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NODE NO. 1 MARCH 2021
NURTURING THE URBAN GARDENER IN YOU ALICE VINCENT ON HOW PLANTS GAVE HER STABILITY DURING A TIME WHEN NOTHING DID
HOW THE VAIREGATED MONSTERA IS TURNING THE PLANT COMMUNITY UPSIDE DOWN
MEET THE FLORAL STUDIO CHANGING THE COURSE OF AN INDUSTRY STUCK IN THE PAST 1
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Aloe, Monstera Deliciosa, Philodendron Selloum. Photo by Plants by Her.
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Editor-in-Chief Nora Marie Vatland
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EDITORIAL TEAM Deputy Editor/ Design Martine Aamodt Hess Sub-editors Emily Sophie Kimber Zahra Khadir Cover photo by Katie Elyse
EDITOR’S LETTER March 2021 marks one year since the pandemic hit with full force and constrained us to our city flats. With a lack of natural light, outdoor space and time spent enjoying fresh air, it comes as no surprise that city dwellers have experienced an increasing number of anxiety-filled days and are making it a priority to bring the outdoors in. Hence why online plant sales have soared throughout lockdown. Thanks to technology and innovative business owners, surrounding ourselves with monsteras, banana plants and fig trees is not only an easy task but also a therapeutic one. Now, we restlessly await the return of our freedom and observe winter’s dark days being replaced by spring’s blooming flora. I find comfort in knowing that urban gardening will, once again come to our rescue as we await the day when we can spend hours in a botanical garden or tending to the local allotment. Our first issue features some of the talented writers, photographers and businesses that make this community flourish. - Nora Marie Vatland Editor-in-Chief
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Editor’s letter
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CONTENTS 01
Cultivate your feed Welcome to plant parenthood It’s a... Tillandsia
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Growth in the time of Corona: Meet the couple who started their green chapter while the world was at a standstill
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From anxiety to aesthetics: Katlyn Daoust talks millennials and their plants
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Alice Vincent: On Rootbound and finding freedom during lockdown
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Plant power: Stephanie Francis on how an urban jungle helped her beat the lockdown blues
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Don’t you know that you’re toxic?
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Diversity in floristry: How SAGE FLowers is standing up to an industry stuck in the past
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Fern fever: The Victorian love affair that paved the way for gender equality
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Click and grow your indoor jungle... The sustainable way A breathtaking plant and price
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DIY: Easy macrame plant hanger
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Spring into the season: A seasonal checklist
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ADVICE STRAP
Keymea Yazdanian. (Bread & Roses).
@KAIDENPLANTS
Poet, BLM activist and author of #IAmNotSheButHe Kaiden Ford documents his plant-filled London apartment. Through humour, interior design and greenery he gives his followers a glimpse into his plant parenthood. “Plants are my addiction, first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem,” reades his bio.
@WEAREBREADANDROSES
Bread & Roses is an award winning social enterprise using floristry to help refugee women stand on their own feet. Their workshops aim to develop skills, confidence and a network. In other words, by supporting the business you are helping women who would otherwise be unemployed and at risk of exploitation.
@LUCIDMONSTERA
After moving to London about two years ago, Borneo-native Andy Lee is using Instagram to share his plant journey. Looking back he writes in a caption: “It has definitely helped me settle better in this city of strangers.” His minimalistic photography and detailed plant sketches makes him a favourite in the urban gardening community.
CULTIVATE YOUR FEED WORDS BY NORA MARIE VATLAND
A tailored list of inspirational and game-changing instagrammers that will enrich your feed and expand your plant knowledge.
RO CO for IKEA.
@STUDIO.ROCO
Rose Ray and Caro Langton are the gardening experts behind Ro Co, an interior planting studio helping companies develop their interior with low-maintenance greenery. Alongside sharing lockdown tips and educational reads, they run the masterclass ‘Plant Design: Living more creatively’.
@HAZELGARDINERDESIGN
Floral designer Hazel Gradiner trained at McQueens Flower School before founding Hazel Gardiner Design and rapidly gained a reputation for her innovative arrangements. She is dedicated to promoting diversity in horticulture as well as bringing sustainable principles to her floral designs.
@GROWNCLUB
Founded by freelance writer Aimée Grant Cumberbatch in 2019, Grown Club is an online and offline plant club for women and non binary people of colour. The club hosts regular workshops, talks and events with plant enthusiasts where urban gardening is on the agenda. 05 7
ADVICE STRAP
WELCOME TO PLANT PARENTHOOD A GUIDE FOR THE ROOKIE GARDENER WORDS BY ZAHRA KHADIR
Starting your urban gardening journey may seem daunting at first. But rest assured plant care does not need to be time consuming. Here is a guide that will take you through the whole process: from finding the ideal plant to how to properly nurture them.
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LIGHT AND SPACE
REPOTTING
PLANT CARE
Plants growing in their natural habitat have different needs and the same applies to when you grow them indoors. Some thrive under the scorching sun while others prefer the shadow of a tall tree in a humid rainforest. The same applies when you keep them indoors, so considering the light levels in the room can make a big difference. If your room lacks sunshine, you should prioritise a plant that thrives in indirect sunlight. It is also possible to use mirrors to reflect the light around the room and thereby brightening up your space. The other option, if you do not have any natural light coming into your home, is to get grow lights if you are willing to spend a bit more. Make sure to check the plant’s care label to learn about its specific needs before bringing it into your home. Always keep in mind that you should choose a plant that suits the space and not a space that suits the plant.
Like any parenthood, checking up on your babies is just as essential as giving them nutrients or giving them enough attention. When first buying a plant, you might want to repot it straight away. However, it is recommended to wait until they are starting to grow and branch out of their home. If repotted straight away, it can shock your plant, and show distressed symptoms afterwards. It is also worth noting that because pots are made of different materials, from terracotta to wood, this can affect the plant’s watering needs. Before repotting your plant, make sure it is dry and the pot is the right size. It should be a couple of inches wider than the plant. This is to make sure the plant absorbs up all the water and to avoid overwatering and root rotting. Loosen the plant’s roots carefully with your hands, that way you are promoting its roots to spread a little further when you repot them into their new home.
Rotate the plants around on a regular basis so they get sunlight on all sides. Always be on the lookout for leaves that are yellowing or browning, that is when you get your scissors out and trim them. Prune to get rid of old growth. However, if they are just dusty, give them a wipe down as they will otherwise not absorb the light needed to grow. If your plant is getting droopy, it is a sign that it needs to be watered. This is a journey where you learn from your trial and errors, unique challenges can arise when growing in a small space but learning about the plants’ specific requirements will get you a long way. This journey starts with a positive outlook and a mind that is open to building your plant knowledge. You do not need to move to a bigger space or to the suburbs to get started on your gardening dreams. NODE provides you with the tools and tips to nurture the urban gardener in you.
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STRAP Photo by Chris Abney.
