Stephanie Wallace finds solace in boutique plant business

Stephanie Wallace’s earliest memory with plants involved seeing her grandmother, Mama Bell, happily tend to her garden. That joy for nature was passed down to her mother, and Wallace found solace and fulfilment in her collection. That was until she relocated to a home property with yard space.

This move unleashed her inner plant love and inspired her to start a collection of her own. Wallace’s journey into vegetation snowballed into the land of flora and today, she is the proud owner of Hava’s Plant Shop.

“I have a natural green thumb. And I think realising that was great encouragement to take a deep dive into the world of plants. I am also a nurturer by design, and I think that makes a difference with growing anything, especially plants,” she told Saturday Living.

Three years of devoted effort went into creating her lush garden. The dedicated plant mom would put in work before starting her day, and in the evening she would lovingly tend to her little ones. “I have done all the plant care; planting, weeding, watering, potting; you name it, I did it.”

Wallace managed to list a few favourites from her flora family, which included all her aglaonemas, begonias, pothos, episcias, her philodendron red congo, peace lilies, ferns and lavender scallops.

“Outdoor plants add a lot of personality and character to the yard space; especially if they are placed according to their lighting needs and can be able to show off their optimal beauty, the face card of your home can never decline,” she explained.

While for indoor plants, they give the home space personality and character with the amazing added benefit of being air purifiers. “I also love that any area of your home can accommodate plants, as long as it is placed in conducive conditions. For example, the golden pothos is great for your bathroom or a bookshelf, and the peace lily is low-light tolerant, which is so great for your bedroom or living room,” she added.

As a new plant parent, overwatering, Wallace says, is a big rookie mistake. The more water a plant receives, the more they will grow, isn’t a one-size-fits-all rubric. Depending on the species of plant, you will have different watering and nurturing needs. “It is important that plant parents are privy to the light and watering requirements of each individual plant. A lot of plants will suffer from rotten roots because of overwatering, especially if the soil is not well-draining or the pot doesn’t have drainage holes,” she highlighted.

Placing the plant in direct sunlight that leads to the scorching of leaves is also another issue. “Sun is a major component in photosynthesis, as we know, but a lot of plants prefer that light to be filtered or indirect.”

With a middle name like Hava, which is Hebrew for ‘life’ or ‘the giver of life’, it was a no-brainer that her business with nature would have such an honorific title. But instead of identifying as a green nursery, her shop provides a boutique plant experience.

“I carry a variety of plants suited for indoors and shaded patios that are exposed to bright indirect light, plants that can really elevate the aesthetic element of spaces. Additionally, I provide consultancy. Say you have a space that you want outfitted with plants, I can help you decide what plants are better suited for that space, all variables considered.”

There is also the element of rehabilitation, which involves repotting root-bound plants; plant division (taking a larger plant and breaking it down into smaller ones); and, in certain cases, plant foster care for those in need of recuperation. Wallace takes the plant for a necessary period, nurtures it back to health, and then returns it once it’s thriving.

“Coming into this plant experience was a time of tumult in my life, and looking back, I can say plants have been my therapy. They are my peace. Being in my garden is a grounding experience for me and growing plants has so many life lessons. There’s so much that goes on beneath the dirt before we start to see the evidence of a plant, so it is in life. We must allow for rooting to take place so we can grow optimally, with the proper care and attention. Plants remind me every day to have faith,” Wallace revealed.

Happy to have started her journey from scratch, she appreciates how the trip has transformed her life. Being a plant parent has opened her eyes to the wonders and treasures of green life, and she is excited to dig deeper into new discoveries.

The proud plant mom provided a few tips for newcomers:

Get to know which plants would thrive optimally in your space. Don’t just get plants because you want to.

We want to collect plants, but we also don’t want to kill them. So do some research or consult with someone like Hava’s Plant Shop.

For people who want plants but don’t have the time to care for them, there are low-maintenance and even drought-tolerant plants.

Research and get to know your plant to see what’s the best care regimen.

“This may sound crazy, but speak life into your plants. I know a lot of people that curse plants, especially when they aren’t growing fast enough; don’t do that. Plants are living things, energy matters to plants, give them good vibes. Happy planting!” Wallace said.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com