International Plant Appreciation Day 2023 Q&A

Happy International Plant Appreciation Day! 🥳🪴

Today is a special day where many of us show our appreciation for plants by sharing some snazzy snaps of our favourite plants and engaging in plant related conversations with others. Plants do so much for us, which most of us don't think about that often. They give us the fuel we use, the food we eat, the medications we take and, of course, the oxygen we breathe.

To celebrate International Plant Appreciation Day 2023, I had a chat with some incredible guys who run some of my favourite plant accounts over on Instagram; asking them some questions to get to know a bit more about the faces behind the accounts. I really hope that you enjoy reading this, as I had a fantastic time chatting to these guys and I am immensely grateful that they took the time out of their day to answer some questions from me.

Anyways, let's hear from the guys!

Greg (Instagram: @_philogreg_)

1 - Can you please tell me a bit about yourself?

"I’m Greg or Grzegorz. I’m 23 years old and live in Rzeszów in Poland. It is here in Rzeszów that I collect my plants. I’m also a student studying graphic design, whilst also working as a waiter in my downtime."

2 - What do you love the most about plants?

"What I love about plants is that I treat them like my babies, except they are silent and do not make a sound. When they really need you and are trying to get your attention, you begin to see their sensitive side which I love. Also, new growth! Who is not excited about new leaves popping out of their favourite plants? It’s truly a reward, especially when the new one finally unfurls and you’re able to see whether it’s healthy or not. But that also begs the questions what did you do wrong? Does the size compare to the last new leaf?. For us plant parents, this process is a bit like having a baby! One other thing I love about plants is that I’m amazed by all the shapes, forms, hybrids, textures, veins, colours and ways the plants like to grow and how they produce leaves. This is why the more I’m scrolling through social media, the more I find new plants that I instantly want to get and thats what makes me fall more and more in love with plants."

3 - What is something you wish you knew when you started collecting plants?

"Before I answer this, I should mention that I started growing plants both indoors and outdoors around 8 years ago as a child, I didn’t know much so I lost many of them. I’m not gonna do much damage in saying that I’m sure that I'm not the only one that has had an excessive care phase where maybe I do a bit too much... I remember when I was younger, I would change plant pots several times in a week, because I thought the plants didn’t like them very much. I used to stick my finger into the soil to check if it was dry and it was always way too dry for me, so I always overwatered my plants to the point where they would die and I would throw them in the trash. I wish I knew that indoor plants and succulents do not need as much water as many people think they do and that succulents do not require as much care as I thought they needed. I'm glad that I’m continually learning from my mistakes, but that is a big part of being a plant parent!"

4 - What’s your favourite house plant that you own?

"There are so many that I love and it’s difficult to choose a favourite. But the first one that I really fell in love with was Philodendron Melanochrysum for its big, long, velvety leaves. However it rather quickly pissed me off though when it stopped growing! My current favourite house plant is the Philodendron Patriciae for its long leaves and fast growth or maybe Philodendron Gloriosum for its round shape, adult velvet leaves and its leaves that are almost neon green (not to forget that this is also a fast grower!)."

5 - Do you have any succulents? If so, what is your favourite?

"It’s funny, because I started off growing plants outdoors before switching to indoor succulents, as they were so popular in supermarkets. I purchased my first one and started my journey. The first one that I purchased was a Pachypodium lamerei which has survived to this day and is now taller than me (and I'm 6ft!). I haven't bought any succulents recently, but when I see them in the local garden centres I am very tempted; and I know that I will get some more soon!"

Robin (Instagram: @rooting4robin)

1 - Can you please tell me a bit about yourself?

"I'm Robin and I was born in the tropics, Cebu in the Philippines. I spent my childhood with various alocasias and SE Asian orchids as my grandma was an avid hobbyist. That stemmed my love for plants. I moved to Australia when I was 20 and continued that passion when I was there. I moved here in the UK in 2015 and started my own urban jungle that year as I was sad I had to let go of my Aussie collection."

2 - What do you love the most about plants?

"Plants give me a sense of calmness and being wanted. It’s nice to see them thrive and realise, they need me to survive and I need them for my mental health. The thought of keeping them alive brings purpose in my life and in return, they provide me with happiness."

3 - What is something you wish you knew when you started collecting plants?

"Never follow current plant trends! I’ve always been into plants, and it was only when the pandemic began that I decided to start my Insta plant page. Since then, I’ve been inundated with plant posts that sometimes made me sad and jealous because I don’t have what they have. But take your time to build your urban jungle, and never sell your kidney for a plant!"

4 - What’s your favourite house plant that you own?

"I have a soft spot for anthuriums!"

5 - Do you have any succulents? If so, what is your favourite?

"I actually don’t have any succulents. Haha"

Chris (Instagram: @theplantguychris)

1 - Can you please tell me a bit about yourself?

"My name is Chris Bumbaca, I’m 31 years old and from New Jersey in the USA, and I’m obsessed with houseplants. My plant obsession started in 2018 with my first African violet and a single pothos cutting. Since then my passion has grown immensely. My houseplant collection has evolved into a mini indoor jungle and I started Bumbaca Botanicals - a plant consulting and coaching business, and have plans to expand my brand into a one-stop-shop to further help guide others to green thumb greatness."

2 - What do you love the most about plants?

"There are many things I absolutely love about houseplants but the positive reinforcement that plants bring into my life is what I love about them most. Since becoming a plant parent, I have strengthened my sense of accountability, responsibility, and confidence. Plants also act as a reminder to also care for ourselves and to give ourselves time to regrow."

3 - What is something you wish you knew when you started collecting plants?

"There are three things I wish I was knowledgeable about when I first was starting to collect houseplants:

Do your research before buying: when visiting a nursery or greenhouse for the first time it can be very easy to buy every 'cool plant' you see but trust me, start slow and do your research. I bought around 20 plants and immediately became overwhelmed. I was not aware of the care each individual plant needed, I did not have the space or proper lighting, and quite a few ended up declining. While trial and error is an inevitable part of being a plant parent, educating yourself will only benefit you and your houseplants.

A bigger pot does not mean your plant will grow faster: when repotting, select a pot, with drainage holes, that is only an inch or two bigger than the original pot. If aplant is repotted in too big of a pot, the excess soil will remain too wet which can cause root rot, pests, and ultimately the demise of your plant.

It’s better to underwater than overwater: overwatering your plant is a very common occurrence. Overwatering is the result of watering your plants too frequently and not by how much water you give them at one time. My best tip is to water your plants when the weight of the pot feels light."

4 - What’s your favourite house plant that you own?

"My favourite houseplant, I own, is my giant peace lily. I originally purchased her in 2019 when she was living in a six-inch pot and now, in 2023, she currently resides in a big 12-inch pot. In the spring and summer, she lives in a bright indirect spot with plenty of morning sun."

5 - Do you have any succulents? If so, what is your favourite?

"I do have a few succulents: Echeveria Orion, Moonstone, Haworthia, and two Tiger-tooth Aloes. My favorite is the Moonstone or Pachyphytum Oviferum. There are many characteristics of Moonstone that I love: the chunky round leaves, the colors they turn when exposed to higher levels of light, and, of course, their resilience."

Final Thoughts

Once again, I must thank these three incredible gents for giving up their time to talk to me and share some really useful tips! I hope you've enjoyed reading this and that you have learned a thing or two. Please check all three of these amazing people out on Instagram!