Growing up in an Asian family, Fanny Chan was always surrounded by plants. However, she was far from the owner of her natural green thumb. Through her trial and error, perseverance, and determination, Chan was able to rely on those learning experiences to start her collection several years ago.
“My encounter with plants started as a child. There were always plants around us, such as ZZ plants and bamboo plants. I never actually tried them or had a special attachment to them. “I didn't have that, but being around greenery was always something I was used to and I think I carried that into my adult life,” she said. saturday living.
During the global pandemic, the gardening enthusiast was able to take a breather and learn more about plants. “I've been collecting and growing gardens since 2019. Back then, I had time to slowly get to know my plants better and expand my knowledge. Now that I have more time, I've been collecting and growing gardens, including location, lighting, and watering schedules. “It really kept me busy while the world slowed down,” she said, adding, “With proper care and living conditions, certain plants thrived.” This increased my level of satisfaction and my love for plants has increased tremendously. ”
So who are some of her favorite nature babies? Her parent plants included monsteras, philodendrons, anthuriums, pothos, figs, succulents, and cacti. But her favorite is the sea squirt. “If you know me or follow me, you know that my favorite plant is the sea squirt. I would love to collect all the types of sea squirts if I could, but that's almost impossible. .”
no easy feat
The process of raising her young children was not an easy one. Chan initially entered the plant world with her one goal in mind: to collect as much green life as possible at once. This didn't work out as well as she had hoped, as she failed to maintain proper care and maintenance habits.
After carefully choosing the plants she wanted to grow, she focused on garden varieties and considered the environment and lifestyle that best suited the things she loved. She says, “This was especially important to me because I was traveling a lot, so I decided to specialize in plants like hoyas and philodendrons, which require less maintenance compared to plants like orchids and calatheas. became.”
Although she initially thought of her plant adventure as just a hobby, her passion sparked a new motivation to channel her energy into entrepreneurship with her own business, Fannczy Plants.
“When I returned home from summer vacation one year, I was shocked to see how much my plants had grown while I was gone. This gave me the motivation to start propagating them. Since I have extra plants and don't have the space to put them, I've posted the plants I've propagated for sale on my plant page @fannczyplants, which I created to share my new plant obsessions and the ups and downs of new parent plants. I decided to post some of it.'' revealed.
To her surprise, she received great feedback and was also successful in the sales department. From there, she took her own adventure one step further by attending pop-up her events.
According to Chan, houseplants not only provide a soothing environment for your home or office, but they also help purify the air, contributing to improved mood and sense of well-being. “Aside from the obvious aesthetic benefits of having plants in and around your home, plants have the power to make people happy. “It can evoke a feeling of joy and relaxation, like a walk in the park,” she emphasized in my book.
Plant parents tend to get too enthusiastic about gardening and bite off more than they can chew. “If proper research is not done on the maintenance methods required for different plant species, many plants can be lost in the first place, which is certainly the mistake I made. Addressing this says, “Take your time and get to know each plant, what kind of environment it grows in, and how much light it needs.” [and] How often do you need to water? Once you develop this habit, you can branch out and start expanding your garden. ”
Another common problem has to do with light blocking and overall neglect. “Be careful with light and water. Also, be on the lookout for insects and diseases. Pesticides and fungicides are your best allies. Also, dust buildup inhibits photosynthesis and slows down the process over time. Also, be sure to wipe the leaves and feed the plants, as this can deplete the nutrients in the soil,” Chan recommended.
krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com