And that is why I’m so excited for In The Weeds with Plant People, a new video series on The Spruce that showcases some pretty amazing plant collections—and their loving parents.
What to Expect in This Series
In The Weeds with Plant People is an interview show featuring plants—and the people who adore them. It’s a sneak peek at how different people live with and care for plants day to day. Because plant parenthood is about so much more than watering your green friends. Plant-care is self-care. It’s a way of life. What makes this series so special for me is that each plant in my collection has a backstory that sometimes is as compelling as the actual plant. Seeing a plant collection is exciting, but hearing about where certain plants came from and learning which are the owner’s favorites is way more fun.
The Premiere Episode
First up is Phoebe Cheong, also known as @welcometothejunglehome on Instagram, who I’ve been following since my plant obsession began. She’s got more than 100 plants in her New York City apartment. When you scroll her page, it’s easy to see why she has more than 32,000 followers. In this episode, Cheong gives a tour of her collection, which includes some highly coveted plants like her Variegated Monstera, as well as her gorgeous, delicate Oxalis Triangularis in purple—which she’s had for three years and was one of the first in her collection. But the showstopper in her place is her plant shelf which is the focal point of her living room (#shelfie anyone?). Covered in plants of all varieties in aged terracotta pots, it’s got Instagrammable written all over it. And those are just in her living room. In her bedroom she has 42 more plants, including her hanging String of Pearls, which she uses, along with other trailing plants, to provide privacy and to minimize pulling the shades closed during the day—gotta love a plant parent who prioritizes happy plants. She also has a mama Monstera, one of her favorites. She says it was a pup when she acquired it from a friend a few years ago, and it’s since grown into a 6-foot-tall “beast.”
Beyond Her Plants
But this video is not just about highlighting her stunning collection. Cheong also discusses her plant-mom inspiration—hello, beautiful grandma—and their shared love for orchids and their sweet way of staying connected through plants. Her adorable cat Pixel, who she refers to as the “King of the Jungle,” just adds a little more fun—and cuteness—to the mix. He looks so at home in the lush apartment jungle. Between the plants, Pixel, and Phoebe’s bubbly personality, her Instagram page is beautiful, which makes her appearance in the debut so exciting. Throughout the video in different ways, Phoebe makes it clear how much taking care of her collection means to her just by listening to her speak about them. So go ahead, press play, and prepare to be amazed by her absolutely stunning indoor jungle. Watch for more amazing plant stories on In the Weeds With Plant People.