BEST INDOOR PLANTS FOR BEGINNERS Indoor plants are therapeutic and can add a natural decor element to any space. But which ones are best to start off a new plant journey with? There is no such thing as a green thumb but if you are looking for a smooth introduction to plant care, you might want to opt for plants that are low maintance. Here are three favourites:
ALOE VERA
CAST IRON PLANT
SNAKE PLANT
Aloe Vera is a popular plant due to its wonderful health benefits, including antibacterial properties and its abilities to treat skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis and sunburns. The most important thing to keep in mind is that while it requires a lot of sunlight, you should be careful about putting it right up against the window. This is because the glass can intensify the sun and can cause your aloe leaves to burn. A good soil mixture to get is one that drains very quickly because the plant does not like any moisture collecting around the roots. Aloe Vera prefers to be pot-bound. Repot once a year or when the roots have overgrown. Aloe Vera enjoys minimal watering, enough to not drying it out. Generally during the growing season you can water every two weeks and during the winter months you can go for three weeks between watering it. They thrive in temperatures between 13 and 27 degrees celcius.
True to the name, they can survive neglect and conditions most plants would not survive. Despite being late bloomers, they make up for it by being persistent. Although they prefer bright to moderate indirect light, it is best to avoid direct sunlight as this can burn the leaves. You also want to avoid low light as that can cause the plant to grow much slower. They are fine with underwatering and might even thank you for it. Let the soil be completely dry before watering it, then water it until it comes out of the drainage holes. This means you can avoid watering it too often. They do not need to be repotted that often as they are slow growers. You can fertilise them once a month in the spring season and nothing during the winter months. If you clean their leaves once a week, they will repay you by being a beautiful addition to your home. It is the perfect low maintenance plant to care for.
The Snake Plant helps filter indoor air and it is one of few plants that filter out toxins. It can convert Carbon into Oxygen at night time, which makes it the perfect plant for your bedroom.They are one of the easiest plants to care for as they are known to be almost unkillable. In other words, it is perfect for those who have a busy schedule, that travels a lot or tends to forget about watering. They do not require much water as they retain the moisture in their leaves. It is best to water when all of the soil is dry, that is every three to six weeks in the spring. This plant can survive neglect, but not the total opposite, so be careful not to overwater. Fertilise during the spring season. The Snake Plant thrives in bright indirect light, but they can tolerate a lower light level as well. However in stronger light, they will grow quicker and if grown in lower light, they will grow much slower. 07
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IT’S A...
TILLANDSIA WORDS BY MARTINE AAMODT HESS
Is it an alien or your new favourite plant? These tiny green beings with pointy tentacles may not actually be from Mars, but their abilities certainly seem otherworldly. The Tillandsias have been nicknamed ‘air plants’ because no soil is needed and they cling to just about anything. With this great potential for styling and easy care, there is no doubt they deserve a place in every plant parent’s indoor jungle and heart.
CARING
“I love houseplants but I don’t have a green thumb. Many have come to my house to die, but the air plants just always survived,” says Sarah Navan, 30, who runs the Meath-based planter business S.N.A.P. Aside from their unique look, Sarah’s favourite thing about these plants is the maintenance, or rather, the lack thereof. “The less you care for it, the better. Find it a beautiful spot in your home and don’t worry about watering it every week,” the air plant enthusiast advises. Although air plants require minimum care, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Firstly, these plants do not have a typical root structure that needs soil or take up water. Instead, they help the plant cling to the surface it sits on, while the leaves take up nutrients from the humidity in the air. Sarah recommends bright indirect sunlight and the occasional bath to keep the leaves from turning brown and crispy: “Every two weeks, soak your air plant in room temperature water for five to ten minutes. After soaking, gently shake excess water off and turn upside down to drain for a few hours. That’s it.” 08
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STYLING
There are hundreds of species of air plants and just as many ways to style them. Place them in a seashell, on a crystal, or be inspired by Sarah who has turned her son’s old dinosaur toys into planters by painting them in golden hues and bright pinks to compliment the greenery. A trendy approach is to house the air plants in geometric mobiles. Michelle Fidler, 37, owns the online shop Pickle Poppet Designs, which specialises in such mobiles. Her main tip for displaying these plants is to consider air supply. “Many terrariums are closed off to airflow, but this will be detrimental to your air plant’s health,” she says. Michelle also emphasises that air plants on their own are highly decorative: “They are undeniably beautiful little oddities with their range of curly, spiky, furry or trailing leaves setting them apart from your usual house plants.” On a final note, Michelle adds: “And to top it off, they shoot bright tubular flowers from their middle and pop out little baby plants from their sides. How can you j u s t not love that?”
SOURCING
Only a few years ago, air plants were considered a rarity and some would travel as far as Holland to source them. Thankfully, air plant sales have soared, leading to a number of online nurseries for air plants, and a blossoming market on platforms like Etsy. In other words, you can rest assured and there is no need to cross any borders to secure yourself a soilless plant baby!
Tillandsias having a bath. Photo by Michelle Fidler.
MEET THE COUPLE WHO STARTED THEIR GREEN CHAPTER WHILE THE WORLD WAS AT A STANDSTILL
INTERVIEW
GROWTH IN THE TIME OF CORONA:
WORDS BY EMILY KIMBER
Sarah Mills and Piers Pavey share their story on how they launched their online plant shop, Green Leaf Jungle, during a global pandemic.
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ovid-19 had a devastating impact on the economy, with small business owners being some of the worst affected. Many faced huge adaptations and even closures. However, on the brighter end of the spectrum, with millions of workers being furloughed, a large proportion of the nation found that they had more time on their hands than ever before. So when life gives you lemons you make lemonade, and when life gives you a global pandemic you may well use the opportunity to start your own business. This was the case for Sarah Mills, 28, and Piers Pavey, 29, who found themselves in a similar situation to the rest of the population. Sarah was furloughed in March 2020 from her job as cabin crew and Piers found himself working from home. This completely unanticipated situation gave the pair the unique opportunity to create their online houseplant shop, Green Leaf Jungle. With a shared interest in nurturing houseplants and Piers’ parents being horticulturists themselves, it seems as though that time was all they needed to launch their business - and they were given buckets of it. “When we found out about the positive mental health benefits of growing plants indoors, that was our wow moment,” Sarah says. The shift towards nurturing off-screen household pastimes has lent itself to the success of Green Leaf Jungle. “The plant industry has exploded in the last year as people are realising the importance of connecting back to nature. People are learning that if they spend more time in nature, in or outside their homes, it will make them feel a whole lot better both mentally and physically. Seeing your plants grow and flourish is very rewarding, and our cus-
Sarah Mills carrying Ficus Tineke. Photo by Piers Pavey.
tomers and friends have expressed their joy when they get their watering schedule spot on,” Sarah says. Not only are their customers reaping the rewards of the beneficial effects of houseplants, but starting a business has allowed the duo to establish a routine during lockdown - something which many of us had previously taken for granted. “Starting the business in September was such a good move for us, and I wish we had started it sooner. It’s provided purpose and has given us a structured routine throughout these darker months.”
