So I have this series of post I call “the Plants At Yours” where I have showcased a few plants of plant enthusiasts. I thought it would be fun to share a few of my own and while doing that tell you all a little about myself as well. Now, although I have plants in other places of the house like in the living room, kitchen and bedrooms, most of my plants are located in my little plant space, which is a loft turned into simply – plant heaven. This is our favourite spot in the house. Ok come on, let’s go on this little tour.
Your name: Barbara T.
Occupation: I work as a Nurse Practitioner
Where you live (City, Province/state, Country): Ottawa, Ontario
Number of plants you own: Last I counted about 70 species and over 90 individual plants
How long you have been into plants and how did you get introduced: I grew up in a tropical climate where I had plants all around me but sadly enough I did not pay too much attention to them as I do now. When I was little, I used to water them once a while on Saturdays and enjoyed doing that mostly because I got to play with the watering hose. I remember we had a huge prickly pear cactus my sisters and I used to carve our names in the pads and when the ‘damage’ we did would heal, whatever we wrote would remain on the pads for ever. That was kind of fun (for us, but not so much for the plant, I don’t think). Anyway, I really got re-acquainted with plants 2 years ago when a co-worker gave me a Kalanchoe for my birthday. I went to Rona to get another plant because I thought my Kalanchoe was dying when the flowers started shrivelling. That is when I discovered a whole new world.
Where do your windows face (east, west, north, south) and what plants have grown best in your home or close to those windows? I used to only have north-facing windows for the past 2 years when I lived in an apartment. We moved in the summer of this year and I now have northeast and southwest facing windows which means I can now have cacti and not have my succulents etiolate.
Name any benefits you get from your plants: The feeling of calmness, peace…tranquility! When I sit in my little created jungle, it calms me down and brings me a sense of joy. I like going in there after work or Saturday mornings; just sitting there for about half an hour after a long day helps me relax or gives me the jolt to get ready for my day in the morning.
What kind of plants (genus, species or family) you like the most:This is very hard to choose so I’m not going to. Although my current crush is on cactus!
Can you share the biggest challenge you have had with your plants?: The biggest challenge would be getting rid of pests on plants I really like or have an attachment to. Those darn mealy bugs. I am in a battle with mealy bugs right now on one of my prayer plants. I don’t want to get rid of and it seems they don’t want to leave either. So the challenge is still on.
Can you share one mistake you made as a gardener?: Throwing away plants because the flowers died!
If your plants were to be taken from you and you could only keep one (can’t bear the thought I know), which one would it be and why?: Hmmm. Again so hard to choose. Maybe I would keep my English Ivy. It is one of the smallest plants I have so would be easy to carry. I am attracted to the way it trails over the shelf.
Best advice you can give about any aspect in taking care of plants: Don’t sweat it. Let growing plants be fun. You will make a few mistakes along the way but you learn from them. One this I will say is, experiment with your plants, that is the best way to learn their needs.
And that is it! Thanks for coming on the tour and I hope to see your plants very soon.
Would you like your plants featured here? Go to The Plants at Yours to learn more.
Send your pictures or questions to info@greenobsessions.com.
Barbara
Hi, I’m Barbara and I’m a little obsessed with house plants. I share my house plant adventures in the hopes of inspiring you to continue to enjoy the greens in your home. And if you have no plants (yet!) I hope this blog inspires you to add some green to your home. So go on! Try it! I think you might quite like it. And who knows? You may end up being … obsessed too.
ama asante
God bless all plant lovers.
31 . Mar . 2017I am so thrilled about this blog and so much in love with all your wonderful beauties. Hoping to share mine soon. : )
Barbara
Thanks Ama. Looking forward to it!
02 . Apr . 2017Gunjal
WOW!!!!The whole set up looks so inviting. Your blog is inspiring to read..
