The inspiration behind the blog
I have actually only been a plant momma for a year and a half now. In that short time, I have become OBSESSED with houseplants, houseplant porn, and pretty much anything plant themed. It's so strange it took me this long to discover the plant world. Feels like I should of discovered it wayyyyy sooner. In my adult life back in the South, I didn't really know anyone into house plants the way folks are here out west. I mean of course there is a plant community down South, but I just never linked up with any of those folks back home. I also think with da rona plants have become super trendy, so the community is larger and much more visible. In a way I feel like I always knew, I just didn't know. Ya know? Like I have so many pics in restaurants or random places where house plants are in the background or the entire aesthetic of the image.
DC's Poison Ivy
DC's Poison Ivy was always one of my favorite superheroes to the point I wrote an entire story and story line with Poison Ivy as the main character and Batman as the villain (maybe I'll circle back to that idea). I also convinced a bar I worked at to do superheroes and supervillains as the Halloween theme just so that I could dress up as poison Ivy! The costume I made was bad ass -- I wore red lipstick and dollar store ivy wrapped around my legs -- looking back I looked like I was a walking moss pole.
I recently found out both of my Aunties are into houseplants. And looking back, whenever I went to my Auntie's house in Alabama, her garden was the main attraction upon arrival. Notable mention to my Grandmama Lillian and her Rose garden. Lemme refocus though and share with ya'll how it all began.
The Begining...
I started my plant journey around Halloween of 2020 when I was gifted a beautiful succulent. Unfortunately, and fortunately 3 months later my plant was completely decimated by mealy bugs…I’m talkin’- a nasty, nasty infestation. I pulled out all the bells and whistles to try and save my first plant baby, but Junie was down bad …and Junie died a slow horrible death as I ignored the mealy bugs for who knows how long. I thought it was just dust…just thick thick dust. I lacked knowledge as a new plant momma and a basic understanding that these plants are living, breathing beings.
Mealy Bugs..ewwww
I say fortunately because after trying to save her and well fucking it up even worst, this tragedy prompted my plant journey and transformation. I’ll talk about the dirty deatz in a post specifically about pests. Luckily, I have an adorable, bright, yellow Dios de los muertos pot left over from the whole fiasco. Although, the whole fiasco felt like a Greek Tragedy, I’m so so thankful because well here I am — a year and a half into this plant journey.
After my succulent died it inspired me to immerse myself into the plant world and community. I was thirsty for knowledge on everything plants -- plant shops and nurseries were my new hangout. I started with the big box stores, surprisingly I still have most of those plants. Once I found a plant shop in my neighborhood that was walkable, you couldn't tell me nuthin. I was in that shop at least once a week, sometimes twice. I had to have every plant, I just knew in my heart and soul they all wanted to come home with me.
Plants were the only thing keeping me a float (as it felt like my world was burning down around me). Aside from my Partner and friendships, plants felt like the only good thing in my life. I got to the point where I even felt like I needed to save plants from their evil overlords at the big box stores and then the day came where I met a sick cordyline fruticosa I thought I could save; I couldn't and she almost destroyed my entire plant collection. That was last Summer, I'll tell ya'll that story of death and destruction in another post. Currently I have mellowed out on impulsively and obsessively buying plants. I don't bring home plants I can't name anymore. I only buy plants I know how to take care of, and I know will be happy in my home's current environment. And today my plant babies are thriving.
I wanted to start this plant blog for a few reasons. The reality of being a plant parent is that your plants aren't always going to thrive, and that's okay. One of the most difficult parts of new plant parenthood is people strait up lying on Beyonce's intanet about what it actually is. When I first came into this space and community, I saw people posting their bazillion exotic plants and glamourizing the everyday life of plant parenthood. Some days are def glamourous -- but that ain't everyday. These folks omit all bad and only posted the good + "fake news" on houseplant care. I'll tell ya'll a story a little later about the root rot I acquired from bogus articles some bozo decided to publish about YoUr PlAnT gRoWiNg iNtO a PlAnTeR ThAtS WaYYYYYY to BiG FoR tHe RoOtS... Shaking my damn head -- my dracaena survived the root rot though so it's allll good.
Damn difficult!
As a new plant parent, it was so damn difficult to find credible information from people's real-life experience, cause' people will say anything on the internet. Also, the hours of research I spent pulling different articles from different places and playing inspector homegirl was too real. I wanted to create a safe space for new plant parents to come and receive comprehensive and credible knowledge and information gained from real life experience -- and for FREE! I don't believe in free labor (as a marginalized person) .... butttt two things can be true at once and as a Creative in a society drowning in capitalism, free is always good.
As a storyteller and plant obsessed human-- I love, love, love a good plant story -- the good, the bad, and the cringe worthy. I can't wait to share all of my plant stories -- the highs and the lows. I hope this will be a place we can have a good keke over shared plant stories and experiences. And best of all - I can't wait to share all the many ways plants have tremendously helped my mental health and self care journey. All I can say is I have much to share on all things plant related I'm thrilled you decided to join me here in this space. <3 <3 <3
-- Poison Ivy
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