Kayla
Better With Plants | Kayla
Which plant is your favorite plant in your collection and why?
It is most difficult to choose a favorite, but I have two in my collection that hold a special place in my heart. Senecio rowleyanus, better known as string-of-pearls, which I found in the Columbus STUMP location. I had stopped in the shop with my parents on my way to school one summer. The other is a Ficus lyrata, or Fiddle-Leaf Fig, that I had been keeping an eye on in a plant shop in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. After a difficult weekend, I had stopped in and saw it was on sale. I bought it without hesitation and carried it all the way back to my apartment, which was about two miles away!
Which planter is your favorite planter in your collection and why?
A Chinese take-out container! I keep my Pilea (Chinese Money Plant) inside. The Pilea has done great inside the container. The plant is from a small plant shop in New Chinatown, Chicago.
What’s your favorite story about a plant in your collection?
My school in Pittsburgh was having an event where you could take home a succulent. By the time I got there, only one was left. It was small and sad looking. Nobody wanted it. So, I took it home and it has grown into a strong and healthy plant. It even has new babies of its own. I feel like every day it tells me thanks for bringing it home.
What does your plant care routine look like?
I wake up looking forward to checking on my plants. Especially when I start new seeds. I heard once that speaking to your plants helps them grow. So sometimes, I say hello to them and say thanks for growing. I am often singing in my apartment as well, so I hope that helps too! I usually water when I feel like they need it. Which is different for every plant. But most of my plants don’t need frequent watering. I also rotate the plants every so often so they get an even amount of exposure to the sun. I tried sticking my larger plants in the shower after reading the first Better with Plants interview, and it worked great!
How / what got you into houseplants?
My mom always kept plants in the house growing up and so did my grandma. For as long as I can remember our windows have been filled with plants. I remember my mom having a Sansevieria plant (we always called it a mother-in-law’s tongue) that she got from my great grandma. As far as we know, the plant has been alive since the 60s! I keep one of the babies from that plant in my apartment here in Pittsburgh now. I am always grateful to my mom for teaching me how to care for them.
Why should everyone have a houseplant?
I think now more than ever, having something alive and green in your space helps with the isolation. Plants are also excellent teachers in patience. One of my favorite quotes by Lao Tzu says “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” I think we all need that reminder when we let our lives become so hurried.
Photos By: Kayla
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