Populate your home with self-grown plant babies

We have lived through wild times (And no – we are not just talking about the rugby world cup!)

If pandemic life has taught us anything, it’s this:

1. We ALL “Know A Guy”.
2. There is such a thing as too much banana bread.
3. Pineapple bear is a very-very-very bad idea.
4. Nothing gives a human being more joy than growing something.

As “Great” as the illicit cigarettes, banana flavoured carbs and tropical bad life choices were, the one thing that kept us all kind of sane was that little pot of something you had growing on your windowsill. Maybe you were lucky enough to have a “KwarenTUIN” or you just had a houseplant you were caring for…The undeniable truth is that there was a grounding, primal magic in watching something (other than your waistline) grow, and we all felt it.

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/covid-lockdowns-turned-buying-plants-next-big-pandemic-trend-good-ncna1256223

From Hipsters to Houseplant Hobbyists

“Plants are the new pets, pets are the new kids and kids are like exotic pets because you have to be very rich and a little bit crazy to have them”

Dogs are now kids, with report cards, daycare, health insurance and a long list of do’s and don’ts…so much so that the owning of a pet is no longer necessarily the relaxing thing it was

This has created a void that needs filling. Humans love to love. We are hardwired to care and nurture and some of our biggest dopamine spikes come from things we love achieving success. Whether its your exotic pet (child) brining home an A+, or your fur baby being named “best in class”…When things we love, thrive, WE THRIVE.

But what if you don’t have the space, time or means to care for a whole living, breathing warm-blooded thing right now?

That’s where houseplants step up to fill the hole in your soul. Trust us. If you think a good report card feels great, wait till you experience the immeasurable joy of keeping a Fiddle Lead Fig Plant alive for more than a month!

Being a houseplant hobbyist comes with a lot of good. Plants improve air quality, seeing, living and working around greenery on a daily basis can benefit both your mind and your body and the sense of accomplishment and reward when your plant grows and sprouts a new leaf or flower, is undeniable.

BUT: Houseplants are expensive!

According to the blog Gitnuz the global houseplant industry is projected to be worth nearly 30 billion USD in 2025.

What this means for us, normal houseplant loving non-millionaires, is that we need to learn to work smarter with the plants we already have.

Luckily for us, many of the best and most popular houseplants are actually ridiculously easy to propagate.

What is propagation?

Basically, it is the process of growing a new plant. You can do this through the usual way of planting seeds, or by propagating through cuttings of an existing plant.

Pick you plant

These plants propagate well and are perfect for beginners. (This also happens to be one of our all-time favourite lists of houseplants…if you are not a houseplant-homie yet, this is the perfect place to start.

Snake plants

Chances are your Snake plant is already propagating itself. Any happy snake plant will end up sprouting young plants at its base, called pups. Simply remove these tiny starter plants and leave them out for a day or two before planting them into their own pots. For a full propagation guide, click here

Spider plants

As with Snake plants, these plants propagate by themselves – they create little clusters, or Spiderettes that often root without any help from you. Simply clip them off and plant them. How to propagate Spider plants

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera pups are easy to spot and make propagation fun with how prolific they are. To propagate this plant, simply follow this step by step guide

Pothos,

Easy to keep alive, grows in a whole range of climates …This is our go-to houseplant, and by learning how to propagate it, you can start spreading its joy to your loved ones, one little propagation at a time. Do’s and Don’ts of Pothos propagation

Christmas cactus,

In Afrikaans this plant is called a Litroos, and we probably all knew at least one tannie who had one in her home. Nonetheless, these happy little succulents are rewarding to grow and easy to propagate.

African Violets

Expensive, cute and addictive to collect with all the colours and variations available, these beautiful little plants will give you such a rush of dopamine the moment you see that first propagated sprout. Luckily it is as “Easy as 1, 2, 3!”

For an in depth look at houseplants, propagation inspiration to or to live the Houseplant Hobbyist life, click here