What led you to get involved with the Indoor Gardening Society?
My friend [IGSA Vice President] Brenda Rivera invited me. I kept admiring her fantastic plant collection, asking where she got them. She told me the IGSA plant table and how inexpensive they were. What I learn at IGSA about indoor plants complements my work with Beyond Organic Design, my sustainability education nonprofit. I’m proud to be a member!
How many plants do you own now? What are some of the different types?
I don’t count, but it’s a lot! Four big windowsills are full plus one bookcase. I mostly have succulents, euphorbias, and gesneriads. I have such bright sun, so I don’t have many tropical plants, because they fry.
Do you have any favorites?
So hard to say! I love them all for different reasons. I especially love the flowers of the gesneriads and euphorbia milii.
What type of sun exposure do you have? How does that affect your maintenance?
I have full unobstructed southern exposure in three windows and northern exposure in my kitchen. The succulents in the windows facing south require more water than one would think. The light is intense!
We've all had plant failures. Tell us what you’ve learned.
I am an over-waterer so I’ve killed many plants that way. I learned that succulents survive in semi-arid deserts where it only rains two months out of the year, so I water once a month in the winter.
My friend [IGSA Vice President] Brenda Rivera invited me. I kept admiring her fantastic plant collection, asking where she got them. She told me the IGSA plant table and how inexpensive they were. What I learn at IGSA about indoor plants complements my work with Beyond Organic Design, my sustainability education nonprofit. I’m proud to be a member!
How many plants do you own now? What are some of the different types?
I don’t count, but it’s a lot! Four big windowsills are full plus one bookcase. I mostly have succulents, euphorbias, and gesneriads. I have such bright sun, so I don’t have many tropical plants, because they fry.
Do you have any favorites?
So hard to say! I love them all for different reasons. I especially love the flowers of the gesneriads and euphorbia milii.
What type of sun exposure do you have? How does that affect your maintenance?
I have full unobstructed southern exposure in three windows and northern exposure in my kitchen. The succulents in the windows facing south require more water than one would think. The light is intense!
We've all had plant failures. Tell us what you’ve learned.
I am an over-waterer so I’ve killed many plants that way. I learned that succulents survive in semi-arid deserts where it only rains two months out of the year, so I water once a month in the winter.
What is your best success story?
It’s hard for me to say. But whenever my plants flower, especially jade plants and others that don’t necessarily do so easily, I always get really excited!
Any plans on how you'd like to showcase your plants differently?
I am now moving my succulents into large containers instead of small individual pots. I was having difficulty with them drying out easily.
Would you like to share any advice based on your experiences?
Yes! Start slowly, be realistic about your optimal growing conditions at home and then find plants that will be happy there.
A native of Chile, Monica Ibacache has been a New York City–based organizer, sustainability educator, and ecological designer since 2007. She is committed to improving food systems while advancing social and environmental justice globally. Monica has dedicated her life to working with diverse and marginalized communities in education and local development in the U.S. and abroad.
It’s hard for me to say. But whenever my plants flower, especially jade plants and others that don’t necessarily do so easily, I always get really excited!
Any plans on how you'd like to showcase your plants differently?
I am now moving my succulents into large containers instead of small individual pots. I was having difficulty with them drying out easily.
Would you like to share any advice based on your experiences?
Yes! Start slowly, be realistic about your optimal growing conditions at home and then find plants that will be happy there.
A native of Chile, Monica Ibacache has been a New York City–based organizer, sustainability educator, and ecological designer since 2007. She is committed to improving food systems while advancing social and environmental justice globally. Monica has dedicated her life to working with diverse and marginalized communities in education and local development in the U.S. and abroad.
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