Andy

Location: London, United Kingdom | Instagram: @lucidmonstera

I’ve gotten to know Andy better in 2020, and to be completely honest; I’m really not sure if there’s ANYTHING this human cannot do — from growing plants and unicorns, designing and creating a beautiful terrarium, lovely photography, insane cooking skills… I can keep going. I’m so glad everyone will get to know him and his plants more!

Belle: I’ll start with the basic question I ask everyone, what’s your day job?

Andy: I work as an architect.

Belle: When did you get into plants and what made you start collecting more rare specimens?

Andy: I was always into plants mainly due to how I was being brought up I guess... I grew up in Borneo and my parents used to take me for hikes or expeditions in the jungle to venture, and collecting peculiar plants were already in place. It’s funny how I didn’t have any perspectives on “rarity” back then when everything was pretty much uncommon or undocumented.

Belle: I’ll jump in as I’m sure a lot of people are curious as much as I am on this one. When did you get your Monstera Adansonii, how small was it when you got it, and finally what are your care tips for people who own one and want to grow it into an unreal specimen like yours?

Andy: I got my variegated Monstera Adansonii around mid-autumn 2019. It came with 2 baby leaves about the size of my thumbs, still feels unreal thinking about the journey it’s made. Care tips: Apart from having the environment conditions right and stable, have empathy and patience. This applies to every plant.

Belle: Since I’ve jumped into this hobby, I’ve come across people saying ‘rare plants are difficult to care for’ way too often. From someone who owns some insane unicorns (and now a Philodendron Spiritus Sancti, congrats!) grown in a London flat, do you agree with this? What are the conditions in your space?

Andy: I agree in some ways but not fully. But hey, it’s part of the journey that makes it worthwhile. I have most of my plants in the living room where it’s usually around 23C with an average of 60% humidity. Facing Southeast with full height windows.

Belle: What are a few easy to source plants in your collection that deserve more exposure?

Andy: Asparagus ferns. Seriously, I love them. Epiphyllums too!

Belle: We need to talk about the plant bong (reference picture on the right and bottom of the page), how long did it take you to build and what are some species you have inside?

Andy: That took me about roughly 5 days I think. Mostly miniature orchids in it. (Lepanthes lucifer, Lepanthes calodictyon, Bulbophyllum polliculosum, Pleurothallis dressleri, Dendrobium sulphureum)

Belle: Do you have any other interesting projects you’re planning to create in the future?

Andy: I do have a few. The next one will probably be a moss wall with many Philodendron Melanochrysum growing on it and thin streams of water flowing down, dripping to a small aquarium below with cherry shrimps.

Belle: Is there any plant you struggle with in your collection?

Andy: Yes, Epipremnums in general. They grow too quickly and it gets too messy that I always end up needing to cut them down a lot.

Belle: Since you’ve started collecting plants, and being a part of this community, what are a few valuable lessons you’ve learnt from the experience? (It could either be buying, selling, caring for them, being a part of this community in general)

Andy: Be kind.

Belle: As a collector (I consider you one haha), what’s a key piece of advice you’d give people who have joined the plant community and want to start collecting rare specimens? I guess it is now more difficult at this present moment with the pandemic and Brexit.

Andy: Definitely harder with the current climate. Start it slow, you don’t need to get everything at once. Some people lose interest in plants after hyping it to a saturated state by buying them impulsively. So I do think it’s good to take it slow, enjoy the growing process and to make sure that houseplants or plants are a thing for you before investing heavily. They are living things after all and shouldn’t be treated badly.