[ Hanafiee Azlee, 11th August 2021]
The first plant that i’ve bought:
This topic brought me back all the way to 2018 when I first bought a chili padi plant, Capsicuum annuum. I was so happy to finally get my hands dirty as I had been waiting to get a plant. It was growing pretty well. It produced more red chilies. White flowers were blooming. It comforted me that my mum and grandma could find something useful in the kitchen using the chilli grown on the plant. After all, what is Malay food without chili and sambal? After a few weeks of purchasing, the chili gradually got infested with sucking insects, known as aphids. They can be pretty villainous when it comes to sucking nutrients out of a plant.
I tried to save it by washing it off with soap water, but I was too late. Ever since the tragedy, I was afraid to take in new plants. I guess, I felt like a failure. It took me years to fully regain the courage and passion back. However, after much research and experience, I felt like it's time for me to invest my time and effort in flourishing plants that I have been dying to get and see them thrive under my care.
I felt like an artist. Like I was holding a paint palette and was ready to sway the brushes away on a white, empty canvas.
Now here I am. One year later and I own 12 house plants, and still counting. They are growing beautifully well, though there are few hiccups, like yellowing leaves, root rot, pest attacks. What matters most is I've learned to mitigate the issues and ensure that the plants are going to be in good health again.
Let me show you my plants
Philodendron Birkin
Ahh, The one and only Birkin that I own! This Philodendron Birkin came together with another plant. So, I had to repot them both out! The other plants didn’t really make it. I’m glad that my Birkin did!
Monstera adansonii
The Adanson's monstera! This Monstera adansonii has always been my favourite monstera! It’s easy to take care of and I have always been a fan of its leaves!
Syngonium albo variegata
This is one of my favourite plants actually. I love this plant so much. Its leaf shape is so distinctive and neat-looking. I was in awe by its beauty. I connected with this plant immediately after seeing it. I felt as if it was calling me.
Syngonium podophyllum ‘White butterflies’
This plant from the Syngonium genus is so beautiful. The shape of the leaves resembles an arrow. Hence, it is called Arrowhead plant! II
Philodendron erubescens 'Gold' The easiest plant to take care of out of all the plants in my collection. It is one of the first few that I brought in. It is growing tall and green and so ever-loving to look at. It is so easy to maintain
Epipremnum aureum ‘neon’
Known for its neon leaves, Epipremnum aureum ‘neon’ is an easy-care, beautiful trailing plant. The dominant colour for neon pothos is minty yellow. It is unlike any Pothos! Very unique.
Dieffenbachia amoena
The dumbest one out of all. No, literally, it is called a dumbcane plant! 5 months ago, I received it as a stem, no leaves, or roots. Now, look! It’s growing so tall and it has produced four leaves!
Calathea makoyana
Calathea makoyana is quite a tricky plant to take care of. Not recommended for first timer! Each leaf has a central green vein with dark green oblong shapes and thin lines stretching to the green edges. They close their leaves up at night and opens up in the morning. How cool Is that!
Scindapsus pictus exotica
Silver satin pothos. Sounds fancy huh. It is one of the easiest pothos to handle! Its leaves can grow as big as one’s palm. Not to mention its foliage colour. Pretty fancy to look at.
Epipremnum aureum Money plants are quite famous due to them being low maintenance plants. This is actually one of the first plants that I bought before I start my obsessions in collecting plants. It thrives very well under my care.
Epipremnum aureum ‘Manjula’
Manjula pothos is like money plants. Just that it looks way better and cuter! It produces variegated and oval shape leaves*Whisper*It’s one of my favorite plants actually.
There you have it! I hope this blog has helped you clear some doubts about getting a plant for yourselves. Maybe this could broaden your houseplant wish lists and give you a clear idea of what to expect raising plants in general. Generally, most of us fear that we may not have the capability to take care of these plants and that they may die. However, you won’t always get it right on the first try. These guys taught me to be patient and it has brought me far in life. It is always the smallest of things that have a huge impact on our lives.