In this episode, Tanya and Jos explore the cutting edge of plant science and the "wild west" of online plant selling. We start with some major news regarding the EU’s New Genomic Techniques (NGT) and what "designer plants" might look like in the future. We also dive into the drama of Reddit, discussing the audacity of a buyer asking for a free replacement plant four months after purchase—because they were in a coma.

Jos shares his "hard way" lessons from launching a plant shop, and we discuss the heartbreaking news about Liverpool’s struggling botanical collection. Finally, we reveal the complex history behind the legendary Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’ and ‘Queen of Hearts’ before rating a new batch of "Weird Plants"—one of which Tanya can only describe as "Minecraft-esque" and phallic.

Key Topics:

• The transition to Substack and leaving Spotify.
• CRISPR and NGT: Are we ready for drought-resistant indoor plants?.
• Liability and shipping: Who is responsible when a plant arrives in "shreds"?.
• The true origin of ‘Ace of Spades’ and the TC "contamination" that created ‘Queen of Hearts’.
• Weird Plant Ratings: Solanum uleanum, Bulbine bruynsii, and the "fugly" Cynanchum marnierianum.

After a chaotic start involving a "brain cell frying" recording mishap, Tanya and Jos are back for the second episode of Season 2. We dive into the legacy of the late orchid legend Paul Gripp, discuss the evolution of "rare" versus "collector" plants, and Tanya makes a confession about a certain "betrayal" regarding the IAS Tropical Plant Expo.

In the second half of our interview with Dr. Tom Croat, we explore the mysteries of wild hybridization, the "Aroid Bubble," and Tom’s advice for the next generation of botanists.

To wrap things up, Jos tests Tanya’s gag reflex with a round of "Weird Plants"—featuring a succulent you can eat and a Magnolia fruit that Tanya describes as a "biological abomination".

In this episode, we discuss:

• In Memoriam: The life and work of "The Last Great Orchid Explorer," Paul Gripp.
• Terminology: Why we’re ditching "rare" for "Collectors Plants".
• Market Trends: Buying plants in 2026—from car park "drug deals" to Palm Street live streams.
• Science with Dr. Tom Croat: Why hybrids are rare in the wild and why an Anthurium can be identified by its leaves alone.
• Rate That Weird Plant

Connect with us:

• Email: PropCulture@hortikult.com
• Website: hortikult.com
• Substack: hortikult.substack.com
• YouTube: @prop.culture

Happy New Year and Welcome to Season 2!

We made it back. Tanya is (mostly) healthy, Jos is caffeinated, and we are starting 2026 with a guest we’ve been dreaming of hosting since Day 1: Dr. Thomas Croat.

The Man Behind the Name

You likely know Dr. Croat as the “Godfather of Aroids”—the man who has described over 1,300 species and collected more plants than probably anyone in history. But in Episode 1 of Season 2, we got to hear the stories before the fame. He told us about his early adventures sailing from St. Thomas to South America on a sloop, a journey he chronicled in his memoir Under the Spinnaker. Lacking the equipment to dry and press plants, he spent months just observing—visiting thousands of habitats and learning Spanish by immersion on the back of trucks and trains. It’s a fascinating look at how a young botanist built the foundation for a legendary career.

Also:

Can Moss Survive Space? In our news segment, we discussed a mind-blowing study from Science News. Scientists attached spores of the moss Physcomitrium patens to the outside of the International Space Station. The conditions: Vacuum of space, intense UV radiation, extreme freeze/thaw cycles. The result: After 9 months, 86% of the spores came back to life and grew. The takeaway: If we ever move to Mars, this moss is definitely coming with us.

Plus: Jos breaks down the history of the Philodendron spiritus sancti bubble. Is it still the “Holy Grail” now that you can buy it in a tissue culture bag?

Rate That Weird Plant

We close each episode with a segment we call “Rate That Weird Plant”. Check this episode’s weird plants below.

