In Episode 06, we are fan-girling hard! Jos and Tanya sit down with a true icon of the plant world, Joep Moonen, to hear the wild (and funny) true story behind the Philodendron that bears his name. Plus, we catch Netflix making a major botanical error and discuss why plant collectors are "a special kind of crazy."

In this episode:

• Spilling the Tea (News):

  • Stranger Things Blooper: Jos spots a Philodendron Birkin in a scene set in 1987. Why is that a problem? (Hint: The plant didn't exist yet!)

  • The Plant Villain: We discuss the series Absentia, where the bad guy plots world domination from a stunning greenhouse.

  • Stereotypes: Are plant collectors nerds, socially awkward, or just diverse? We reveal the results of our latest survey.

  • Ghost Orchid Crisis: The Dendrophylax lindenii is disappearing from Florida swamps. We discuss the heartbreaking reality of poaching "The Canary in the Coal Mine."

• The Interview: Joep Moonen:

  • Joining us from his tropical paradise in French Guiana, the naturalist and legend shares his life story.

  • The P. joepii Story: How a rare plant eaten by ants fell into his canoe, and how a joke with Julius Boos led to it being named after him.

  • Daily Life: From waking up with the birds to exploring the Oyapock River.

  • A Message to Collectors: Joep’s philosophy on respecting nature and why we must protect the rainforests.

• Rate That Weird Plant:

  • Haworthia cooperi: The "Boba Tea" succulent. LINK

  • Selaginella ostenfeldii: The "Mermaid" spike moss that looks almost neon. LINK

  • Pterisanthes polita: A plant so weird it looks like a toddler made it out of Play-Doh. LINK

Mentioned in this episode:

• Joep Moonen LINK

• International Aroid Society (IAS): https://www.aroid.org

• Plant Provenance: https://plantprovenance.com

Connect with us:

• Email: PropCulture@hortikult.com

• Website: https://hortikult.com

In Episode 5, we celebrate our 5-week anniversary (and our 37 subscribers!) by tackling the darker side of plant collecting—from nightmare Homeowners Associations to the ethics of stealing seeds from botanical gardens.

In this episode:

🪴 Spilling the Tea (News):

🗞️ HOA Nightmare: We react to the Reddit horror story of "The Botanist" whose 20-year succulent collection was destroyed by a gardener on HOA orders.

🗞️ Phytokleptomania: Are you a plant thief? We discuss the compulsion to steal cuttings and berries (and Jos confesses to his own crime at a botanical garden).

🗞️ Glow-in-the-Dark Succulents: Jos reveals new research on succulents injected with phosphorus to glow in rainbow colors. Cool science or tacky kitsch?

👀 Feature: The Power of Reviews:

🫰🏼 Why reviews are the "digital currency" of the 21st century.⭐️ The problem with current plant reviews: Why generic 5-star systems fail when FedEx crushes your box.

👍🏼 Plant Provenance Solution: We explain our new granular review system (rating Communication, Packaging, Price, and Quality separately) and the "Agree" button that gamifies trust.

🤯 Deep Dive: Monstera 'Burle Marx Flame':

Is it a species or a hybrid? Jos breaks down the enigma of this plant found in Roberto Burle Marx's garden.

🤪 Rate That Weird Plant:

🪨Pseudolithos cubiformis: The "cube-shaped" succulent that looks like a frog with warts.

🦴 Ceropegia fusca: The "mummified cat tail" from the Canary Islands.

🤭 Hydnora africana: The parasitic "vegan vagina" that smells like feces.

Mentioned in this episode:

Plant Provenance: https://plantprovenance.com

Research: "Phytokleptomania" by Dr. Saptarshi Dey: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/397876144_Phytokleptomaniac_A_Playful_Neologism_for_Compulsive_Plant_Collecting

⁨@MonsteraStan⁩ 's BMF Green-on-Green: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQcHT61DA8I

⁨@summerrayneoakes⁩ RBM Tour: https://youtu.be/d0-Nh5BZcJs?si=3yRSjre7G8BbYqYR

Pseudolithops cubiformis: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1004505365008761&set=pcb.1004505475008750

Ceropegia fusca: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/118514638

Hydnora africana: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=973811300984830 and https://www.facebook.com/groups/142126849181880/posts/9981126478615152/

Connect with us:

Email: PropCulture@hortikult.com

Website: https://hortikult.com

In Episode 4, Tanya tries to convince Jos to cure a headache with a disgusting espresso-lemon concoction. And she gets worked up about the "fast fashion" of Christmas plants. We also head deep into the jungles of Borneo for a reality check on what it means to be a modern "Plant Hunter."

In this episode:

• Spilling the Plant Tea:

  • Anthurium Confusion: Jos finally clears up the mess between Anthurium 'Darkest Panama', BVEP, and A. antolakii.

  • Viral Drama: The Oxford University Rafflesia discovery video went viral, but who got erased from the narrative? We discuss the backlash regarding the Indonesian researchers.

• Feature: The Poinsettias:

  • Why Poinsettias are the ultimate "fast fashion" of the plant world.

  • The Aztec history behind the name (yes, it involves bird poop).

  • Jos rates new Poinsettia cultivars: From 'Freedom Peppermint' to the 'Country Kilts' (the "Red Thai Constellation" of Poinsettias).

• Interview: Fraser Cook (@BotanicalOtter):

  • Joining us from Borneo, Fraser discusses reclaiming the term "Plant Hunter."

  • "Plant Flexing": Why influencers showing off expensive poached plants is the "Tiger King" energy of horticulture.

  • Fair Trade Plants: Can we get Forest Stewardship Council certification for our houseplants?

  • Overrated/Underrated: Why Anthuriums are oversaturated, and Scindapsus deserves more love.

• Rate That Weird Plant:

  • The "Cage" Hoya (Hoya decipulae).

  • The "3D Printed" Plant (Aponogeton madagascariensis).

  • The "Penile" Bucket Orchid (Coryanthes) and what Jos saw

Mentioned in this episode:

• Guest: Fraser Cook @botanicalotter

• Viral Rafflesia Story: Dr. Chris Thorogood and the Oxford University

• Plant Provenance: https://plantprovenance.com

Connect with us:

• Email: PropCulture@hortikult.com

• Website: hortikult.com/podcast