Why do you love collecting and caring for plants?

I love the fact that there’s always a plant for everyone. Collecting those that I really (it might be the unique veining pattern, coloration or foliage form) and watching them grow everyday under my care is a joy. Sharing what I’ve learned with others in the plant community is also something that I enjoy.

When and how did you start?

I started last in August 2020. My initial intent was just to add some indoor plants to my room. After talking to a friend who owns plants, I stumbled upon a variegated monstera and fell in love and I now find myself helplessly addicted. I started out with no knowledge of how to care for plants. I had to read up on how different media plays a part in keeping your plant healthy. I refined my watering habits to match my plants and the weather, and so on… Talking to other people in the plant community has really helped widen my knowledge.

How many plants do you have? What type of plants do you focus on?

I lost count after a while. I’m guessing I’m at 100+ right now. I use to collect everything, from the popular philodendrons, monster and anthuriums to lesser-known caudex and succulents. I’m leaning towards collecting anthuriums.

What is your "process" in your plant journey?

I start by taking the time to research how the plants grow in the wild. I then try to mimic its growing conditions to help them thrive. As a part of this process, I custom-create my own growing media to match the plant’s preferences and to complement my watering needs. My daily care routine for my plants will also include pest management.

Lastly, I propagate my plants when they get kind of unruly or have reached the top of their pole. Different plants have different kind of propagating methods and there’s various ways to propagate as well. This variety keeps things interesting for me.

Why did you pick this plant to be featured with you in your portrait? Is there a story behind it?

Philodendron gloriosum — if there’s a plant that I could keep for the rest of my life, it will be this plant. There is just something special about the veins and pillowy texture that draws me to them.

Monstera borsigiana albo for me I’ve been growing it since it was a stump, it taught me patience and to embrace imperfections on the leaf when the white starts to brown. To be able to see the plant growing from small to mature form is one of the things I find satisfaction from.

Describe your most significant challenges in your plant journey?

To be able to resist the urge to buy every plant I see that I like. Buying plants is easy but to be able to take care of them properly is another. Understanding the different needs of certain plants and getting them to thrive in my environment is quite challenging and fulfilling.

Photographer: DGT Portraits
Producer: Quinn Lum
Space: Studio 2020