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Enviable by many, Sarah and Piers are kept on their toes by their new business. “Even when we have posted all of our parcels, we have to concentrate on social media, our accounts and the plant care itself,” Sarah says. Starting a business is daunting at the best of times, no less than in a global pandemic. The changing world, however, presented many people with an opportunity to reflect on what they truly want from life and the time in which to turn these dreams into a reality. And this is exactly what Sarah and Piers did. 09
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FROM ANXIETY TO AESTHETICS:
KATLYN DAOUS MILLENNIALS & T WORDS BY MARTINE AAMODT HESS
In true millennial spirit, Katlyn has made a business out of merging interior design with
the benefits of houseplants. Now she opens up about why this generation’s relationship with their green friends goes far beyond the fad.
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ou wake up to the sound of your alarm. You glance over at the proud snake plant on your bedside table and hit snooze one more time before getting out of bed. You draw back your curtains and greet the prickly succulents resting on your windowsill. Making your way to the kitchen, you pass the peace lily, the trusted monstera, and the fiddle leaf fig. Good morning Cher, Baby Spice and Planty… How did all these plants make their way into your life? One by one, they have become an integral part of not only your daily routine but also your family. As houseplants have made their biggest comeback since the 1970s, you may ask yourself what lies behind the obsession. Is there more to the story than their Instagrammable nature and is the trend here to stay? Here to answer your questions is Katlyn Daoust - the Minneapolis-native making a living out of the evergreen love affair between millennials and plants. “I think people start with a few plants because they look pretty and maybe even because they’re trendy, but by the 10th, 20th, 30th, even 100th plant, it’s clear that plant parents are invested in houseplants for reasons far beyond their ability to look cool,” says Katlyn. The 32-year-old founded Plants by Her in the hope of providing a tool to the wave of people looking
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to improve their lives by implementing a touch of green. Her interior design studio offers workshops, remote consultations, as well as both commercial and residential design services. At the heart of the brand is the science of plant care, and the goal is to bring the benefits of indoor gardening with a design-forward mentality to everyone from your local plant mum to the team at L’Oréal. Katlyn is a firm believer that millennials’ attraction to plants runs deeper than the aesthetic photos shared on Instagram. “I think social media is absolutely a catalyst for the growth in the plant movement, though I don’t think social media could be strong enough to force a trend unless there were some actual lasting benefits,” she says. “There’s a theory that humans are naturally inclined to commune with nature. It’s called Biophilia. It posits that people have a primitive need to be around nature and that it restores them.” This is something she has experienced firsthand when helping young people bring plants into their city flats. Millennials tend to favour big cities over suburban life. They have been priced out of the housing market, and as a result, many find themselves living in space-restricted rentals with little access to the natural world. Houseplants allow them to stay in touch with nature.
Katlyn pictured with one of her residential installations. Photo by Plants by Her.
ST TALKS THEIR PLANTS
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According to Katlyn, many also turn to plants for wellbeing purposes. In 2018, the Global Benefits Attitudes Study revealed that millennials are almost twice as likely as their parents to suffer from stress. In fact, Katlyn’s own plant journey came as a response to the hectic reality of working in Seattle. “I found myself turning to plants as a way to manage stress from my day job in advertising. I worked too many hours on too many unrealistic deadlines and was beyond burnt out,” she says as she details how caring for plants came to
be an outlet for her anxiety. “I found pruning, watering, and playing with different ways to style my plants to be cathartic, almost like a meditation.” As a Japanese study from 2019 will have it, Katlyn’s experience is far from unique, finding a 27 per cent decrease in stress and anxiety among people who interacted with houseplants daily. Time after time, millennials prove to be a group that is uniquely suited to make their relationship with plants one that is both serious and long-term. Mainly due to
financial difficulties caused by low wage growth and student debt, this generation delays major life milestones such as buying homes and having children. For the people finding themselves in such a situation, Katlyn says that their attraction to plants can boil down to the basic human instinct of caregiving. “The millennial tend to have children later, thus freeing them up to care for animals and plants. Most of the residential clients I work with either don’t have children yet, or their kids are now out of the house,” she says. It is evident that millennials often become invested in houseplants on an emotional level, but Katlyn makes sure to express the pure fun of experimenting with plants as a decorative feature. She describes the act of finding a plant that fits the aesthetic as an art of its own. Being a millennial working with many clients of the same generational background, she can testify to their style-conscious nature: “This group is okay with spending a little extra money on plants to complete the look of their interior aesthetic. Some folks may opt for a whole collection of terracotta pots, while others want to splurge on planters from local and independent ceramicists. In either scenario, it’s clear that my millennial clients care about design, styling and cohesion.”
”FOR ME, IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT PLANTS, BUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE ENVIRONMENTS IN WHICH WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY.”
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Katlyn holding a Bird of Paradise. Photo by Plants by Her.
While reflecting on millennial plant parents and their motivations, Katlyn looks back on her own journey. As she continued to research, propagate and share advice, her life became increasingly entwined with the plant world, until she turned her passion into a business in 2018. “For me, it’s not just about plants, but their relationship to the environments in which we live, work and play. Plants have been scientifically shown to improve mood, and I love going one step further to ensure that the complementary materials also bring joy,” she says. These are all reasons why Katlyn is on a mission to help people realise the full potential of houseplants and the meaningful bond that can take shape.
STRAP From left: Aloe, Monstera Deliciosa, Philodendron Selloum. Photos by Plants by Her.
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INTERVIEW
ON ROOTBOUND AND FINDING FREEDOM DURING LOCKDOWN WORDS BY NORA MARIE VATLAND
Alice is an author, journalist and editor - but she is a plant lady at heart . Here she talks about how the pandemic changed the urban gardening community and turning her love of horticulture into the novel ’Rootbound: Rewilding a Life’.
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Alice Vincent on the steps of Horniman Gardens. Photo by Giles Smith.
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W
e met over Zoom at noon in the beginning of January. Despite having a chaotic morning following a water leak in her kitchen, Alice Vincent, 32, is cheery and excited to delve into the topic of conversation: her passion for urban gardening and her first novel Rootbound: Rewilding a Life, which was longlisted for the Wainwright prize. Not only is Alice an author, a journalist and the features editor at Penguin Books, she is also one of the most prominent voices of a new generation of gardeners sharing their plant obsession on social media. The selftaught gardening expert started her journey on Instagram and a newsletter under the name Noughticulture. Later writing a column for the Telegraph and multiple gardening books. At first glance, Alice’s Instagram account @noughticulture looks to be the work of a well established horticulturist. Yet, her gardening obsession started as a pastime while at university studying English Literature. It has flourished ever since and attracted over 35,000 followers. “I was very much like a lot of people of my generation, raised to see accomplishment as getting a good job that you love. Always improving and bettering yourself (the trap of late capitalism) and that you always have to be busy. I very much ascribed to that theory, until I got to a point where it wasn’t making me happy anymore.” Following a significant turn in her personal life, gardening created the sense of belonging she had been looking for. “When the relationship I thought I’d have for the rest of my life fell apart, it gave me some kind of philosophical guidance, in the form of understanding that nature repeats itself. Gardening was massively relaxing, reassuring and stabilizing at a time when nothing else in my life was.”
