there. Such great Quality plants.
I took the opportunity to film a pet-friendly houseplant reel, slowing down and noticing the smaller details, and in the end I did leave with something special: a lovely Pilea ‘Greyzy’ houseplant, chosen with pet safety in mind.
Since coming home, it’s found its place in semi-hydroponic plant care, where it’s been thriving beautifully. Moving this Pilea into semi-hydro has encouraged steady, healthy growth, making it one of my favourite plant success stories of the year and a gentle reminder that sometimes the simplest care changes make the biggest difference.
Sometimes revisiting a garden centre isn’t about what you plan to buy, but about the plant that quietly finds its way home with you.
Visiting Old Barn Garden Centre – A Houseplant Lover’s Dream
Towards the end of the year, a couple of my reels were filmed at Old Barn Garden Centre, and I was genuinely wowed by their houseplant selection. The range of indoor plants on offer was impressive, with something for every type of plant parent — from beginners to collectors.
I couldn’t resist coming home with an Alocasia melo and an Anthurium, both perfect additions to my growing houseplant collection and already settling beautifully into my indoor jungle.
Reflecting on 2025: A Year of Growth (In Plants and Business)
As 2025 comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to reflect. This year has been incredibly rewarding — both creatively and professionally. My small business has grown more than I ever expected, especially through selling water-resistant potting mats, and I’ve loved sharing more of my life with houseplants along the way.
Inviting people into my plant-filled world through reels, blogs, and photography has been a real joy. I’m genuinely grateful to everyone who’s followed along, supported my work, and taken the time to read this year in review.
Intentions for 2026: Looking Ahead
As I step into 2026, I’m carrying a few clear intentions with me:
To continue growing my business and sell more plant potting mats
To share more of my plant and nature photography, including offering prints
To work with new photography clients, combining creativity with storytelling
Thank you for being part of this journey. I hope 2025 has been a year of growth for you too — and that 2026 brings steady roots, creative energy, and plenty of inspiration 🌱
Calling All Houseplant Lovers 🌿
If you’d like to learn more about Jungle Floor Creative and the houseplant lover behind the brand, you can explore the full collection over on the website.
From water-resistant potting mats and greenhouse mats, to plant shelf styling, soft plant cloths, soil scoops, and houseplant-inspired apparel, everything is designed with plant care, creativity, and everyday use in mind.
Whether you’re repotting, styling your plant shelves, or building your own indoor jungle, Jungle Floor Creative is made for fellow houseplant lovers who value thoughtful tools and beautiful details.
👉 Visit the website to discover the full range.
