Home gardening: A trending hobby during the pandemic |13 February 2021

In its quest to learn more about the various therapeutic activities that people in Seychelles have taken to during the pandemic, Seychelles NATION contacted the person behind seyplantslife on Instagram, an account dedicated to plants and home gardening.

We learned that it is being run by local medical professional, Dusan Stojilkovic, and in the following interview, he shares with us his passion for plants and gardening, as well as the story of how the pandemic sparked his interest in horticulture therapy.

Seychelles NATION: Tell us about your Instagram account, seyplantslife.

Dusan Stojilkovic: My Instagram page seyplantslife was created to gather plant lovers and anyone who is interested in plants in general. Plant communities worldwide are growing fast and I am really happy to see that many islanders really appreciate gardening, propagating and taking care of many different plant species.

When the very first lockdown in Seychelles started back in 2020, one of my friends introduced me to his hobby and very soon I got my very first plant. Since then I have managed to grow a beautiful garden on my balcony. Another friend of mine called it ‘balcojunggle’.

Since then I’ve discovered so many people who have magical gardens all around the island. Sometimes I think that during this pandemic that is still affecting all of us, we have started a local epidemic of plant fever and it’s slowly taking over.

I have many different plants but definitely my favourites are two extremes – cacti/succulents and begonias. I remember buying my first succulent plant and being so excited about everything – from soil type, how to mix it, humidity and watering. The whole process of discovering a completely new world that has literarily been just in front of our eyes.

You would be surprised to see that all those plants that you probably have behind the house, by the road or those that you see up in the forest, are very popular and expensive in Europe and the United States. We are lucky having them around and the most important thing is that we don’t have to worry about winter time; they thrive throughout the year. Most of the time we take it for granted.

Seychelles NATION: What are some of the most important factors relating to plant care?

Dusan Stojilkovic: It is very difficult to find proper advice to give when it comes to plant care. Definitely there are some general rules that you have to follow when it comes to certain plant families, but each and every plant lover has their own way of doing things. I was very preoccupied, blindly following advices until I established my own way of taking care of my plants.

One golden rule that I’ve heard many times is to never overwater plants because there is no way back from there. When you are not too sure if the plant needs water, skip the day or stick your fingers in the soil to check the moisture. Also, always check if your plant likes direct or indirect sunlight otherwise it can easily burn.

One of the most important things is the quality of the soil. Unfortunately we can’t buy already premixed soil for different plant groups, but I learned how to make my own with the soil we can find locally (river gravel, red soil, rocks etc).

I know everybody wants orchids from the start! But start with something simple, for example snake plant or cactus and slowly expand depending on the experience and preference.

Seychelles NATION: You mentioned that it was the lockdown last year that triggered your passion for plants and gardening. Tell us more about this.

Dusan Stojilkovic: During lockdown I was working, not from home, but actually as a medical professional I had to be in the clinic every day. No matter how much you love your work, sometimes it can be very stressful, especially since last year.

Caring for my plants after work brought me much needed peace and tranquility. It is very therapeutic! As a man of science I have to support this with some facts. Getting your hands dirty in the garden increases the serotonin level in the blood. According to many recent studies, contact with the soil itself and the bacteria within (especially Mycobacterium vaccae) triggers serotonin release.

So next time, remove your gloves before you start repotting your plants and I am not only talking about decorative plans; I am also talking about vegetables or spice gardens, just name it! I am sure you have noticed as well how many people actually grow vegetables at home with many different innovative ideas.

After all, it is not only about the aesthetics and beauty of the plants. There is something deeply satisfying in carrying, supporting and watching them grow into something beautiful.

Through my Instagram page and through gardening in general, I've met fantastic islanders with the most amazing plant collections. They are all wonderful people and many have become my friends. With great pleasure, we all support each other. It was also very nice to attend some of the workshops organised by Wildflour Café where we learnt from experts about plant care and propagation.

The plant society is definitely growing which makes me really happy! When the current situation allows social gathering again, it would actually be amazing to organise a ‘plant swap’ event where people can bring and exchange plants, share plant care tips, and in general meet each other. Until then let's exchange our ideas online; hit me up on my Instagram page and let’s share the beautiful plant world together.

Photo sources: Instagram account: seyplantslife

F.P.