We all know that the best social media channels provide a way for users to find community with like-minded people. Social media niche communities not only foster a sense of connection between users around the world, but also provide an ideal space for people to interact based on specific common interests, rather than passively sifting through random content on a general feed. This also means that micro and macro influencers are increasingly being viewed as experts, friends, and even role models, with their followers acutely aware of the issues and interests they are passionate about.
Gone are the days when people thought gardening was a boring, “foreign” concept. Plant Instagram (also known as #Plantsagram) is a community of plant enthusiasts and plant parents who share their beautiful gardens and plant journeys on social media, with some going a step further to share handy tips and tricks for plant care — making it a particularly appealing community for those who are new to gardening or simply struggling to keep a succulent alive! While a genuine love for plants is not necessarily a brand new trend, the global boom in Google search interest for keywords such as ‘gardening’ and ‘interior decor’ during the lockdown in 2020 certainly played a part in rekindling and even igniting this green-fingered flame, as consumers increasingly refocused their efforts on making their homes more pleasant and reconnecting with nature.
With considerably high engagement rates across multiple platforms, including Instagram, these “plantfluencers” are finding new and creative ways to engage their audience and incorporate gardening as a form of self-care. From colourful, verdant reels and live sessions centered around all things green, to activities like plant swaps, plant drives, giveaways, and even plant clinics, these content creators are inspiring us to go green (literally). If you’ve got a green thumb, have killed one too many houseplants or simply just like to feast your eyes on beautiful greenery, here are 4 proudly African plant influencers you should definitely check out:
Candid, funny and very entertaining, there’s never a dull moment when scrolling through this page! While plants may not be the easiest thing to create content about, this Lagos-based plant lover makes it look easy, turning his every day experiences on his plant journey into relatable and highly original reels. From sharing valuable information about proper plant care and pest control specifically in this part of the world, to taking us along as he does his morning gardening chores, there’s always something new and exciting to learn from this page — even if you don’t own any plants yet.
If you’re looking for beautiful, informative and uplifting plant content, this is the perfect place for you. Blending re-potting and leaf cleaning videos with verdant “shelfies”, inspiring affirmations and very helpful Q&A live sessions, Nkhensani Rikhotso’s corner of the internet is vibrant and lush, bursting with warm earthy tones and good vibrations (bonus points for all the big smiles and happy-dancing we get to see). There’s something fresh, hands-on and authentic about this page, and all 12,000 followers seem to agree.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CVksHvwqfdy/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Behold! A sight for sore eyes! Full of life and green wonder, here is a page that zooms right in on the plants themselves featuring bright, vivid pictures, and simple, straightforward captions that lovingly describe each plant and how best to take care of them — making this a good place to start for beginners and those still toying with the idea of owning a plant. Scouring this feed is like stepping into a soothing oasis that encourages you to pause and take a deep mindful breath.
Caring for houseplants is not always as easy as it seems, so huge respect to the plant-lovers who are turning their homes into safe spaces for their plant babies and taking us along for the ride! To put it plainly, this page is a delight. From the lovely plants featured to the wholesome, humorous and educational reels, there’s a lot to like about @plantloveafrika. But that’s not all: this plant mama is equally passionate about deaf awareness, going as far as incorporating (South African) sign language into several of their videos. We are once again asking… what’s not to love?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CFR1YnSjH8D/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
I grow plants for many reasons: to please my eye or to please my soul, to challenge the elements or to challenge my patience, for novelty or for nostalgia, but mostly for the joy in seeing them grow. – David Hobson