Sure, it’s nice to get plants from nurseries and supermarkets, but none of this compares with Facebook groups. One of them, in particular, “Plant Kindness – The Gifting Group” is like an Anthurium Warocqueanum among jade plants.

First, a little detour. When plants picked my interest, I was getting them from supermarkets. Although it is a reasonable source of plants, financially speaking, the offer is not very generous and sometimes is more like a lottery. While doing the shopping you might encounter a gorgeous alocasia or calathea, or just the usual moth orchids and colourful kalanchoes. 

Garden centres and nurseries definitely have a wider variety of plants, but the prices are not very friendly. 

Moreover, if you happen to enjoy getting your hands dirty, this two options are kind of preventing that. Apart from watering and feeding the plants, you might have the opportunity once a year to repot a few. 

Facebook groups are a totally different story, besides including the supermarket, garden centre and nursery plants, the sky is the limit when it comes to diversity of plants. Some of the most spectacular, rare and conveniently priced plants are on this groups. Moreover, they come with knowledge, as the members are more than happy to provide info on care, propagation, identification etc.

Upon discovering this wonders, I joined a local and a national plant sell/swap groups, but what really got me exited lately is the discovery of a rather small group, focused on swaps and gifts. 

“Plant Kindness- The Gifting Group” is truly a wonderful community. This Facebook group was created by Adriana Cidades “to try and help some people having something to look forward to” during the dark times of lockdowns. Not only this goal was achieved, but the group continues to grow and thrive. 

Plant Kindness was suggested to me by Facebook, and I joined only a few weeks ago. Since then, I participated at my first weekly event organized by the admins, called ‘prop box clear out’. The rules are simple, members can announce they’re in, followed by choosing another participant; this way, everyone involved receives a box of plant goodies. 

At that particular time I was moving my houseplants indoor and I had some baby plants and propagation projects in need of a good home. On the other hand, I got chosen by a very understanding fellow plant enthusiast, and I received a box of outdoor plants, considering my limited indoor space. 

My wisdom and restraint vanished the following week, as the next event involved ‘wish list plants’, with rules a bit different: anyone from the group can participate by announcing a few desired plants, without any guarantee that the plant fairies would grant the wishes. 

The level of excitement I felt when Elena Guy chose me and sent the tradescantias I wished for, is that of a child receiving the desired toys on Christmas morning. 

This events are taking place on Sundays, followed by a cascade of photos on the group with the plant mail received. 

During my short time on the group, I noticed a very active and caring admin, Tatiana Ohlweiler-Seabridge, so I contacted her to find out more. A member for two years and admin for over a year, Tatiana has a very special bond with plants, helping her feel connected with her mom, who passed four years ago. “We had a very happy jungle style garden back in Brazil, where she had many beautiful plants and hummingbirds that visited her enchanted garden.”

Tatiana was nice enough to redirect me to Adriana, the founder of the group and an overenthusiastic tropical plant collector. The Sun wrote an article about her stunning collection, over 700 plants in 2022. Since then it got bigger, but about that and her passion for anthurium, I’ll write a separate article.

Adriana made some light regarding the idea of weekly events. “There was a group in US that was doing this. I loved the concept but they were a selling group and once a year (Christmas), they would do a gifting event, like a secret Santa. I spoke with the admin of that group and asked if I could steal the idea”. Not only that she borrowed this idea, she developed it into a wonderful concept, that brings so much joy to a lot of people. 

Participating in this events sparks meaningful conversations in private, creates online friendships and definitely makes this hobby a lot more affordable and pleasant.