Q&A with “Fancy Plants Club”

If you don’t already know Dana from @FancyPlantsClub, she lives in Pennsylvania and began growing her online community more seriously about a year and a half ago! We were lucky enough to chat with her about the lessons she’s learned along the way and what keeps her fulfilled. Dana has been learning everything through trial and error and shares her top tips on IG and in her Happy Houseplants Handbook. It’s not only lessons in plant care that she loves, but also the mental health benefits and the community she now belongs to. She shares, “Taking care of plants, I realized, was a great anxiety relief and mindfulness practice. I was hooked on seeing them grow and then got into collecting them.” 

There’s something for everyone with plants, whether it’s keeping your mind calm, bringing you joy, learning something new, building friendships, or even creating a space in your home for your plants.

Sometimes we get caught up in purchasing plants for our home without remembering what else they’re there for. I spoke with Dana about how she has an ever-growing plant collection (around 200 plants!) and she reminds us, “Instead of looking at a space and deciding what plant to put there, monitor the light and humidity, and choose your plant mindfully!” She shared many decor tips once you know the best plant for your home, like grouping plants in one central location. This allows you to enjoy their relaxing energy while discovering new ways to style them, not to mention it makes watering them easier. “I’m always on the lookout for new ways to style them, like shelves, clear window shelves, and great Amazon finds…and I’m currently building a plant gallery wall in my office!” Dana is always finding new ways to bring her rooms to life – literally.

All these exciting projects Dana is involved in aren’t as much fun unless you have someone to share them with. Enter IG. “I was getting deep into this hobby, and my friends and family didn’t entirely understand, but people online GET IT.” Plant Proper GETS IT. “I was introduced to Plant Proper, and it was the first time I purchased a plant online. I fell in love with their Hoyas, and it is now my go-to source.” She continued, “I never ordered a plant online before Plant Proper because I love the process of shopping in person. But I was blown away by how perfectly they were shipped—better than from the store! The quality is amazing, and I love their accessories like trellises and pruning shears.” Dana adds, “When a Plant Proper Hoya comes in the mail, I can’t wait to show my friends on IG!”

Dana shares all her DIY projects, top tips, and even leads mindfulness plant workshops at Root and Renew. I asked her if there are any questions she gets frequently, and she said, “I just led a plant class where we practiced mindfulness with plants and made succulent arrangements. It reminded me how important it is to go back to the basics: light, water, and drainage. Keeping plants in their nursery pot, using a well-draining soil mix, ensuring proper lighting, and checking the soil before watering.” This made us think about how even in our wellness journeys as humans, we often seek quick fixes, but it always comes back to the basics and maybe we can look to plants for some wellness advice too. 

Are all her lessons learned? “No! I’m always learning. For example, I’ve realized I might not need more plants right now and should focus on gifting them instead. I’m also experimenting with self-watering pots and planning to revamp my greenhouse cabinet with better shelving and more humidity.”

Dana is an example of how plants can bring joy in more ways than one, and she reminds us that building a community shouldn’t be taken for granted. At Plant Proper, we hope you follow @FancyPlantsClub and @PlantProper to join our community and continue learning all the ways plants thrive—and how they help us thrive too.

Start your journey to happier and healthier plants today with Plant Proper!