Being a plant parent means taking care of your plants as well as if they were a family member. One of those who likes to say a few words to his plants is Simen Schjølberg. When the watering round is taken, there is also a small talk. Together with his partner Magnus Stensaker, his interest in plants has resulted in the Instagram account “plante.pappa”. The Coleus plant has become a favorite with Magnus and Simen. Photo: Private Although it was Magnus who introduced Simen to the plant life at Sortland in Nordland, it is Simen who has the greatest commitment, according to his roommate. – He is the one who has taken it to the next level, especially with Coleus. Grøn bølle Marianne Utengen is specialist manager at Det norske hageselskap. They publish Norway’s largest garden magazine, Norsk Hagetidend. Marianne Enger Utengen, subject manager Det norske hageselskap. Photo: Det norske hageselskap The magazine has initially only been garden-oriented, but in recent years they have had a new column about potted plants. They will continue this until next year as well, and Utengen says the joy of planting is very great for many. – We are really seeing a green wave. Our membership numbers are increasing significantly, says Utengen and adds: – The interest in the green inside is also clear, perhaps especially among young people who do not have a garden. Plant parents 25 per cent of surveyed Norwegians who keep plants say this description fits well, shows a survey carried out by the payment service Klarna. 58 percent of these again talk to their plants. The married couple Andreas Qvale Hovland and Rodrigo Qvale in Oslo run the Instagram account “plant_papis”. To their over 100,000 followers, they share green joy and practical tips on plant care. This year the couple has also published a plant book. Andreas Qvale Hovland and Rodrigo Qvale dedicate much of their time to their plants. Photo: Ida Bjørvik Although they are a little hesitant to call themselves plant parents, they understand why the word has arisen. – We have an attitude that we want to take care of the plants, that they should be well and grow up, says Andreas. – Then you probably use a lot of the same words as when you would perhaps use about children. Neither of them talk to their plants yet, but they have talked humorously about playing music for them. – Plants are a bit like us humans, they are alive too. And many have affectional value for us and have been involved in several of the homes we have owned together, says Rodrigo. Poor growth in quiet surroundings And there is much evidence that both talking or playing music to plants can have a positive effect on growth. The TV series MythBusters has tested just this. They used sugar snap peas as a test object. The sugar peas that were talked to or played music for grew taller and produced more and bigger sugar peas than those that experienced a quiet environment. They did not end up confirming or denying the theory, but ended up saying that it is likely that plants that are talked to grow more than those that are not talked to. The same applied to plants to which music was played. Not having a garden is no excuse to put away green fingers. The apartment of Andreas Qvale Hovland and Rodrigo Qvale in Oslo has been converted into a green oasis. Photo: Andreas Qvale Hovland/Rodrigo Qvale Important for the mental Both the couple in Sortland and in Oslo agree that the mental aspect of keeping plants is very important. – For me personally, it has limited stress, it makes sense and gives me something to puzzle with. It’s not about a screen and all the other factors you surround yourself with in a busy everyday life, says Andreas. Rodrigo agrees and says there is something meditative about watching something grow from a cutting into a large plant. Here are Andreas and Rodrigo’s best tips for getting started with plant life: Start with a cutting You are guaranteed to have someone you know who has a plant from which you can take cuttings. Cuttings are a great way to start your interest in plants, and it doesn’t have to cost anything. If you don’t succeed the first time, you can always try again. At the same time, cuttings give a great feeling of mastery, especially when you end up with a small plant. Choose a beginner plant Vindusblad (Monstera Deliciosa), Golden vine (Epipremnum aureum) and Tree climbers (Philodendron) are all good plants to start with. The reason why these are good beginner plants is that they are grateful plants, i.e. easy to care for, don’t require much extra and won’t be unhappy if you forget them a bit. Have a plant day Choose a day a week to check your plants. It can be a great way to start a routine to care for the plants. Our experience is that if we check the plants every Saturday, we manage to keep up with watering, pests and maintenance. Start a plant project Have the project together with someone else. Get the same plants or cuttings as a friend and you can exchange experiences. Alternatively, buy different plants and when they have grown bigger, switch cuttings and suddenly you have twice as many plants.
ttn-69
Magnus and Simen from Sortland are “plant parents” – news Nordland