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Alice’s first novel Rootbound came out in paperback last December and is part memoir, part botanical history. Before starting the writing process she would never have imagined that she would sit down and write a book about her heartbreak and life, as well as “plants and the histories that I find interesting about them.” What her life coach told her made it all clear: “You were writing that book because you needed to. It was a form of therapy for what you were going through.” In the novel, Alice reflects on London’s historical green spaces, a horticultural solution to a fast-paced life and explores how plants became her solace as her love fell apart. She looks to her own family and other people who have turned to the earth when things went wrong in the pursuit of finding out what it was that made her want to garden. What does she want her readers to take with them from Rootbound? “I’d like them to think about challenging the expected path of things. To think about other ways they could live their lives that would maybe make them happier.” The gardening obsession dates all the way back to 2015. She shared the first photo alongside a caption reading: “Hi! This is noughticulture. Urban gardening, indoor jungles and greenfingers from SE5”. “I set it up as a sort of extension, a place to play and experiment and see what would happen.” She goes no further before mentioning that she felt gripped by imposter syndrome and a general sense that she did not have enough knowledge to share. In that sense, one can say that the account became a way for her to push herself, and a way to put her hands up and say “I don’t know what I’m doing either.” To this day, she continues to learn and has built strong friendships with people she has met through the gardening community on Instagram. “I didn’t really expect it to
lead me into the world that it has, which is one of such enthusiasm, education and knowledge,” she says. Six years later, gardening in urban cities has gone from being a relatively unusual hobby to becoming the norm, especially among millennials. Alice points out that this generation was never taught how to garden, so what is it that makes this hobby so appealing to them? According to Alice, this boosted interest is owed to multiple factors. Firstly, it can be an attempt to prevent the well known phenomenon amongst millennials: Burnout. “Gardening is kind of the opposite of burnout. It can’t demand that much from you, you get what you put out. It’s just an innately relaxing thing.” Secondly, it is the inevitable rebellion from technology and it being the perfect opposite to what is encouraged to achieve. “We’re very adept at spending
STRAP Horniman Gardens. Photo by Giles Smith.
more time online, and we’ve gotten used to having what we want delivered very quickly. None of that really applies in gardening. You can’t hurry something along because it requires patience and has a level of uncertainty.” Lastly, Alice expresses that she has no doubts that the soaring houseplants sales correlates with people having their freedom stripped away during the pandemic. It has not only changed the pre-existing communities online and offline, but there has been more interest from new gardeners wanting to connect with nature. “People have been locked in their houses, had their freedoms restricted, and of course, an incredibly stressful anxiety inducing moment.” What this has resulted in is a need to tend to something other than yourself. “People are suddenly like ‘I want to grow food. I want to be outside. I want to tend
to my houseplants’, and seeing horticulture and plant care as part of their self-care. That’s never been more needed as time and when we have to spend so much time indoors.” There is no doubt that the pandemic has made urban gardening more difficult due to lack of access to community gardens. People are more desperate than ever before for plant related content to help them learn and share.“We’re all kind of doing our own thing, trying to engage with nature. There is freedom to be found within our gardens.” She goes on to say that regardless of whether you are feeling frustrated, bored, grouchy or sad, gardening can be the cure. “Whenever I feel sad or overwhelmed I go and garden.” This is of course one of the main reasons why, according to the Garden Centre Association, “sales of houseplants across the UK boomed in July
2020, and compared to the same month in 2019, sales were up 81.82 per cent.” One example being Patch, an online plant shop that has experienced a 500 per cent sales increase throughout the pandemic. These statistics make one thing clear: the interest in keeping houseplants goes far beyond decor. There is something far more vital under the surface. What is clear is Alice’s naturally positive outlook. She is able to, even during uncertain times, step back and observe. There is always something flourishing around us. “I’m talking to you now looking at my garden behind the screen. I see loads of shoots coming up. That’s hope, right, that those flowers are going to come?” Lockdown has changed young people’s perspective on gardening and the outdoors as a whole. We can only hope, thanks to the pandemic, that this trend is here to stay. 17
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STEPHANIE FRANCIS ON HOW AN URBAN JUNGLE HELPED HER BEAT THE LOCKDOWN BLUES
INTERVIEW
PLANT POWER : WORDS BY ZAHRA KHADIR
Covid-19 has had a huge impact on our everyday life and mental health. Luckily urban gardening has been the perfect way to cope for Stephanie Francis, as she reconnected with nature during lockdown.
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t is no secret that gardening can boost your mood which is why many turned to plants to reduce their stress and anxiety when the pandemic hit. Coping with isolation and the pace of everyday life slowing down has taken a toll on people’s mental health, especially those of us who are crammed up in tiny flats with little access to green spaces for months on end. This is what happened to the London based, single mother Stephanie Francis. Here, she shares the story of how one Yukka plant became the start of a self-care journey and a learning experience. Before the pandemic hit the UK, 36-year-old Stephanie worked at a primary school as a teacher trainee, until the training programme was suspended by the school due to lockdown and restrictions. The world has come to a standstill and Stephanie found herself without a job and a lack of purpose. “When the first lockdown started, I found myself with more time on my hands, no adults to talk to and a strange sense of being in freefall after being so used to spending most of my time at work. It was lonely and having recently moved to a new apartment, it felt strangely empty,” Stephanie says. Suddenly, every day was spent at home with her 11-yearold son. The only adult she could physically meet and have a conservation with was the postman, which
was even limited due to social distancing. Stephanie explains that this was a big adjustment and it left her feeling extremely lonely. Before Stephanie had to leave the school, she adopted their neglected Yukka Plant, officially making her a plant parent. As she had recently moved into a new apartment, she felt strangely empty and thought some plants would keep her busy. So, in the hopes of livening up the place that she now found herself spending most of her time in, Stephanie set out on a plant journey. Slowly but surely, she found a new purpose. She had always wanted to garden but was limited to a simple windowsill for herbs at best. When doing research, she found that air purifying plants are great for people with allergies. This is what she had been waiting for since she was a little girl as she had severe allergies and gardening outside would start a minefield of reactions. And so, she delved into the world of urban gardening. Her new apartment had big, south-facing windows and a large balcony, so it seemed like the perfect time to extend the plant portfolio. “A few plants quickly became 50 and I couldn’t be happier!” she says.
