plant community: @contemplanting_life

Dario in his jungle beautiful home

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

I grew up surrounded by nature. My grandmother's house had a huge garden where I spent most of my playing time. When I was 7, my family moved to the countryside. However, when I left to study in the city at the age of 15, I became disconnected from the plant world. It wasn't until 2018 that I felt the need to surround myself with plants and create an environment that would give me peace of mind. Since then, I have become very passionate about plants, especially those that I can grow indoors. I find joy and peace in taking care of them year-round, and in return, they take care of me and my mental health.

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 used to be a plant enthusiast who loved collecting various indoor plants. I have around 400 or maybe even more plants in my apartment. However, for me, having a large quantity of plants doesn't mean compromising on quality. 

I mainly collect tropical plants such as Philodendron, Anthurium, Monstera, Begonia, Platycerium, and Hoya, but I also have a variety of other plants. Lately, I've developed an interest in beautiful flowering plants like orchids.

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

I've been told that I have a green thumb because I can keep all of my plants healthy. I believe it's all about understanding the needs of each type of plant and doing my best to meet those needs. When I first started collecting plants, I did a lot of research and watched many video tutorials to understand them. So, I am pretty knowledgeable about plant care, and I have also invested time in studying it. Another skill I believe I have is designing spaces with plants, and creating a harmonious environment in my home with my plants. It's something I would like to do for others who want more plants but don't have the time or patience to invest in caring for them. 

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

I used to do a lot of online shopping because I wanted to find rare plant species that weren't available in local garden centers or plant shops. Now, I try to buy from a variety of sources, but I prefer to avoid garden centers due to frequent pest issues. I aim to support small, local shops and have also purchased plants from private sellers. Although I've never participated in plant swapping, it's not because I didn't want to, but simply because it never happened.

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, or the house of another plant lover)

There is so much to see and so much beauty so I will focus my answer on more local places. I live in Rotterdam, and my favorite plant shop here is Toko Botanika. They have a good balance of rare and more common houseplants, and the prices are also really fair. I also love second-hand and vintage shops, I get most of my pots in my neighborhood second-hand furniture and plant shop Spullen voor in je huis and as well at Jouw Marktkraam Rotterdam. 

If you visit Rotterdam, make sure to check out the beautiful garden called Trompenburg. In the middle of the garden, there is a small greenhouse with desert plants, and the rest of the garden is filled with well-tended outdoor plants and trees. During spring and the beginning of fall, they also organize very cute plant markets. 

Whenever I travel, I always try to visit botanical gardens, big or small. It's always a pleasure to be surrounded by plants. 

Last but not least, when you're in the area, stop by for a coffee and a chat in my indoor garden in Blijdorp which is also one of the greenest places in Rotterdam. 

Online, I follow several Instagram accounts that have beautiful indoor gardens. Some of my favorites are booomirae, rrrosiki, shikanosuke_green, kma020410, ayamame_plants, cururoru, urbanjungleblog, boysandgrilswithplants and many more. For botanical aesthetics, I love putti_tag, green_comas, mipas_pots_and_plants but there is much more to get inspired on the web! If you visit my account @contemplanting_life you can find beautiful plant-related accounts I follow. 

For plant care, I started my journey by watching well-known YouTube accounts like Planterina and Plant One on Me. 

My YouTube favorites that are not only dedicated to plants but also to lifestyle and interior decoration are "Benji Plant" and "Hige and Me". Somehow I often end up liking Japanese or Asian-inspired aesthetics. that's why in my list of fav you will find a lot of that :-). 

6.      What plants do you have on your Wishlist?

Whatever catches my attention is on my wishlist. However, since I have many plants now, I buy much less and I try to propagate new ones from the ones I already have.

7.       What is your absolute fav plant?

I don't have a favorite plant. I am into Anthuriums, Ferns, Platycerium, and Caudex plants at the moment. When a plant shows a healthy look, it catches my attention, and maybe I like it more. Since they keep changing and growing, my preference changes with them. But I try to love them all equally since I chose to have them as part of my everyday living. 

8.       What is a plant event that you would love to participate in? (It 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)

Youplant Amsterdam plant market is a very nice and friendly event. I would also like to participate in a plant swap as well since I missed it last time you organized it. Roma Tropicale also seems like a very good option. I have never been to one of those big plant events, so maybe one of those too.

9.  What does Youplant Amsterdam represent for you?

I mainly connect with our large community through my Instagram account so, I believe that with Youplant Amsterdam, I have the opportunity to meet and connect with plant lovers in person. Perhaps the fact that we are both Italian makes me feel an even stronger connection. And overall it's familiar and friendly! 

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

I believe that anyone can be a good plant caretaker. All you need is patience and an understanding of how houseplants function. When you buy a plant, research its specific needs and try to provide conditions that mimic its natural habitat. Watch as many plant care videos as you can, but also trust your intuition. If the plant isn't thriving as it did when you first got it, don't panic. And if you discover pests, don't panic either; there's always a solution. Seek advice from experienced individuals and try to build a network of people who can support each other and share knowledge. Balance the good conditions for your plants by creating a pleasant interior aesthetic. Our plants need to be happy, but you also deserve to live in harmony with them. Curate a plant-filled aesthetic to bring joy and connection into your space. Feel free to reach out for some advice!