Along with “social distancing” and “flattening the curve,” the word “plantfluencer” was a word that entered more Americans’ vocabulary in 2020. As people hunkered down and looked for ways to draw comfort and combat feelings of isolation during the pandemic, many turned to houseplants. And to decide what to buy, how to style plants, how to incorporate them into home décor, they looked increasingly to the vibrant, dynamic communities of plant lovers of Instagram.

The plantfluencers racking up remarkable followings online have diverse backgrounds and highly personal stories about the connections they feel to plants, but their messages – that plants make people feel happier and that plants are a meaningful addition to any (and every) space year round – are rallying cries for everyone in the floral industry invested in growing plant sales far beyond the pandemic period.

Floral Management recently talked with two plantfluencers about their experience in the online communities and their deep, abiding passion for all things green.

The Plant Evangelist
Alika Turner
Pen Name: Jade Harper
BlackPlantChick.com
Instagram Handle: @blackplantchick
Instagram Followers: 18,700+
Beyond Social: Turner hosts the popular Black Plant Chick Podcast which debuts its second season in January. She also offers plant care workshops and consultations via her website.

Floral Management: When did you become interested in plants in a big way?
Alika Turner:  I am a creative and my background is in erotic storytelling — books, podcasting and videos. I hit a point in my life when I needed to pivot into something new. Around that time, I was setting up a scene for a video and I thought, “I need a pop of color — something green and alive.” I went to a big box store in Atlanta and picked up an umbrella tree and a corn plant. They looked great — at first. Then, they started looking sad. My home office only has one little window. I didn’t know how to take care of these plants. So, I started educating myself. I began posting about my plants on social media. It was an outlet for me, initially, but soon I was part of this big plant community. It’s all grown from that. At one point in the pandemic, I had 60, 70 plants in my house. I was going to a local nursery every weekend, buying three or four plants at a time. It was a place that made me feel safe.

FM: How did you find your place within the many plant communities online?
AT: I started The Black Plant Chick podcast because I understood that medium, podcasting, and I thought it would be a way to talk about my journey becoming a plant parent. But it was also an opportunity for me to invite guests on and talk to people who speak my plant language. That’s something I preach all the time to people who are new to plants: Find the community that speaks your language. The online plant community IS big! It’s OK to jump from community to community, especially as you are learning.

One thing that was shocking to me in the online plant community was seeing how many people who looked like me were thriving there. Every day, I see all of these beautiful people of color with their beautiful plants, all through my social media feed — people like Veronica Moore of Brown Skinned Plant Mama (@brownedskinnedplantmama), who’s like my resident therapist, and Colah B Tawkin of Black in the Garden (@blackinthegarden), who I consider my “soil sister,” and so many others.  It is very important for me as a Black women to keep pushing my voice so that other people of color know they are welcome in this space, too. Representation matters.

The Born Believer
Stacey Bal, AIFD, EMC
TheFloraculturist.com
Instagram Handle: @thefloraculturist
Instagram Followers: 7,800+

Beyond Social: Bal, a member of the Floriology Education Team, is a longtime floral designer and educator known for her workshops and video tutorials. The designer in residence at City Scents in Chicago, she recently partnered with Arthur Williams, AIFD, EMC, CPF, to write “Impermanent,” a book that explores the intersection of language and fresh botanical design.

Floral Management: You have a long history in the floral industry, but how did you become so immersed in plants specifically?

Stacey Bal: I am a second generation, fully dedicated florist and plant expert. I was born into the plant and flower business, as my mother went to school for ornamental horticulture while I was in the womb. I followed in her footsteps and built a career around connecting with people through nature and art. My favorite jobs have all centered around greenhouses, landscaping, interior plantscaping, and floral design.

Plants, specifically indoor plants or interior plant design, perennially draw me in for their ability to blur lines between inside and outside, to soften the edges of manmade materials and structures, and for their innate and proven ability to reduce stress and promote wellness. Because I frequent urban areas, I feel especially connected with the power to transform interiors in limitless ways by making nature accessible to everyone regardless of limitations of geographical location.

FM: What are the big, plant-centric trends you love most right now?

SB: My container-driven favorites are plant stands or any pedestal-style container with significant transparency beneath a plant, matte finishes, and unique textures. And my forever favorite styling techniques are no-commitment, easy-to-rotate botanical statement walls — I built one in my home! — layering plants in a multitude of varieties and sizes, trailing vines, and propagating specific plants in clear containers and water. In terms of specific plants, Passiflora edulis and Passiflora incarnata are my favorites. There’s something about the vining habit, the tendrils, and of course the otherworldly intricacy of their short-lived blooms. The delicious fruit is a noteworthy bonus!

FM: What plants do you predict will rise in popularity in 2021?

SB: Rhipsalis baccifera (mistletoe cactus) for its trailing habit; Phlebodium aureum (blue star fern) for its low light uniqueness; Ficus benghalensis (ficus audrey) for its ability to be low maintenance; and Ficus lyrata (fiddle-leaf fig).

Read more insight and advice from both Turner and Bal in the Jan/Feb issue of Floral Management.

The Society of American Florists now has a host of new tools available through its first ever Great Big Plant Event, launched earlier this month, to help florists who want to improve their plant business learn, feel inspired and connect with industry partners. Member Price: $99.00; non-member price: $139.00. Check out the full list of presenters for on-demand demos as well as the schedule of live events.

Mary Westbrook is a contributing writer to the Society of American Florists.