In 2017 , Jane start the first - ever podcast on houseplant , On The Ledge – which now has almost 270 episodes – and she has also publish her own houseplant book : Legend Of The Leaf .
I spoke with Jane to discover where her making love of houseplant started and how this cacoethes has work her life sentence and career .
Where Did Your Love For Houseplants And Indoor Growing Begin?
“ A lot of people will talk about the pandemic as their first skirmish with houseplants , but for me , it was when I was a small child , ” says Jane .
“ I just had an inbuilt fascination for plant life and was constantly take from a youthful age to sow seeds and to have plants of my own .
“ My parents had some houseplants and we also had a garden of our own . My pa was a self - taught nurseryman and had an allotment , so it was in my organisation .
“ Simply , it was something I did from a young geezerhood and it grew from there . ”
What Led You To A Career In Horticulture?
“ I always require to be a journalist , ” she explains . “ I did n’t really think of gardening as a career , probably because it did n’t pass to me that that was something that I could do .
“ I go into news news media and got a job working at The Guardian doing the breaking news theme . After I had my first minor , I was quite incinerate out from this .
“ It was wonderful because I was able to combine a personal passion for flora with my career in news media . It was n’t an intentional move , but it worked out really well . ”
How Did Your Podcast ‘On The Ledge’ Begin?
“ The podcast has been go for over 6 years now . I ’d previously done a podcast for The Guardian on horticulture , so when that came to an end I was really sorry because I loved doing it .
“ That ’s when I first thought to myself that I should make my own podcast with a focus on houseplants . At that metre in 2017 , houseplants were rising in popularity . I want to be the first houseplant podcast and indeed I was .
“ I think I also just need someone to tattle to about plants and my fellowship was n’t concerned ! It gave me an excuse to talk to really interesting hoi polloi .
“ It just kind of blend in from there and now here we are , 268 installment subsequently . ”
Do You Have A Favourite Episode?
“ It was quite early on on , but the sequence where I visited James Wong ’s categorical were really awesome and I still call up about them a stack , ” share Jane . “ However , there have been so many amazing episode that were so knock-down .
“ instalment 164 with Travis Cooper was really fun too . We ended up doing a sort of chemical group therapy school term ! It was an interesting schmoose that elongated direction beyond plant which is what I love about the podcast . I find out so much from that episode .
“ In fact , every episode brings something new . When I wait back now , I ca n’t quite trust that I ’ve done so many . Some of them are done remotely , but the ones that are done in person where I really go and chat the guests are really special because you get to see someone ’s collection . ”
Has Gardening Shaped Your Outlook On Life In Any Way?
“ I recollect it teaches you resiliency because even the most experient gardener will have things go unseasonable for them . You come to actualise that you ca n’t control everything .
“ There will be all sort of things that happen that are outside of your ascendence , so you memorise to take a footstep back and focalise on the successes .
It yield you an appreciation for plants that some people just do n’t have .
“ It ’s a cliché , but we are so reliant on plants for so many thing and growing them really opens your eye to this fact . ”
Can You Tell Us A Little About Your Book That Was Released Earlier This Year – ‘Legends Of The Leaf’?
“ I take a look at each houseplant featured holistically , looking at where it grows in the wild , how it has been used in account and its personation in art and culture , ” tell Jane .
“ At the end of each chapter , there is a care guidebook that accept what has been learn throughout and utilize it to the houseplant setting .
“ It is quite a geeky book , but there ’s a really good story about each of the plants in there , as well as a good care guide . ”
Do You Have Any Exciting Upcoming Projects Coming Up?
“ I have created a box of houseplant forethought carte du jour that are make out out in October called ‘ Houseplant Gardener In A Box ’ , which is a set of 60 cards and a folder .
“ Each card has one industrial plant on it and a profile which you may flick through and get ideas for plants for your home . They also feature beautiful illustrations that you may have on display .
“ Other than that , I ’m stay the make my podcast and commit out my hebdomadary newssheet , The Plant Ledger , which get going out every week . I assay to cross stuff going on in the houseplant globe in that , which makes a play alteration . ”
What Would You Say To Those Who Are Thinking About Buying Their First Houseplant?
“ Do n’t be put off if you have bolt down the odd houseplant in the past , ” says Jane . “ We ’ve all done that – I still fall behind industrial plant over the wintertime !
“ If you get a Modern works , put it somewhere you ’re going to look at all the time so you’re able to see if there are any issues or if it bulge out to change . This elbow room , you’re able to do something about it directly away .
“ Observe them close and find out a routine about how they like to grow in the wild , as that will help you to find the ripe spot for them in your menage and take care of them right . ”
