From the elegant Fiddle Leaf Fig all the way to the elusive Monstera, ask any plant mom or dad about their collections and surely their eyes would light up like no other. Gardening relaxes most people.  Such down-to-earth chores as digging in the dirt, pulling weeds, and dividing irises gives others a second burst of energy. Some people get into growing because they fall in love with a particular group of plants (orchids, roses, herbs).

It all started with the Davao Barter Community where people exchanged goods with each other without paying anything. One moment it was all the rave and the next, people were starting to barter plants. Before we know it, the plant fad started. This easily gained popularity because it is something that is close to most Filipinos’ hearts. We have a knack for nurturing and growing things. Some of the well loved plants now are: 

Rubber Snake. The snake plants are known for both looking good and improving air quality. This is a resilient succulent that can grow anywhere between 6 inches to several feet. What’s unique about this particular plant is that it’s one of the few plants that can convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into oxygen at night. This is why it is an ideal indoor plant to be placed in your bedroom. 

Fox Tail Fern. The foxtail fern is an evergreen, drought-resistant plant that needs little care and looks bright green all year long. It is an easy plant to care for and will offer many years of enjoyment in your yard. A mature plant will grow to 6 to 8 feet across, but new plants will stay about 3 or 4 feet across for 12 years or more.

Monstera Deliciosa. This is the most common variety of monstera we all know and love, and mostly what you’ll find when you go plant shopping. It has those big, gorgeous holey leaves that are so popular in nurseries and printed home decor right now. You can’t go wrong with this one!  

Monstera Borsigianiana. This is actually a variation of deliciosa and might be sold under the same name because it’s hard to distinguish between the two when they’re young. One way to tell is to look at the stem. Deliciosas tend to ruffle, pucker, or form cute little bumps where the leaf attaches to the stem, but borsigniana does not. Borsigniana is also smaller and grows faster than deliciosa. Mature plants usually form two neat rows of holes/slits instead of growing holes in a more willy-nilly style like deliciosa. 

Monstera Variegata. These aren’t separate plants but rather a color variation. Sometimes these plants even look painted with white paint. I personally love them! Variegated means plants that are patterned with white or cream color as well as green. These plants tend to be harder to find and are therefore much more expensive.

Fiddle Leaf Fig. The fiddle-leaf fig is a popular indoor specimen plant featuring very large, heavily veined, violin-shaped leaves that grow upright. These plants are native to tropical parts of Africa, where they thrive in very warm and wet conditions. This makes them somewhat challenging for the home grower, who is likely to have trouble duplicating these steamy conditions. 

All these you’ll see and more! The Malagos Garden Resort, an inland resort in Davao City will soon be reopening our doors to the public. As one of Davao nature resorts that is keen into promoting experiences with nature, be on the lookout for these affordable Malagos Garden Resort plants! You just might be able to bring home some when you come and visit us again. Either way, we cannot wait to see you around!