In Plant Passions this week we talk to Adam Critien, Adam has a beautiful Instagram account where he shares his passion for Terrariums, vivariums, living walls and weird plants. Here are some of the things we learned...
Tell us more about you ? I’m Adam, and I live in rural Buckinghamshire with my wife Laura, our baby son and about 300 houseplants. I’ve been fascinated by the natural world since I was a young child, and plants are just one part of that obsession - my background is actually in ornamental aquatics and I’ve kept and bred hundreds of species of fish, invertebrates, corals and aquatic plants.
Tells Us About Your Instagram Houseplants Feed?
I have quite an eclectic interest in different plant groups and my Instagram feed reflects that, so rather than focusing on one or two groups of plants, my feed covers a lot! You’ll see plenty of my different plant projects (such as my living wall, vivariums and terrariums), as well as aroids, orchids, carnivorous plants and caudiciforms.
I’ve learnt so much from other people on Instagram, and I think it’s so important to share knowledge with each other, so I try and provide tips and advice where I can. I get asked a lot of questions about my living wall and terrariums, so if you’re curious about how I’ve done something please do ask. I also love playing guitar and interior design/styling, so those interests make an occasional appearance on my feed as well.
How did your passion for houseplants begin?
My parents and grandparents enjoyed gardening, and also had a few plants around their homes as well, so I’ve always had plants around me. However I think my passion for plants really took off around 8 years ago. I was diagnosed with bowel cancer and while I was off work undergoing treatment I became more and more interested in houseplants. It was really nice to be able to grow a few plants inside at a time when I was too unwell to be able to do much in the garden, or even leave the house that often. My interest in plants has really snowballed since then!
What’s Your Favourite Houseplant?
That’s such a tough question! Carnivorous plants were what initially drew me into the plant hobby, so I’ve got a real soft spot for them. But lately I’ve become really interested in jewel orchids and also caudiciforms (especially the group known as “ant plants”). My favourite changes from week to week, but right now it’s probably my Dioscorea elephantipes as it’s just coming out of dormancy and producing a new vine which has been so interesting to watch.
Any secret houseplant tips ?
Pay close attention to the substrate. I’ve noticed that lots of plant lovers obsess over light, humidity, feeding and watering (all of which are of course so important) but don’t always pay much attention to what they are growing their plants in. In my experience most packaged houseplant composts are way too heavy and don’t drain well enough. And what’s worse is many also contain peat, which is so unsustainable and really unnecessary.
I use a blend of sustainably sourced orchid bark, sphagnum moss and ground coconut coir and I vary the blend to suit different plants. I’ve had great success with this, including with carnivorous plants!
Large Cactus or Tropical Houseplants ?
I do like Cactus and have a few in my collection, but for me it’s all about the tropicals. I’m a real foliage lover, from big lush tropical leaves down to the delicate shingling leaves of a Marcgravia!
If you want to know more about Adam please follow him @earthchampion
If you’d like to see a video we have made about general houseplant care, have a look here.
Welcome to the world of houseplants! Whether you're an experienced green thumb or just starting out, this blog is dedicated to providing all the information and inspiration you need to cultivate a thriving indoor garden.
If you're in the UK, we've also got some great options for buying houseplants online, such as the Pothos plant, the Hoya Linearis, and the Kalanchoe Pumila. We'll also explore some of the most beautiful and unique house plants, such as the String of Heart, Silver Dragon, and Mini Aloe Vera. Whether you're looking for large indoor house plants like the Aralia Ming or something a little more compact like the String of Hearts plant, we've got you covered.
Finally, we'll discuss the benefits of dehumidifying plants and their role in keeping your indoor environment healthy and balanced. So, sit back, relax, and join us on this journey into the wonderful world of house plants.
Leave a comment