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MEET NICKI FROM PLANTS, POTS & WHAT-NOTS AND HER 230 AMAZING PLANTS
Meet Nicki, a passionate plant lover and MARPHYL customer. We connected with Nicki when she purchased MARPHYL Organic Soil Enhancer online and left a very detailed and lovely review. A conversation started and a few messages later, we discovered her wonderful Youtube Channel. We immediately knew that we wanted to share Plant Pots & What-Nots with you together with Nicki’s fascinating story of how she acquired over 230 plants!
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I am a mother of three amazing children and a grandmother of one beautiful little boy. I have an amazing fiancé who supports and sometimes indulges my insane hobby (to most people 230 plants is, in fact, insane!). I live in a cute little town just east of Toronto and work as an office manager for an environmental company. Other than collecting plants, I have a YouTube channel that takes up most of the rest of my free time.
I love to make people smile and laugh, and if I can give them some good information in the process, then that’s even better! I have a large collection of plants from common to rare that I love to share with anyone who wants to see them.
How did you get into plants in the first place?
Growing up with my grandmother, who was the most wonderful woman with the most amazing neon green thumb. It was hard not to pick up the need for green early on in life. Although I didn’t realize it back then, I had picked up so much knowledge on different plants, how to grow them, and just a general love for all things plant-related. Even at 70 years old she was winning city awards for her beautiful gardens. She was truly an inspiration!
How do you usually acquire plants? (purchase, plant swaps, propagate from cuttings, etc).
All of the above! I love to buy plants online that I can’t find around here. And I love to try and hunt down new and interesting plants that catch my eye. I also take every opportunity to visit new nurseries, because there’s nothing quite like the feeling of walking through those gorgeous green isles and being able to smell and touch everything.
In addition, I absolutely love to propagate my plants and make new ones. What an amazing way to grow a collection! Even better still, is being able to share those with friends!
Does everyone in your family share your passion for plants?
My family is amazingly supportive considering that the majority of my house looks like a scene out of Jumanji. They are even learning the names. By accident, of course. But hey, it’s a start!
What prompted you to start your own YouTube channel?
At some point, I realized that there were other people who share the same passion as me for plants. And I saw an amazing community of such people on YouTube. I felt I had something to offer – a Canadian with a quirky personality and a love for making people smile. The fact that I have always loved to talk was a huge bonus, so it all just seemed like the right move.
What are your main challenges and goals with your YouTube channel?
The main challenge for me is time. I work 45-50 hours a week, and try to keep up at home with my family life. Not to mention the care that 230 plants require is a feat in itself. But I suppose we all make time for the things we love and I absolutely love doing what I do and wouldn’t change it for the world!
Which one is your most popular YouTube video?
It really all depends on the time of year. Currently, my Winter Care video is doing quite well as everyone is stressing about trying to keep their tropical plants alive through this chilly season.
I like to be as real as possible about plant care and try and make it a little less daunting. I touch on most of the main topics we all are concerned during the winter season, form watering and feeding, to lighting, moisture and airflow.
Do you have a favorite plant?
One of my favorite plants in my collection is my Philodendron Billietiae. I love the way it grows and the beautiful green-orange contrast of the leaves to the petioles.
What is your dream plant that you’ve had on your wish list for some time but haven’t acquired, yet?
The one plant that has been on my mind is the Variegated Philodendron Billietiae. If I love the plain green one this much, can you just imagine how amazing the variegated one would be!
Can you suggest a few plant-related YouTube channels that inspire you?
There are so many amazing plant-related YouTubers out there right now. If we’re talking about information on plants and plant care, I would say that Summer Rayne Oaks and Amanda from Planterina are one-stop shops for all things indoor plant related. If we are talking more about outdoor gardening, then I would recommend Laura from Garden Answer.
You’ve been using MARPHYL Soil Enhancer for some time. What is your opinion of it?
I received a bottle of MARPHYL Soil Enhancer as a gift from some rare plant grower friends. After a few weeks of using it, I was hooked. From then on, I continued purchasing the Soil Enhancer and now use it on all of my plants, from my more pricey and uncommon plants (ex. aroids) to all of the common varieties.
Even through winter, my plants are all happy, healthy and growing. I couldn’t be more pleased with it and I tell anyone about it including my subscribers many of whom have purchased it for themselves and are so happy with how it performs.
I have also been using it with my propagations and have noticed a massive difference in how fast plants root now. I can’t see myself using anything else in the future. This ticks all of the boxes for me and my plants.
Do you want you plants to thrive like Nicki's?
Try our Organic MARPHYL® Soil Enhancer made of 100% wild phytoplankton
Plants rely on potassium to facilitate the circulation of nutrients and on nitrogen as the essential element in photosynthesis, while the roots need phosphorus to thrive. MARPHYL® Soil Enhancer is high in potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus, and also contains trace amounts of other nutrients, such as calcium and magnesium for optimum plant health and growth.
For more beautiful plants and great videos s subscribe to Nicki’s YouTube channel Plants Pots & What-Nots
Stay tuned for more conversations with passionate creatives by following MARPHYL Marine Phytoplakton on Instagram and Facebook and by subscribing to our Newsletter.
Do you have a question for Nicki? Or maybe you want to suggest a person or a topic for our next blog post? Leave a comment below!
Arantza and Benjamin, founders of MARPHYL Marine Phytoplankton