Last week, I interviewed Daisy De la Cruz, who has at least 150 indoor plants in her home.
Yes, 150! And that doesn’t even include all the plants growing outside.

While talking with Daisy about her beautiful collection, she said something that stayed with me.

“If you love plants and planting, it means there’s always hope,” she says. “Something will grow, something will sprout, and you’ll always have something to look forward to.”

It’s true.

We actually have a Hoya plant at The Lakeside Leader office. Its little pink flowers almost look like candies.

What’s even more exciting is that Hoyas can take years before producing their first flowers. Once they finally bloom, they can continue flowering for years, often returning from the same little flower stalks.

And you know what’s cool?

The Leader has one blooming right here in the office.

I used to have a Hoya myself, but unfortunately, it never bloomed. I waited and waited, but eventually the plant died.

Actually, there was a time when I had around 40 indoor plants.

In 2021, I started taking my plant hobby seriously. My collection included monsteras, cacti, spider plants, aloe vera, potted roses, alocasias, and many more.

Before then, I would occasionally buy an indoor plant, but usually just one at a time. In 2021, something changed. Suddenly, I wanted plants everywhere.

So, where did all those plants go?

Well….They died!

In 2022, I went through a difficult period in my life. I lost somebody, struggled with some of my university courses, and dealt with some health issues.

Eventually, I stopped taking care of my plants.
And plants, unfortunately, don’t stop needing you just because life gets difficult.

My parents noticed my collection slowly dying. My dad stepped in and relentlessly started repotting and caring for whatever plants he could rescue. Out of roughly 40 plants, only about 10 survived.

But that brings me back to what Daisy told me.

There is always hope.

Looking back, I think plants are funny little reminders of that. Sometimes things don’t grow the way we expect them to. Sometimes leaves fall off. Sometimes roots rot.

Sometimes, despite everything we do, a plant doesn’t make it.

But sometimes, something survives.

And sometimes, the right people come along and help take care of things when we can’t do it ourselves.

Now, I’m getting back into taking care of plants again. I currently have seven.

One of my oldest plants is also still with me.

My mom gave it to me for my 16th birthday, and next February, it will turn nine years old.

That plant has been through a lot.

But it’s still growing.
Maybe Daisy is right.

There is always something to look forward to.
Sometimes, you just have to wait for it to sprout.

Commentary by
Julia Magsombol