--- title: "A long, emotional post about my current plant journey & life I…" description: "A long, emotional post about my current plant journey & life I suffered a really painful breakup & betrayal in April of this year. I decided & arranged to move…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/sXlbC5WI8AzgHAfyuvMwFe" community: "Anything about plants" author: "Union Leo" published: "2025-11-02T06:50:35.399679Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ZwW70n5CXcrYnRMthsUbdJjKvjFv0fRkJreE-_Hhcfg/R7mVgfNASl2Lkwu8PSLpnw.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Anything about plants](https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg.md) # A long, emotional post about my current plant journey \& life I… _Posted by Union Leo on 2025-11-02_ A long, emotional post about my current plant journey \& life I suffered a really painful breakup \& betrayal in April of this year. I decided \& arranged to move out of our shared apartment in a single night. I moved into my aunt’s basement, which has a living room, bathroom, \& bedroom. For context, I’m 24. When I moved, I had some seedlings in peat pellets \& a few planters prepared for the season. I had grown tomatoes and herbs in the past, nothing more. When I arrived at my aunt’s, her work was having a flower fundraiser. She loves flowers but has limited mobility; she told me if I maintained the plants, she would pay for $200 worth of flowers. I researched the flowers offered that were the most beloved by my local pollinators, \& suddenly I was responsible for ~30 plants. I could definitely do it. My mom and grandma are both devoted gardeners, indoor \& outdoor. I put my headphones on, enjoyed some Mary Jane, listened to an audiobook \& worked outside. Somehow I had ran into a hobby that required planning, mental \& physical energy, daily commitment, \& was fulfilling for those around me. Building the garden was a huge task that allowed me to redirect the care \& intention I had given my relationship. It was a way of settling in to my new environment that met all of my needs. In the bedroom downstairs, 2 of the walls have large, 8x3ft windows, \& a ~10 inch ledge just beneath them, along the entire wall. I began to imagine trailing plants hanging down \& around the ledges in my bedroom. I knew nothing about houseplants. My aunt had some I tried to save, but I killed her peace lily immediately. I bought my first few on marketplace without knowing what to do— a fiddle leaf, split leaf philodendron, golden pothos, spider plant, etc. You all know how this goes. Indoor plants are a different beast! \& I had ~15 feet of east \& south facing windowsills in my bedroom. They began to multiply, I bought more and more. I began propagating. Instagram had caught on \& I was learning about homemade moss poles \& chunky soil. Once I made the chunky soil, every plant needed a repot! I became (and still am) obsessed with repotting. I picked up every trick I could— pest control mixtures, treating root rot, using stakes for support, bottom planting, filtered water, humidity. Caring for my houseplants became one of the reasons I wanted to get out of bed every day. Giving plants as gifts, plant swaps, trading with my relatives, taking cuttings from plants in public. Now, everything smells like neem oil. I am constantly buying soil, orchid bark, coco chips, \& perlite. I just made my first moss pole! I have begun selling plants. I have 45 according to Planta, but an entire windowsill is devoted to propagates. The cellar has my crotons, straining under a grow light. I have to touch the plants I see in restaurants, bars, and boutiques. I watch repotting ASMR on Instagram \& check marketplace daily. I am also grappling with the fact that winter is almost here, and the plants may begin to struggle. I shouldn’t buy more for a while because they won’t thrive for a while, right? Well I just bought 4 more plants today, and it’s November 1st. Wish me luck. I can’t really wrap my head around how crucial this journey has been to recovering from my breakup. I do know, however, that this brings me so much joy. Planta has been ESSENTIAL to this process— I don’t have half the worries other plant parents do since I got a moisture meter \& Planta tells me what to do \& when. The Planta community has been fun to participate in \& I plan to remain here. I just needed to get that out. I never thought this would become such a big part of my life, but I’m really enjoying it now it’s here. If you read this far, may your new leaves always be larger than their predecessors. May thrips \& spider mites tremble before you, \& your roots always be white. Thank you for being here. ![Attachment 1 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ZwW70n5CXcrYnRMthsUbdJjKvjFv0fRkJreE-_Hhcfg/R7mVgfNASl2Lkwu8PSLpnw.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ZwW70n5CXcrYnRMthsUbdJjKvjFv0fRkJreE-_Hhcfg/kuB8diR3RZixGGlglSFAzw.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 3 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ZwW70n5CXcrYnRMthsUbdJjKvjFv0fRkJreE-_Hhcfg/O3eMYK-sQ7OQFTXzHEBONQ.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 4 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ZwW70n5CXcrYnRMthsUbdJjKvjFv0fRkJreE-_Hhcfg/xqLd_R-oSLy8hK9KBHqULA.webp?size=large) ## 6 comments ### Bb commented on 2025-11-02 Hiya, thanks for sharing your story! It’s amazing how much caring for plants brings fulfilment and fills the void when it comes to dark feelings. I hope you’re well and truly on the good side of your healing journey! ### Joycita commented on 2025-11-02 Thank you for sharing! I’m so happy you found this hobby when you did, seems like it was just what you needed! ### Joycita commented on 2025-11-02 And all your plants are gorgeous! ### PlantHopeful commented on 2025-11-02 Amazing!! Plants save lives ❤️❤️❤️ ### Monty commented on 2025-11-02 You are so strong. You’ve created the most beautiful plants in your healing. ❤️‍🩹❤️❤️🌱 ### Mugsy commented on 2025-11-02 Very inspiring, Leo. 💚🪴 Stunning plant collection that is thriving because of your resilience and strength. --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_