In 2021 it has been said that “plants are the new pets, pets are the new children and children are the new luxury handbags”. In my case, although luxury handbags are not quite my thing, I have always loved children and animals, and becoming a plant mom was one of the most unexpected turns of my life.
My mom, being a plant lady herself for as long as I can remember, always encouraged her children to grow – grow something, anything! At some point during my early twenties, I became very intrigued with growing succulents and cacti plants because of her influence. I was most drawn to them for many reasons:
- They require very little water and sunlight
- Even when neglected they almost always bounce back
- The varieties are endless
- They make the perfect gifts even for the most clueless first-time plant parent
But honestly, becoming a plant mom allowed me to gain a new appreciation for plants and the role they play in our lives. Caring for plants is something that is generally misunderstood, but if you’d like to give plant parenthood a try, here are a few tips to help you get started!
Pick the right plant
I can’t stress this one enough. Making the right choice is the starting point of your journey. It is important to select a plant that can be cared for in the environment you’re working with, as your schedule allows. If you work from home or can be home often enough, you can try your hand at planting flowering plants such as Torenias and Petunias in your veranda or yard – they love to be watered as much as three times a day! On the other hand, if you travel often or if you consider yourself a very forgetful person, then cacti, snake plants, succulents, or crown of thorns are all great choices as they are very forgiving if neglected (in some cases for weeks on end). Also, if your home is dark and has very few windows/ outside space then your best bet is a dracaena/ corn plant, snake plant, or another type of Sansevieria. However, if you have an abundance of veranda space and bright/ indirect sunlight then Echeveria and other varieties of succulents are a good fit for you.
Start small and understand your plant’s needs
You have to know yourself and know how much you can handle. Don’t buy 20 or even 5 plants all at once the first time you try this out. Buy one plant, try your hand and see how that plant does. If your plant does well in the first month or so, get another one, and progress from there. Ensure you use the right soil, give your plant the right amount of sunlight and water and have some faith in yourself. (Some people even sign to their plants!) Don’t forget to ask the employees questions in the gardening aisle as well!
Be consistent
You’ve heard this a million times over – with everything in life consistency is key. Why would you think this is any different? If you’ve decided to give this thing a go, then give it your all, as my mom often says. If you’re a teacher be the best teacher you can be, if you’re a janitor be the best janitor you can be. Plants are no different, so try out a schedule if you generally find it hard to stick to things. Modern technology has made it so easy for us. For example, if you have a crown of thorns plant, set a reminder on your phone to water it once a week on Sundays. It works, trust me I’ve tried it myself. It’s one less thing to worry about.
If you ‘fail’, try again!
Don’t give up! If I gave up I would not be the entrepreneur that I am today. I would have listened to the devil of temptation on my shoulder and I would have thrown in the towel; given up and called it quits. Instead, I persevered and turned my love for plants into my passion project. Now, by no means am I saying that you have to open up The Watering Can squared (LOL) but I’m saying, you never know, you could one day! (wink, wink)
If you’re in Dominica, to help you get started on your plant journey, check out the first episode of ‘The Community Garden’, an educational series about my business in partnership with Do It Center Dominica. I’m also offering you 15% off any of the items in that episode at Do It Center ‘all April 2021 long’ by using code ‘WCAN15’ for all online or in-store purchases.
You may have just stumbled across your new hobby. So grab some seeds, soil, a pot, a small watering can, and – get growing!
About the Author
Annika Kamilla Bellot, a proud CARICOM national, was born in the nature isle of Dominica. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree and Bachelors in Economics from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, and is currently completing a Legal Education Certificate (LEC) at the Hugh Wooding Law School. Annika also has a passion for advocacy and public speaking. While at Cave Hill she became an ardent environmentalist advocating for change for small island developing states suffering from the effects of Climate Change after experiencing the devastating effects of both Tropical Storm Erika in 2015 and category five Hurricane Maria in 2017 on her home island Dominica.
In 2018, Annika was selected by the Vice-Chancellor to sit on a panel along with experts in the field of Climate Change to discuss and educate the region on steps to combat the effects of Climate Change on Small Island Developing States (SIDS). She has since continued to be an advocate by educating persons on several regional issues including preventative measures in the face of climate change, as she believes that as a Caribbean Community we are each other’s keeper in preparation for and resilience against these natural disasters. Also a small business owner, Annika started The Watering Can in 2018, specializing in providing sustainable gifts in the form of bespoke plant pieces with a focus on succulent plants.