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Stephanie Francis’ plant collection.
Photo by Stephanie Francis.
Stephanie Francis’ plant collection.
Photo by Stephanie Francis.
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When setting out on this new journey, Stephanie found social media, particularly Pinterest, to be a useful tool for acquiring information about plant care and advice. Stephanie’s research led her to the houseplant expert, Planterina on Youtube and she happily admits watching her religiously for nearly a month. She later looked her up on Instagram and this is where she found the wonderful plant and gardening community. It was not long before she felt inspired enough to engage with the community herself and so she made her own account dedicated to sharing plant pictures and care tips on @Mangocherry_plantlady. She adds that she is also in some online plant groups and “joining plant pages and groups helped me to make friends and kept me communicating with the outside world, even if only virtually.” Before the pandemic hit, she would move around a lot and get between 15,000 to 25,000 steps in one day. Now she barely walks 4,000 steps and this sudden reduction in movement seemed to exacerbate sleep issues and anxiety. Stephanie is not the only one suffering from the lack of movement, according to a study from Oxford University, there has been a rise in negative mental health, with the younger generation suffering the most, since the start of lockdown restrictions. The study also found 46 per cent of the participant were less active, and there had been an increase in the consumption of fast-food and alcohol. This has led to an increase in depression and anxiety, something Stephanie also has been suffering from, as well as an
“TAKING TIME TO JUST APPRECIATE THE PLANTS IS A MINDFUL EXERCISE”
increasing level of suicidal thoughts. Stephanie missed her work at the school and her students more so. She started to get deeply concerned about the future, this is where taking care of her plant babies helped her quiet the mind, keep busy and simply enjoy the beauty of the moment. Stephanie makes it clear that nurturing plants and an urban garden has helped her mental health: “Absolutely. Learning about the needs of the plants helps keep the mind active and the body moving. It is also hugely rewarding when you find the right routine for a plant and it begins to reward you with beautiful new foliage or flowers,” she says. The effects of Covid-19 are hitting every generation hard, however, millennials are the worst affected generation. A survey by the Office for National Statistics showed millennials (and gen z) in the UK were the most likely to suffer from depression during the pandemic. The statistics show that between July 2019 and March 2020 only 10.9 per cent suffered from moderate to severe depression, however, fast forward to June 2020, it was up to 31.0 per cent. In this time of bleak statistics, many millennials are expanding their indoor gardens in the hopes of reaping the benefits of their physical and mental health properties. Stephanie reiterates that is has been a tough journey, but what helped her is “taking time to just appreciate the plants is a mindful exercise; enjoying the different textures, colours and shapes on a plant can promote a sense of calm,” Stephanie says.
Stephanie Francis’ plant collection.
Photo by Stephanie Francis.
There is no doubt that gardening has been an enormous help after losing her dream job and strug-gling with motivation during several lockdowns. This was especially challenging as a single mother. Her advice to people who want to start urban gardening is to “just do it”. Even if you are a bit nervous and have no knowledge about gardening, it is well worth taking the time to get to know your plant and not lose hope. There is a community of plant parents ready to support you and it is rewarding and fulfilling to start a plant family. Stephanie’s story acts as an important reminder for millennials who have not yet introduced plants into their homes and her expe-
riences indicate that gardening can be a great remedy for mental health problems. Starting an urban garden is not only good for your home environment or a beautiful addition to your space, it is a way to connect and interact with nature. When doing that you will see an improvement in your well-being and a reduction in stress-related symptoms. Even as we find ourselves living in big cities surrounded by concrete walls and fluorescent lights, our connection to nature is fundamental. As the world is at a standstill, this is the time to start, for millennials to introduce nature into their home and experience the gratifying journey of becoming a plant parent. 21
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ADVICE
DON’T YOU KNOW THAT YOU’RE TOXIC? WORDS BY EMILY KIMBER
Houseplants might be the new standard in mindfulness and self-care, but are we unwittingly poisoning our pets? Here are nine plants that any pet owner should steer clear of. Your plants are bound to liven up any room, and so will your pets. With that said, there are some cases where the two do not mix as some common houseplants are toxic for your cats and dogs. With that in mind, here is a list of the nine most common houseplants that any pet owner should steer away from, along with the
symptoms of poisoning to watch out for. If you do happen to have any of the plants we mention below then we recommend making the difficult decision to rehome your plant babies. The good news, however, is that there are plenty of options for finding your plant a more suitable home. You could donate your plant to a
community centre or a friend. You could also organise a plant swap for a more pet-friendly alternative. Or perhaps you can use the opportunity to make a bit of extra money by using sites such as Facebook Marketplace or Etsy. In any case, it pays to go the extra mile in keeping your fur babies safe.
DEVIL’S IVY Epipremnum aureum
DRACAENA Dracaena marginata
PEACE LILY Spathiphyllum
Also known as Satin or Silk Pothos, Devil’s Ivy is toxic to both dogs and cats. This plant contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals which can irritate the mouth and tongue and cause difficulty swallowing.
Dracaena is a perfect pick for the houseplant novice. However, the dracaena species plant contains saponin, a chemical compound which can cause weakness and incoordination when ingested.
Peace lilies will not help your dog find inner zen, but will instead cause oral pain, drooling and a loss of appetite. In severe cases, your pet may have trouble breathing due to an inflamed airway.
ALOE VERA Aloe Barbadensis
ASPARAGUS FERN Asparagus setaceus
HYDRANGEA Hydrangea macrophylla
Aloe Vera has miraculous healing properties for humans, but adverse effects for your pets. If pure aloe is ingested by small pets it can cause excessive vomiting, severe diarrhea, and low blood sugar.
True ferns are typically non-toxic such as the Boston or the Parlour Fern. But there are still some which you need to be aware of such as the Asparagus Fern which can cause abdominal pain.
There are many species of the hydrangea plant, all of which are toxic to pets. Consumption may lead to vomiting and diarrhea. In severe cases, hydrangea poisoning can cause lethargy and depression.
SNAKE PLANT Dracaena trifasciata
JADE Crassula arborescens
RUBBER TREE Ficus elastica
Also known as golden bird’s nest and mother-in-law’s tongue, large doses can cause nausea and vomiting. The poison found in this plant has a numbing effect, causing the tongue and throat to swell.
While being incredibly useful in treating stress, anxiety and disorders of blood circulation, Jade can cause vomiting, decreased heart rate and depression if consumed by your pet.
The Ficus Elastica, better known as a Rubber Tree Plant, will look great in any home with its distinctive leaf pattern. However, if consumed, irritation of the mouth and gastrointestinal tract may occur.
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INTERVIEW
DIVERSITY IN FLORISTRY:
HOW SAGE FLOWERS IS STANDING UP TO AN INDUSTRY STUCK IN THE PAST WORDS BY MARTINE AAMODT HESS
Flowers are associated with love, beauty and innocence, but beneath the polished surface lies a much darker story. In floristry, there are invisible barriers to entry rooted in racism and prejudice. This is where SAGE Flowers comes in as a team on a journey to change exactly that.
