A New Quarantine Hobby: Buying & Naming Plants

New hobbies have flooded social feeds for months. Quarantining has forced us to nourish our creativity, perhaps release it, or to expand on new curiousities altogether. I am no different. And while I only took my existing hobbies up a few notches, one in particular has seriously taken off.

I have become a real plant mama. No… really.

My love for the outdoors has undoubtedly contributed to it as well. There’s no way you can spend time in Mother Nature & not be affected by her beauty. The effects smoothly transitioned to my daily life & my surroundings.

I’ve always referred to my thumbs as any color but *green.* When I was younger, I never had an interest in plants despite my maternal grandmother’s obsession. I grew up watching her tend to them daily. I only wish I’d paid more attention.

She loved to surround herself with flowers. From clothing, to wallpaper, furniture, & full vases lining shelves in any room. She’s the same way today. I’m grateful to still have her around now that I have my own plant babies.

My paternal grandfather had gardens around his home. I vividly remember hearing him on his tractor super early in the mornings. Family members came over sometimes to help with & partake in harvests of fruits & vegetables. I didn’t understand how good I had it then. A wealth of wisdom & knowledge surrounded me but that’s youth for ya. You live & hopefully learn to appreciate true blessings.

Growing things should’ve been in my blood but it didn’t show up until my twenties. I started to really notice plants after getting my first place. I wanted my decor to match what I saw in magazines, stores, & television shows. The vibe plants brought to a space appealed to me.

My grandmother brought me a plant during one of her visits. It was a gift for my home. I grew to adore it over time. I talked to it daily & eventually learned its preferences for light & water. Of course, my grandmother gave me the full scoop on care but I had to learn for myself. Trial & error is a teacher!

The plant lasted for years but eventually died. After moving & becoming a parent, my interest went to motherhood. My brain wasn’t equipped to keep multiple things alive back then. I was having a hard enough time taking care of myself & my own creation.

I’ve had another indoor plant for years now that I named KeKe. My grandmother gifted this one to me as well. Keke can be unpredictable & has taken me for a spin. I love her nonetheless. She’s my OG. How fortunate to have found my way back to the plant mama life.

Seeing the beautiful plants of others on social media only added to my desire for more. Now I purposely seek them out in stores or make designated trips just to gawk at them. Allow me to clarify, I haven’t splurged. The ones in the photo are all I’ve bought, along with a few small artificial succulents. (pictured below) But… I’m sure it won’t be long before I adopt another.

Allow me introduce my quarantine plant babies starting from the top row:

The Three Musketeers

(Top 3 plants) My citronellas. They’re the anti-mosquito gang. Together, they work hard to keep us safe from those blood bandits. I spread them out in the corners of our porch & one sits by the front door. Their presence alone seems to be beneficial but the real magic happens when the oil is released from their leaves via rubbing.

Each of the citronellas have a “different personality.” They enjoy different amounts of soil & water. Have you learned the personalities/behaviors of your plants?

Vera

(Bottom Left) My aloe plant. I’ve only had Vera a couple of months but she has grown so fast! I originally wanted an aloe plant to use for hair care. You can also use it to nourish your skin, treat sunburn, diminish scars, & soothe bug bites. Funny thing is… now I don’t want to use any of her leaves. It makes me feel like I’m hurting her. *face palm*

I only water Vera once a week or when her soil feels dry. She seems to like medium to low light & does better on my shaded porch versus indoors. I think the humidity & shade mix are good for her. When I notice an off appearance, I put her in the sun for a few hours. Whether right or wrong, it does the trick.

Sasha

(Bottom middle) A mixed genus succulent & one of my newest additions. I’m still learning Sasha’s traits & needs but like most succulents, she’s low maintenance. She loves plentiful light, minus the heat, & doesn’t require a lot of watering. The directions instruct to water her when the soil feels dry. That’s what I’m doing & all is well for now.

I’m interested to see if she’ll get any bigger. I wouldn’t mind having more of these around to display. They sure can brignten up a room. Plus, as a busy mom of two growing girls, I need low maintenance in my life!

Sylvia

(Bottom right) Also a new purchase. I bought Sylvia & Sasha together. I don’t know if I’ll keep the name but she has a sophisticated aura about her. Sylvia just feels right.

This is a marble queen pothos plant with a low light preference. The directions instruct to water when the top soil layer feels dry. This is another plant that brightens an area & makes it feel fresh.

I’m very amused by her & recently noticed how she comes alive at night. She stands tall & vibrant between 10pm & midnight. I guess she’s a night owl like me.

If you find yourself taking an interest in the plant care lifestyle, here’s a little of (my) novice advice.

-Decide if you want an indoor or an outdoor plant

-Start with one that’s pretty low maintenance (light/water/soil needs, etc)

-Do your research to decide which plant you want

-If you choose an indoor plant that loves lots of light, do you have an area that offers that?

-When you go to make a purchase, question the staff about care & other items you may need

-Take your plant home & give it lots of love

-Set an alarm or reminder on your phone to water it, put in sunlight, etc

** Like I said, this is advice from a novice. I’m still learning. **

My green collection makes me happy. Hopefully, my babies will continue to flourish as I intentionally learn more about plant care. If you have suggestions or knowledge to share, please do so! Otherwise, I will return soon with updates. Stay tuned!