19 . Jan . 2016I have a north facing balcony too. I have killed too many plants and grown a few by mistake..lol. so far the only things that are happy to grow in my balcony are a few succulents and a few other plants
I thought none of the plants grow without direct sunlight for a few hrs atleast , which is an impossible task for a north facing balcony bcoz of no sun during the winters. But in the above pics, the plants behind the monkey look as though they dont receive direct sunlight but enough bright light. Could you please tell me the names of those plants. I’ll try my luck with these. Also humidity is an issue in my balcony bcoz its mostly dry air so would it be a challenge to grow the plants which you are growing. Ps i do see yours its a closed space so may be your plants do have a bit of humidity in the air not sure.
Thanks
Gunjal
Barbara
Hi Gunjal. The one to the left is the corn plant (Dracaena fragrans) and the other one is the fiddle leaf fig. I used to keep it in a north facing window only and it grew quite well. In the winter though there was no sun as you know. But the fiddle leaf fig doesn’t grow much in the colder months so I don’t think it minded too much. All the best in your plant keeping. And just maybe we will see your plants on here soon 🙂
19 . Jan . 2016Adorablest
Such a nice space for your plants. I really like your asparagus fern & heart shaped hoya. (I have a variegated heart hoya, but your green one is so cute!) Can I ask, are those two tall ones I see in the shelf photo on the far right at the back, cacti or euphorbias – they’re brilliant!
14 . Nov . 2015Barbara
Hi Claire, I love those tall columnar cactus. Wish I could get more of them. I don’t think it’s a type of euphorbia though but I am having a hard time with the ID of most of my cacti actually. Still working on it 🙂
14 . Nov . 2015Flavie
Hello! Your little jungle is impressive! It kinda makes me feel better about going crazy with plants in my tiny Paris flat. I was wondering if you knew the name of the plant on the right of your floating shelves and in the small teardrop terrariums… I am about to get a cutting of this but my friend doesnt know how its called…
11 . Nov . 2015Barbara
Hi Flavie, it’s called Swedish Ivy. I got a very small cutting. Smaller than the ones in the terrarium and in the verge of dying during the spring. And to my amazement it grew and fast. They grow very big as you can see and eoukd do well in a hanging basket or a plant stand. Which is what I’m going to be doing because it’s getting way too heavy for that shelf. Enjoy your new cutting.
11 . Nov . 2015Flavie
thaaaaaaaanks!!! at last we know what it is! \o/
05 . Dec . 2015Chaotic Itzi
I am so inspired!! I thought I had too many plants but I obviously don’t by comparison. I am off to buy few!
10 . Nov . 2015I also love your pots – they are so much fun!
Totally inspired! Thanks!
Barbara
You can never have too many plants (or so I’ve heard)
10 . Nov . 2015Rebecca
Absolutely Wonderful…Thanks For Sharing…
10 . Nov . 2015Barbara
Glad you enjoyed them.
10 . Nov . 2015Charlotte
Your plants are beautiful and what an awesome display you have created! Thanks for sharing.
10 . Nov . 2015Barbara
Glad you enjoyed them.
10 . Nov . 2015Diane
The plant underneath the monkey – it reminds me of a fern I had that came out of the ground like a toy you blow on new year’s eve that straightens as it unfurls. Is that this plant? If so do you know the name of it? Many thanks, Diane
09 . Nov . 2015Barbara
Diane, the plant is called bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus). I didn’t take a picture of the centre but it has curled up fronds unfolding in the middle which sounds like what you described. I hope that helps 🙂
09 . Nov . 2015Darryl Cheng
LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! Thanks for this tour! You’ve really filled in the places with abundant light. I especially love the curtain rod used for hanging plants 😀
09 . Nov . 2015Barbara
Thanks Darryl. It is still a work in progress. Friends are surprised when I say that because they look at me like “what! You mean you intend to put more plants in here?” LOL. And I intend to have a full living curtain on that curtain rod in years to come.
09 . Nov . 2015