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ale green hydrangeas and soft rose petals paired with dramatic peonies and magenta lace-leaves reaching for the sky. Step into the heavenly world of SAGE Flowers and be greeted by sculptural bouquets resembling works of contemporary art. The Peckham-based floral studio has brought a pop of colour to South London and supplied no other than Rihanna and Gucci with vibrant installments. Though it is not only their floral arrangements that are unconventional. In an industry dominated by whiteness and a lack of willingness to diversify it, SAGE’s co-founders Iona Mathieson and Romy St Clair actively work towards inclusion. As SAGE is celebrating its two-year anniversary this month, we can look back at the many ways in which they have chosen to take a clear stance on the shortcomings of the industry. Romy explains: “There is very little diversity in floristry as it stands.
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In the shops and studios, there are mostly white women and the flower market mostly consists of white men.” She believes this lack of diversity is caused by prejudice that permeates the industry, and the resulting barriers which keep people of certain backgrounds from entering or even seeing it as an option. “Barriers to entry into floristry include training fees, the expectation to do unpaid internships and an unwelcoming working environment,” Romy says. Despite running a small independent business, the co-founders have set out on a mission to drive forward much-needed change. Throughout lockdown, they have invited industry professionals to participate in online panel discussions where inclusion is on the agenda. In the hope of paving the way for others to do the same, SAGE has recently also established the free training programme FutureFlowers.
Photo by Christian Cassiel.
From left: Iona Mathieson and Romy St Clair.
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”THE DEMAND IS THERE BUT THE SUPPORT IS NOT.”
Flower display in the studio. Photos by SAGE Flowers.
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The programme is for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) as to challenge the current barriers to entry for these groups. Without having to pay thousands of pounds or take unpaid internships, the trainees get an introduction to bouquet assembly, vase arrangements and installations, as well as tips on setting up their own business and promoting their services. It is clear that SAGE has taken a step in the right direction with their three-monthlong training programme, which is to run four times a year. However, they are fully booked until December 2021 and rely on donations and volunteers to keep it going. Each new name signed up to the waiting list goes to show the need for more affordable training, scholarships and bursaries. “The demand is there but the support is not. A few individuals and companies are doing what they can to catalyse the change we need, but most remain ignorant to the issues and the need to take responsibility for the lack of diversity,” says Romy as she urges businesses to review their hiring and management policies as to open up their spaces to BIPOC and protect employees of all backgrounds. Inequality in floristry takes on many forms, one being the issue of land ownership. “There is not equal access to land for planting and growing, so careers in horticulture and floristry are skewed towards those who have already got to enjoy it, usually the white middle and upper classes,” Romy says. She also explains that racism and classism in floristry and horticulture are deeply rooted in colonialism.“Flowers were discovered by explorers and brought back to their homes as an exotic, rare, luxury good. Then named after the discoverer, removing the connection to its origin.” The racism persists, despite efforts from voices like Decolonise the Garden that is campaigning to remove racial slurs that still exist in plant names, and the Royal Horticultural Society recognising it as an issue. While the team behind SAGE is disappointed by the state of the industry, there is no doubt that they are passionate about the profession. Two years ago, the duo decided to leave their former career paths behind to pursue floral design full-time. Since then, they have continued to strive for inclusivity with the aim that more people, regardless of their background, will be able to share the joy that they have found in floristry. “There has never been a better time to be working with nature. Find your niche, engage your audience and people will support you,” Romy encourages.
LIFESTYLE
FERN FEVER: THE VICTORIAN LOVE AFFAIR THAT PAVED THE WAY FOR GENDER EQUALITY WORDS BY NORA MARIE VATLAND
How a largely forgotten fern craze and the study of horticulture became a push for women’s freedom and empowerment throughout the Victorian era.
Have you ever wondered how houseplants grew their way into our social media feed and inspired hashtags such as #plantparenthood #succulentsunday, #plantsoninstragram and #monsteramonday? With the current houseplant trend in mind, it is inevitable ask questions like ‘how do plant trends come to be?’ and ‘how have previous plant obsessions paved the way for modern-day horticulture?’ In our technology driven world, it may come as a surprise that our plant obsession did not begin on social media. We need to go back in time. To 1860s Britain to be exact. This period is commonly known as a time where great comfort and wealth stood in stark contrast to squalor and poverty. It was an era where a woman’s place was in the home, looking after the children and maintaining her beauty. This not only kept her out of the public sphere but also limited her daily activities. What you may not yet be aware of is the Victorians’ baffling obsession with ferns. Starting in around 1830 and peaking in the 1860s, the craze, coined by novelist Charles Kingsley as ‘Pteridomania’ or
‘fern fever’, quickly made its way into Victorians’ everyday life. They immortalised their obsession by producing pottery, glass, textiles and gravestones with fern designs in many variations. Picnics, weekend trips and daily walks were planned around fern hunting which became increasingly popular and accessible due to railroads being built. Late naturalist and gardener Peter D.A Boyd wrote in his 1993 Pteridomania - the Victorian passion for ferns that Britain had since the late 1930s been “attracting increasing numbers of amateur and professional botanists.” In other words, while the traditional way of life continued seemingly unchallenged, an organic revolution emerged and spread its roots throughout Victorian society. The fern fever is a vital part of botanical history as it impacted society as a whole, reaching beyond the formerly excluding botanic community. Boyd wrote that “Even the farm labourer or miner could have a collection of British ferns which he had collected in the wild and a common interest sometimes brought people of very different social backgrounds together.”
When learning about the social and political significance of this movement it is clear that it transcends its decorative nature. Up until this point, gardening was a male-dominated activity and women were often not allowed to garden at all. Suddenly, the hobby was predominantly enjoyed by young women and teenage girls, making the movement hold a pre-feminist spirit. In other words, this new fascination gave them access to nature and the freedom to pursue a vastly different pastime. Women were permitted to do so unaccompanied by a male escort and would, according to The Gardeners’ chronicle, wear a ‘kilted dress’. This indicates that new clothes were made specifically to improve and ease movement. In 1855, Kingsley encouraged the study of plant history in his book Glaucus while reflecting on young girls’ curiosity for fern collecting. “Your daughters, perhaps, have been seized with the prevailing ’Pteridomania’, and are collecting and buying ferns, with Ward’s cases wherein to keep them (for which you have to pay), and wrangling over unpronounceable na 27
LIFESTYLE STRAP mes of species (which seem different in each new Fern-book that they buy), till the Pteridomania seems to be somewhat of a bore: and yet you cannot deny that they find enjoyment in it, and are more active, more cheerful, more self-forgetful over it, than they would have been over novels and gossip, crochet and Berlin-wool.” Despite its beauty and accessibility in British wilderness, it seems odd how ferns attracted the staggering attention. From a biological perspective, the species are able to flourish even with lack of sunlight, making it the ideal houseplant for poorly lit Victorian homes. However, after being uprooted and transported to air-polluted cities, the ferns were unable to thrive. They became dependent on what is today known as a terrarium to survive. 28
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Furthermore, at its peak, the amount of people taking advantage of the wilderness was enormous to the extent and the government even debated imposing regulations prohibiting people from uprooting certain species to avoid extinction. The Victorian fern fever, like any other craze, was not everlasting. Despite eventually being replaced with an orchids obsession, the impact remains an important, though often forgotten, piece of history. Throughout its 50 year-peak it boosted female freedom and empowerment. And there is no doubt that plant mums today are still chasing the same thrill and excitement when ordering their new plant babies with a click of a button.
