Interview with a Plant Parent: Kate

1. Tell us a little about yourself!

Hi I’m Kate. My husband Bill and I have 2 teenage children and we live in Lake Macquarie NSW. I’m a Family Day Care educator and Bill’s a real estate photographer.

2. What got you into the plant hobby?

We've only been interested in caring for plants for the last 4 or 5 years, but it has really taken off in the last 12 months.

Bill previously was dead against any plants in the house before becoming a real estate photographer, now his eyes are open to the beautiful aesthetics of having plants in the home.

We started with Peace Lily, easy! Then he bought home a 5ft FLF we kept these alive and thriving, slowly acquiring one more at a time.

By the time COVID hit, we had gathered a small collection of indoor plants and were successfully keeping them all alive and happy. So during lockdown 2020 with nothing else to do on weekends, we went nuts, with lots of advice from other plant people on social media, and plenty of time to research how to care for each plant that we found at Coles, Bunnings, friends’ cuttings, Gumtree, or random giveaways.

The house became a veritable jungle, never quite satisfied but we definitely had enough (never 😜). We then started to landscape our front yard into our own little oasis.

With me busy with the indoor jungle, Bill took the reins on outside. Keep in mind that when we were young he wanted a concrete yard 😂 Things have definitely changed.

Our first little garden outside was mainly built from plants I couldn’t keep thriving inside (purple elephant ear, banana tree plant 🥺). They were banished to outside which turns out was the best place for them cause they took off.

Slowly we worked every spare moment throughout winter and COVID on building our little sanctuary, including a little pond stuffed with pond plants of course.

We then extended to the back veranda as well, where Bill built an epic plant hanger above the table; the Devil’s Ivy entwined all over it, with the string of beans hanging down, stuffed with ferns and Syngonium – it’s one of my favourite areas.

3. What is your most favourite indoor plant you have at the moment?

I recently acquired a Picasso Peace Lily [which has been] a long time ‘need’.

4. What is the next indoor plant in your wishlist?

Now I’m keeping my eye out on online plant stores like Cheeky Plant Co, for a variegated bird nest fern - it’s so pretty.

5. Share with us one or more of your best plant care tips.

We are very proud of our efforts and I can’t believe how much I’ve learnt and am now giving advice to others from our experience. One thing I’ve learned is that every plant is different in their care needs. Try and acquire plants that will thrive in your environment and you will have more success in becoming a better plant parent.

Thanks for listening head on over to our Instagram page to check out our progress.

Follow Kate & Bill's plant journey on IG: @honey_iwetmyplants

If you'd like to be featured as a Plant Parent, please feel free to contact us :)