For our latest look into the lives of plant lovers, we hear all about the planting journey of Emma AKA @goodgrowing
Emma’s journey into the world of plants started quite unexpectedly for her when she was given a small satin pothos from an old uni tutor because “everyone needs plants in their life.” How right he was, this kick-started a fascination for Emma who had been yearning for more nature in her urban life.
Nearly 4 years- and over 100 plants later Emma now lives a very plant-filled life. She admits that it has become somewhat of an obsession; watching them grow, caring for them and collecting lots of different types.
Emma passionately believes in the positive effects of living with plants;
“Taking care of houseplants is a very mediative process for me. It's a time when I can forget about all the things going on in the world and my life, and focus my energy into nurturing these little living beings. Keeping them alive and seeing how they grow and mature is also a great source of pride for me. When the newest leaf on a plant is the biggest ever, it's one of the best feelings.”
However, she is also plainly aware of a negative side to living with many plants, Emma admits that sometimes it does feel overwhelming, keeping them all happy and healthy, and that sometimes she does get burnt-out by the plant care.
We wondered how she copes with these periods of negativity towards the plants;
“I try to be kind to myself. I remind myself that it's okay. They are just plants and (for the most part) they are replaceable. I then try and get myself to start slow, on a small task and use that momentum and good feelings of accomplishment to push me to do more caring.”
Emma’s plant care routine is made easier by a few tools she wouldn’t be without. Her oldest ‘tool’ she uses is a moisture meter which, by sticking it into the soil lets her know how wet or dry the soil is, prompting her to water or wait. She also loves to use a 7 litre spray hose, she fills it up and carries it around the flat, spraying the soil of the plants that need water, saving her walking back and forth to the sink.
Emma’s approach to collecting plants has changed over time. She notes that at the beginning she would amass lots of plants, without really thinking about how she will care for them and what environment they need to thrive.
Now her aim is to pay more attention to the plants she has, making sure they are the happiest and healthiest they can be, helping the smaller plants to grow large, giving the climbers support and keeping them lush and pest-free. (Check out her youtube video here all about introducing predatory mites to combat pests.)
Emma’s advice for anyone starting to grow a collection of houseplants;
“RESEARCH! Get to know the plants you're buying before getting them. Nothing is worse than getting a plant and not being able to give it the right conditions it needs to grow and thrive. Then having to watch it wither away slowly. So learn a plant's care and make sure you can provide it before buying.”
If you enjoyed hearing about Emma’s plant journey, you can see more on her youtube channel Good Growing.
You can read our more blogs looking into the lives of plant fanatics here.