Polypodium Filix Mas by James Sowerby
Asplenium Scolopendrium by James Sowerby.
”Plant mums today are still chasing the same thrill and excitement.”
WWW.PATCHPLANTS.COM
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WWW.THESTEM.CO.UK
WWW.LITTLEGREEN.CO
Launched in December 2015, Patch Plants offers a huge range of plants and accessories accompanied by expert advice to make sure your plant babies are getting the best care possible. As well as the lack of packaging with all purchases for London-based customers, Patch Plants also works with a ‘just-in-time’ supply model which means that they do not buy stock from their growers in Holland until it sells on the site. So there is virtually no waste!
Born in October 2019 with the aim of making the city more green, The Stem London has sustainability at the core of every step in its supply chain. From all deliveries being made in electric vans, to the recycled paper that every plant arrives in, The Stem London aims to have as small a carbon footprint as possible. Additionally, they have recently partnered with Eden Reforestation Projects where a tree is planted for every order placed.
Little Green delivers 95 per cent by bicycle in the Bristol area, plus mail orders to the rest of the UK. Their HQ is run entirely on renewable energy and they have also partnered with Five Acre Farm to create their own recycling scheme where unwanted, hard-to-recycle plastic plant pots are put to good use. They also help local education and community organisations who run horticulture projects for children and vulnerable people.
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ADVICE STRAP
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CLICK AND GROW YOUR INDOOR JUNGLE ...THE SUSTAINABLE WAY WORDS BY EMILY KIMBER
A list of six amazing, and most importantly sustainable, online plant shops that we hope you will love much as we do.
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WWW.LEAFENVY.CO.UK
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WWW.HARRIETSPLANTS.CO.UK
WWW.CUEMARS.COM
A company which was initially started on a canal boat on Regents Canal, Leaf Envy is founded on its green values. The company relies on a carbon neutral delivery company as well as packing the plants in 100 per cent recyclable packaging, using FSC Certified cardboard boxes and biodegradable protective cushioning. Just as The Stem does, Leaf Envy also plants a tree with every purchase to aid global reforestation and ecological restoration.
If you are looking for something a touch more personal, Harriet’s Plants was founded a few years ago by Harriet Thompson whilst studying plant science at The Eden Project in Cornwall. After graduating, she brought her knowledge back to Staffordshire where she grew up. All orders are packaged in 100 per cent biodegradable, reusable and compostable packaging. Harriet also ensures that all of her wholesale partners hold the same ethical standards.
As a conscious lifestyle store in London with an ethos of ‘buy less, buy better’, Cuemars uses paper bags and plant-based sleeves to negate a heavy carbon footprint. To maintain an ecological balance, they also use LED filament and dimmable incandescent lighting. Alongside a large range of houseplants and unique paper vases made from waterproof paper, Cuemars stocks contemporary clothing, lifestyle and homeware goods. 29 31
LIFESTYLE The ‘Albo’.
Photo by Katie Elyse.
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A BREATHTAKING PLANT AND PRICE WORDS BY MARTINE AAMODT HESS
Leaves like marble. Fierce online bidding wars. Thousands of pounds for a single cutting. This is the saga of the stunning Variegated Monstera.
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wing to its luscious green and perforated leaves, the Monstera has become the star of both our Instagram feeds and interior magazines. Its photogenic nature and ability to liven up any space means that it is hard to imagine any plant challenging its status - other than itself that is. Enter the Variegated Monstera. This variation of the plant has all the qualities we know and love, but its creamy specks and spots make it a showstopper. Plant enthusiasts swoon, but the Variegated Monstera is rare and in high-demand, leading to a hefty price tag. What makes the Variegated Monstera so striking is that sections of the plant vary in colour. This is due to a mutation that causes lower chlorophyll production. Among the different types is the ‘Thai Constellation’, the name referring to the stars due to its milky speckled variegation. Another favourite is the ‘Albo’ which is characterised by larger swaths of white forming a crisp marbled pattern. “Some of these plants produce the most amazing variegation. We can’t deny how stunning they are,” says Belle Chawisa, also known as @plantattic on Instagram. Her extensive collection of houseplants, kept in her Newcastle-flat, has attracted more than 20,000 followers. To no surprise, the 27-year-old has an eye for the Variegated Monstera. She explains that other popular types include yellow variegation and more
recently on the market: ‘Sport’ which is lime-coloured, as well as ‘Mint’ and ‘White Monster’ for which the name suggests the colour of the variegation. Since the first lockdown, interest in urban gardening has spiked and the market for Variegated Monsteras has become fiercer than ever before. “In this current climate, prices are skyrocketing in every part of the world, so it’ll be interesting to see how the market plays out in 2021,” says Belle. In January, one ‘Mint’ cutting was sold by a Swedish aroid collector on eBay for £2,800. On the other side of the globe, an ‘Albo’ mother plant sparked a bidding war and sold for nearly £3,000 after receiving 182 bids on the New Zealand website Trade Me. “I think online listings can naturally get crazy which can also be unfortunate for buyers as that sets the standard for how much that plant ‘should’ get sold for,” says Belle. Though she is quick to add that people tend to see it as an investment. “I personally think it’s up to the individual and how they want to spend their money as we all have different priorities in life,” she concludes. Katie Elyse, on the other hand, is frustrated by the price increase. The 28-year-old started collecting houseplants four years ago and teaches classes on plant care and propagation. “It makes me really sad to see that the market is changing so drastically and it’s becoming more of a competition
and cash grab for something that makes people genuinely happy,” she says. One of the main reasons why Katie became involved in the community was because of people’s generous nature, whether that means sharing advice or swapping plants. She points out that it has become more difficult to find genuine collectors who are curating their plants because it brings them joy and not just for the clout or the ‘quick buck’. While Katie appreciates the beauty of the Variegated Monstera, she believes the popularity is not entirely owed to its good looks: “I think it’s just the basic principle of wanting what you don’t have. They’re stunning plants and seeing something that, unfortunately, has a really high price tag creates a feeling of rarity and status if you are able to own one.” According to Belle, both type and location determine the price: “I wouldn’t consider the ‘Albo’ for example as rare as they have been on the market and readily available in nurseries in the Netherlands.” The yellow variegated Monsteras, in contrast, are more difficult to come by in the West as they have increased in price in Asia. This is where European sellers would normally import from, meaning that each business has to decide if the increased cost price is worth it. “Now, the Mint variegation is probably the most sought after, but they are extremely expensive, making them inaccessible for many plant enthusiasts.” 31
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When it comes to plant care, Belle says that some people lose interest in variegated plants because they can be difficult to maintain: “The variegation is basically a defect on an area of the plant. Because it doesn’t produce chlorophyll, it is natural for it to go brown over time as it can’t produce energy for the plant. The more variegation, although beautiful, the more detrimental it can be for the plant as it might not be able to sustain itself.” Variegated Monsteras are the same as every other aroid in the sense that they thrive in humid conditions and need plenty of sunlight to grow. However, Katie underlines that monsteras are particularly dependent on light in order to produce perforated leaves with mid-rib holes. And when you add a lack of chlorophyll production on top of that, you need to compensate for it. “My general rule of thumb is, if I’ve got any type of variegation
in a plant, I know I need to double the amount of light I would give it if it was all green,” Katie advises. In other words, there are a couple of hinders along the way if you decide to pursue the Variegated Monstera. Still, Belle does not believe this should put you off the plant entirely. “Some people have been very lucky to find yellow and green variegation in garden centres and supermarkets,” she says. Belle also emphasises that, despite its delicateness, she does not think the Variegated Monstera is the most difficult plant to care for. Her advice? “Definitely do your research prior, same for every new species you bring into your environment.”
