Three years ago, I started a little Instagram page dedicated to my love of houseplants. What began as a fun hobby quickly grew into something much bigger – so big, in fact, that I’ve now reached and connected with over a million accounts across all my platforms. Yes, you read that right: one million!
Plants without pants
And let’s be honest, managing that kind of social media presence doesn’t happen without some serious dedication. I probably spend about 20 hours a week on Instagram alone, curating content, answering messages, and keeping up with all of you amazing plant lovers. Sometimes, I wonder how I juggle it all alongside everything else in my life.
But then I remember that it’s not just about posting thirst traps and topless indoor gardening (although, let’s admit it, those posts definitely don’t hurt the engagement!). The page has become so much more than just an outlet for my plant obsession. It’s a community where we share our stories, tips, and advice – whether it’s about plants or life in general. Over the past four years, this little corner of Instagram has taken on a life of its own, becoming a space where we can all be unapologetically ourselves.
A growing, thriving community
One of the things that makes this journey so special is the connections I’ve made with so many of you. From exchanging advice on the best way to propagate a tricky plant to sharing laughs over our mutual struggles with fungus gnats, this community has been a source of endless joy and inspiration. There’s something incredibly powerful about knowing that you’re not alone in your journey – whether it’s figuring out how to care for that finicky fiddle-leaf fig or navigating the ups and downs of life.
It’s not Vogue, but it’s close enough
And then, of course, there are the milestones that have come along the way. Being featured in New Zealand publications like Live & Grow and Stuff NZ, gracing the pages of gardening magazines, being the calendar boy for Boyswithplants, and even landing on the cover of New Zealand’s first houseplant and design book – these are the kinds of moments that make all those hours on Instagram feel worth it.
One of the highlights of my social media “career” as a micro-influencer has been the opportunity to work alongside Liz of @youngadventuress, an award-winning lifestyle and travel writer. Liz’s book, Houseplants and Design, is the ultimate modern guide to growing, propagating, designing, and caring for indoor plants. It showcases some of the most stylish plant spaces in New Zealand and I’m thrilled to say that mine is one of them!
The thirst is real!
This journey has been nothing short of incredible, and it’s all thanks to this amazing community of plant lovers. We’ve grown together (literally and figuratively), and I couldn’t be more grateful for the connections we’ve made along the way and from the bottom of my perky butt cheeks – thank you for being a part of this wild, leafy ride.
Feel free to connect with me on Instagram if you’re ready for some serious #plantspiration from my indoor green jungle – and yes, plants without pants at @planthirstrap. That’s right, its plant, thirst, and trap all rolled into one. Because why should the plants have all the fun?