08 May Plant Parent Q&A with Ryan Sullivan
Ryan (he/him) has been collecting plants for 11 years and has around 120 plants in his home located in Rochester, NY. Below is a Q&A where we discover how it all started and where it’s all growing.
What encouraged you to start collecting plants?
I missed having pets around when I was living in a new apartment my freshman year of college. I wanted something to take care of, so two plant-enthusiast friends of mine helped me pick out my first plant: a Kalanchoe ‘Flapjacks’ that I still have today! My first dozen or so hardware-store succulents were mostly rescues from the clearance shelf, and I even named them all. That’s the story I’m sticking to (unless we want to count the grafted “moon cactus” I immediately rotted when I was 6).
How has your personal plant collection evolved over time?
I’ve been through several phases in my collection, starting with succulents, moving slowly into tropicals and ferns, deeply into aroids in 2020/2021, and finally orchids. I have a pretty even mix of these broad categories in my apartment now (depending on the light conditions I can provide in a particular room). I’ve developed a fondness for flowers in recent years, and I try to collect plants that I know will be able to flower in my home conditions; orchids, hoyas, and tropical cacti especially. Recently I’ve been dipping my toe into Gesneriaceae and collecting African violets, Aeschynanthus (lipstick plants) and Codonanthes (relatives of the goldfish plant) because they flower profusely & love to be watered often.
What is your favorite houseplant at the moment and why?
I really had to think about this one. How am I supposed to decide?? I was going to say my Disocactus because it’s been flowering all winter and is the sole reason I survived Seasonal Depression (haha) so I am very grateful to it. Hoya shepherdii and lacunosa are blooming right now, so I stare at them daily and they fill my apartment with fragrance. I’m also pretty stoked for some Rhipsalis pilocarpa x mesembryanthemoides seedlings that I hybridized myself, but we will have to see how those turn out before they can earn the title of “favorite.” Basically, if it’s flowering, it’s my favorite of the moment!
Which of your plants needs the most care?
The miniature orchids need daily watering, but it’s easy to spray down the entire Exoterra tank I keep them in. Open-air mounted ferns, orchids, and hoyas need pretty frequent watering, but they’re also fine with drying out for a couple of days at a time. My Pahpiopedilum ‘Hawaiian Treasure’ orchid needs to be watered every other day, but that’s so worth it for the nearly black flowers it gives me. That kind of frequent checking-in means they’re all the neediest plants I have, but they’re some of my favorite things to grow and I’ve always been an overwaterer anyway.
What plant are you looking to acquire next and why?
I have a huge list! Mostly composed of very expensive hoyas, rare/endangered caudiciform succulents, and even more mini orchids. I think the next plant I could (& will) easily order is Euphorbia primulifolia. I love how fat and lumpy it is, with relatively tiny leaves. Hopefully I can get it to flower under grow lights like a couple of other Euphorbia I have now.
What is your #1 tip for new plant parents?
Kill some plants! You’ll learn what can live easily in your house with the level of care you’re willing to give them. Don’t stress out over killing them – you can always try again with another one. Make some plant friends to share and trade with, and you’ll have an endless supply of cuttings and rescues to experiment on and learn from.
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