BY RUBY SILUBRICO AND CHRIST JOHN GAMARHA
BUCKLING down at home due to months-long implementation of community quarantine, “plantitos” and “plantitas” have risen as a household trend amid the coronavirus pandemic.
A cheeky portmanteau of plants and the uncle and auntie generation, the newly-minted labels refer to those who acquired a green thumb, either by growing it the Instagram-worthy succulents or the sustainable fruits and vegetable plants.
In Iloilo City, photos of delicate flowers and broad-leafed foliage cultivated in backyards and on balconies flooded social media as housebound Ilonggos turned to nature to relieve stress and boredom.
“It’s unbelievable. People are super interested in plants these days,” said ornamental plant seller Rey Machan.
The Arevalo-based vendor has seen prices for some varieties of monsteras reach P55,000 each, compared with P800 before the pandemic. His daily income tripled after he reopened his stall at the front of their home following months of lockdown.
Machan said demand remained robust even as prices for the most popular varieties of indoor plants, such as alocasias, spider plants and peace lilies, doubled or even quadrupled.
“It’s hard to understand people. When plants were cheap, they were ignored, ”said the 52-year-old who buys his plants in bulk from growers in nearby provinces.
But this kind of business, Machan acknowleged, does not always run smoothly.
“Since we are on a small-scale production yet, its more on the environmental challenges such as pest management and changes with the weather,” he said.
Recognizing that weather and pest can often be unpredictable and can easily damage plants, Machan Machan pointed out their need to anticipate and devote time and effort to mitigate these difficulties.
For those who want to jumpstart their own journey to “plant parenthood” but doubt their skills, Machan recommended beginning with any succulents from the Sansevierias (bacularis, fernwood, trifasciata, robusta), Aloes and Haworthias genus.
“The hardier the texture, the sturdier they are indoors,” Machan tipped.
Meanwhile in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, the stress of lockdown and financial pressure brought about by the pandemic prompted three sisters to seek solace in their gardens, earning themselves the nicknames plantitas.
“The safest way to make yourself happy is through growing little things,” said Gilda Gamarcha, a retired public school teacher and a mother of four.
A long-time gardener, Gamarcha said tending her plants helped to kill boredom and she even earned some money by selling cuttings from her extensive collection.
“Plant parenting has helped me countless times. In my lowest low and in extraordinary times like these, other than praying and spending time with family and friends, it’s my garden that gives me the most inner peace. Gardening is a form of prayer and meditation for me.”
Gilda Gamarcha
She guaranteed plant parenting is not only effective in beautifying homes but also a “good companion during trying times.”
“Plant parenting has helped me countless times. In my lowest low and in extraordinary times like these, other than praying and spending time with family and friends, it’s my garden that gives me the most inner peace. Gardening is a form of prayer and meditation for me,” she explained.
Minda Toquero, on the other hand, is opposing the “insane” prices charged by other sellers, fearing it could drive plant poaching.
“It’s ridiculous, a plant that I purchased for P400 is now selling for P5,000,” said the 58-year-old seamstress.
Removing threatened species from forests is illegal under Philippine law and carries hefty penalties. Collecting other native plants is allowed but only with a permit.
Thieves are targeting plant varieties popular on social media, such as staghorn ferns and pitcher plants, Toquero said.
The youngest among the siblings, Belinda Ganmboa, welcomed the interest in gardening, but wished they would plant flowers or edibles instead of native flora.
“Be responsible plantitos and plantitas and be mindful of where the plants are coming from,” she said./PN