Katie went to a garden sale at 7am to secure her ’Albo’. Photo by Katie Elyse.
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ADVICE
The 70s is back with the rise in popularity of macrame plant hangers. Here is how you can jump on the trend with these five simple steps. WORDS BY EMILY KIMBER
This plant hanger is the perfect addition to any plant-lover’s home as it is cost effective, versatile and, most importantly, another excuse for you to fill your home with even more plants. If you are not familiar with the art of macrame, to put it simply, it is a textile craft based on knotting strings in patterns. So, as intimidating as it may initially seem, macrame is a craft for everyone of all abilities. The instructions below will teach you how to make a simple plant hanger and is a great introduction to start you off on your macrame journey! Once you get the hang of it, there are a number of ways in which you can add a personal touch: experimenting with types of knot, beads and even colour. But for now, let us get working on a classic!
EQUIPMENT: • The pot you intend to hang • 28 metres 3mm cotton rope • 50cm of 3mm cotton rope • 1inch metal ring Time Estimate: Two hours 34
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Half-square knot
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Cut your rope into eight lots of 3.5 metres. Next, thread through the metal ring and match up both ends. Do not worry if the ends are not identical as you will be trimming them later.
Flatten out the rope and secure with a gathering knot: Cut a piece of rope around 50cm in length. Fold the string with the ends facing upwards to create a ‘U’ shape. Take the long end and wrap it around the strings. Keep wrapping the string around, arranging it below the previous wrap and continue until you are close to the folded area. Take the end of the string and pass it through the loop. Pull the top string until it traps the bottom string underneath the knot. Cut the top and bottom string’s end.
Divide your rope into four sections of four. These are going to be the arms of the plant hanger. With each section, use a half-square knot to create the spiralling effect to the length you desire. Make sure that all arms are of equal length. Move working string 1 over strings 2 and 3, heading right. Pass it under the working string 4. Move working string 4 to the left, passing it under the two middle strings and overworking string 1. Pull-on both working strings to tighten the knot while holding the middle strings steady.
Now you will create the net for your pot to sit in. Leave a 6 inch gap and create a crossover square knot using the two right cords from your first group and the two left cords from the adjacent group. (Note that a square knot follows the same pattern as a half-square but instead alternates sides.) Repeat for the remaining knot groups. Leave a 6 inch gap and create another crossover square knot by alternating the cords from the previous step. Leave a 3 inch gap and secure with a gathering knot (see step two).
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Trim off excess cord to the tassel length you desire and fray the ends of the rope. Finally, bask in the glory of your beautiful macrame plant hanger.
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Crossover square knot
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SPRING INTO THE SEASON A SEASONAL CHECKLIST WORDS BY ZAHRA KHADIR
Spring is in the air, the earth is reborn and your plants are coming to life after a long and cold winter. In other words, your plants are in need of some TLC. This checklist will help you nurture your babies’ needs and give them the support that will help them grow.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Photo by Chandra Oh.
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QUENCH THEIR THIRST
Good watering habits will allow your plants to adjust to the new season as the temperature rises and they will be thirsty. For most plants, you need to keep the soil moist so check frequently if it feels dry to the touch. Be careful not to overwater, you can check under the pot to indicate the moisture of the soil. The same goes for not letting your plant go thirsty with an indication of dehydration being a drop or browning of the leaves. The plant may also begin to wither.
TRIM AND CUT
Plants can become spotted and blemished, especially after long periods of neglect. If the branches and leaves are yellow or brown, they need to be cut immediately. However, if only some leaves are discoloured, you can simply trim the discoloured part of it. This can motivate growth and branching, but also make your plants more presentable and ready for the new season.
REHOME
Repotting will help stimulate growth and offer more space for quickly spreading roots. It is important to choose a pot with drainage holes to avoid water collecting in the soil and thereby causing root rot. You want to move them into a pot that is a couple of inches wider on the outside (use your fingers as an indicator). Keep in mind that not all plants need to be repotted so individually assess each plant. Look at the bottom of the pot to see if they have outgrown their pot. If the roots are peaking out at the bottom or at the top of the soil, it is time to give them more room.
SPRING CLEAN
It is time for some washing and not just an apartment clean-out. Your plants are in need of a spring clean too. Remove any dust that has accumulated over the winter. Take a soft damp towel or cloth and gently clean the leaves. However, if you are feeling a bit lazy, you can bring them in the shower and carefully wash them with lukewarm water.
AVOID SUNBURN
Did you move your plants closer to a sunny window during winter? Then it might be time to rethink their positioning. If the leaves start turning white or brown, move them away from their usual spot. Of course, your plants will need a healthy dose of light to thrive, but spring’s warmer temperatures and sun can be detrimental. So to avoid sunburnt leaves, be conscious of their positioning.
FEED YOUR PLANT BABY
Now that your babies are growing, they need to be fed in order to remain healthy. Use fertiliser to give them a dose of nutrients, but remember to start off slowly as they are just waking up and a full dose can come as a shock. Hopefully, your plants are feeling as refreshed as you and that you are now ready for the new season!
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Iona Mathieson and Romy St Clair. Photo by Christian Cassiel.
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”THERE IS FREEDOM TO BE FOUND WITHIN OUR GARDENS.” - ALICE VINCENT
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