Plant community:@BMBOPLANTS

Breeann - founder of BMBO plants

1. When and how did you get into the plant world?

I started collecting houseplants in 2021 and my entrance into the world of plants was an accidental stumble. I had just moved to Germany, was around 7 months pregnant, and feeling extremely lost in the middle of the pandemic. I was doing some typical grocery shopping at the Edeka close by and I saw a cute and affordable dracaena fragrans compacta. I loved this little plant and the whole process of caring for plants, so I started to go to the garden centers to fill up my house just a little bit more… and my hobby just exploded. But fun fact, I still have my very first plant. It’s still alive and happy sitting at the entrance of my very own plant shop.

2. What kind of plant lover are you? (Are you about quantity or quality? Do you have a specific collection, or you love a bit of everything?)

I’m very much a “I’ll try anything once” kind of plant parent. When I started out I didn’t really know what my style of plant parent I was, so I tried a bunch of different plants until I learned what fits me most. My focus ended up being around Alocasias, Epipremnums, Syngoniums, and Calatheas.

In general, I do think the overall quality and health of a plant is more important than quantity. Once you understand the essentials of different plants, their care, and how to propagate them, then it’s super easy to move to increasing the quantity. It is always so fun walking into a jungle house.

3. If we talk about plants, what is your strength? And what would still like to learn?

Would you believe me if I said I can keep Alocasias and Calatheas happy? When I first started learning about some of the stigmas surrounding certain plants, it made me so sad how much people hate these beautiful plants. I made it my mission to learn how to care for them; what were their light requirements, soil preferences, watering schedules etc. By doing a deep dive on them, mixed with a bit of trial and error, I’m able to keep these beauties happy and healthy.

But as for what I would still like to learn… I would love to learn more about the science of plants; more technical terms, growth phases, structures, specific nutrients needs. I have a catalog of plant names in my brain, but I would love to have some more supporting knowledge.

4. Where do you usually get your plants? (Swap, tuincentrum, private sellers, local plant shops, online e-commerces?)

Since I’ve started collecting plants I’ve got them from all the above. But I would say my favorites would be either from private sellers/local shops or at plant swaps. There is just a special level of connection and care when you get your plants through these options. 

5. As a plant lover, what is a green place that you would like to recommend to the community? (It can be a shop, a city, a garden center, the house of another plant lover)

Of course I would love to shamelessly shout out my own shop, BMBO Plants in Hoorn... But I would have to recommend going to Lowlander Botanical in Amsterdam Noord. It’s such a large lovely space where you can eat delicious food and be surrounded by so many plants!

6. What plants do you have on your wishlist?

As most plant parents have, my wishlist is a long running list. But I would say my top 5 wishlist plants are…

Syngonium Green Splash

Monstera adansonii albo variegata

Syngonium Red Spot Tricolor

Zanthosoma Sagittifolium Variegata

Cercestis mirabilis

7. What is your absolute fav plant?

This is tough for me because I love so many different plants for so many different reasons. But as for my absolute favorite plant, I think it has to be a tie between my Alocasia Regal Shield and Syngonium Mojito. My regal shield used to be just a tiny €10 plant from Aldi, and now it’s a beast taking over my bedroom with 12 leaves the size of my forearm. My original Syngonium mojito was just a baby with 3 leaves that I was able to grow up to 2 meters tall! 

8. What is a plant event that you would love to participate in? (Doesn’t need to be one of my events, it can be something organized by someone else, in another city or something still not organized)

I would love to participate in a plant trivia or some type of plant themed game event. Just something where some fun can be had with other plant parents. 

9. What does Youplant Amsterdam represent for you?

To me, Youplant Amsterdam represents the embodiment of what it means to be a part of the plant community; with an extra emphasis on community. Interest in houseplants is the thread that of course connects us all, but with Youplant Amsterdam the focus is really on the people and the experiences with house plants. The priority is the people within the community, not only the plants. 

10. What is your best advice for someone who wants to start a plant hobby?

I have two tips that I wish I would have come to terms with when I started this hobby. 

The first is plants will die. You can try your best and do almost everything in your power to keep them healthy and happy, but they sometimes just die. It of course hurts when they do, especially when it’s a sentimental plant or one of your more expensive wishlist plants. But just know that if your plants die, this doesn’t make you a bad plant parent.

The other is how to deal with pests. It is inevitable. You may not have them now, but it’s just a matter of when they will descend upon your collection. But what you can do is learn more about the signs of pests, as well as what methods of prevention and pest control work for you. Implementing things like leaf checks, changing soil, quarantine, dusting, neem oil, beneficial insects etc from the beginning are good ways to keep your collection thriving.