Lydia
Better With Plants | Lydia
What was your first houseplant?
My first plant was an asparagus fern that I got at a plant auction for 50 cents at age 7. All the elderly women clapped as I stood up to retrieve it. It grew 10 feet long.
Which plant is your favorite plant in your collection and why?
I love my purple Rita Cactus. I found it growing in my mother-in-law’s condominium complex in Las Vegas. They grow like weeds there.
Favorite plant memory?
My mother grew up in the greenhouse industry (she is now at Longwood Gardens) and had a sunroom that was filled with massive Hoyas, lemon trees, and rabbit-paw ferns. My weekly chore was to pick up all the leaves--I hated her for that. I’d kill for any of those plants now.
Any advice for new plant owners?
1. Dust your plants frequently. 2. Learn how to support your Monstera. 3. Do your research before fertilizing.
Which is your favorite planter?
Through the years, I have gathered quite an assortment of pottery trials at the Goodwill. Many are mis-shapen and odd textures--they add life to my collection. I also like to re-use old candle jars from PF Candle Co and Oliver.
What’s your favorite story about a plant in your collection?
One night, I was remarking to my husband that I wanted another fiddle fig. “You don’t need another plant,” he laughed. A block into our nightly walk, he found a tall fiddle fig in the trash. It still had a $99 price-tag on it. I named it Sandra.
What does your plant care routine look like?
I water all my plants bi-weekly on Monday. I know I should be measuring the water, but I give them whatever feels right. In the summer, I take out my fiddles and let them enjoy the Philadelphia humidity.
What has having plants taught you?
Growth is just not for ourselves.
Photos By: Lydia
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