Eulychnia castanea f. Spiralis Posted on Reddit by Planta_Samantha.

Dendrobium wassellii Posted on Houzz by malteseproverb.

Cynomorium coccineum Posted on Science Photo Gallery by Bob Gibbons.

Episode 9: A Variegated State of Mind (Season Finale)

It is the last episode of the year! We are wrapping up the season with a packed episode, spilling some plant tea, diving deep into the science of variegation, and rating some truly bizarre plants.

We start by debunking a questionable article about "windowless rooms" (sorry, Enid!) and clearing up the confusion behind the mysterious "Philodendron 69586" floating around the internet. Then, we shine our Provenance Spotlight on a collector favorite: Philodendron 'Dean McDowell'.

Finally, we get into our main topic: Variegation. Why does it happen? What is the difference between chimeral and genetic variegation? And why was 2020 the "Variegation Gold Rush"?

Thank you to all our listeners for an amazing year. We will see you on January 6th for Season 2!

In this episode, we cover:

• ☕ Spilling the Plant Tea:

  The Windowless Room Myth: Discussing a "clickbait" article claiming plants flourish in windowless rooms (and why Enid Offolter was mentioned in it).

  The Number Game: Solving the mystery of Philodendron "69586"—it is actually a typo for Philodendron bettewaterbury (or related to Croat's accession numbers).

• 🔦 Provenance Spotlight: Philodendron 'Dean McDowell'

  A hybrid of P. pastazanum x P. gloriosum created by John Banta in 1988.

  The touching story behind the name (honoring a friend lost to the AIDS epidemic).

  A tribute to John Banta (1932–2021), a prolific hybridizer who also worked on seedless raspberries and Anthurium crosses.

• 🎨 Deep Dive: A Variegated State of Mind

  The Science: How cell mutations in the meristem cause variegation.

  The Types: Explaining Genetic (stable), Chimeral (unstable), Viral, and Induced variegation (remember Pink Congo?).

  The Purpose: Hypotheses on why nature produces variegation (herbivore deterrence vs. camouflage).

• 🏆 Rate That Weird Plant:

  Lophophora diffusa (False Peyote): A cactus that looks like a "green ball of clay" or... a pimple? https://www.reddit.com/r/BotanicalPorn/comments/1pnyc56/lophophora_diffusa/

  Ravenala madagascariensis (Traveler’s Palm): Famous for its stunning, electric-blue seeds. https://www.reddit.com/r/plants/comments/1pownid/strange_blue_fibers_in_this_seed_pod_ive_never/

  Microcoelia aphylla: A leafless orchid that photosynthesizes through its roots. https://www.facebook.com/groups/52597049839/?multi_permalinks=10162133715749840

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Plants: Philodendron 'Dean McDowell', Philodendron bettewaterbury, Monstera 'Thai Constellation', Lophophora diffusa.

  People: John Banta, Enid Offolter, Fabio Silva (Listener Shoutout!).

Connect with us:

Email | Website | Reddit

Next Episode: We return January 6th with a huge interview!

In Episode 07, Tanya is pre-recording before traveling back to Czechia and braving the frozen north (Reykjavik), and Jos is embracing his inner Grinch. We dive deep into the science, myths, and market impact of Tissue Culture—is it saving the hobby or ruining it? Plus, we rate a plant that literally looks like... well, lips.

In this episode:

Spilling the Tea (News):

• Holiday Cactus Confusion: Do you have a Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter Cactus? Jos explains the difference (and blames capitalism).
• 2025 Trend Watch: An article claims Hoya and Rare Cacti are the "new" IT plants. We react (and spot the "mealybug" in the room).
• Book Club: Tanya recommends "The Plant Book" by Tammy Huynh—a perfect last-minute gift for the plant nerd in your life.

Feature: The Truth About Tissue Culture (TC):

The Science: How we clone plants from a single piece of tissue (and why "shoots before roots" matters).

The Market Impact: From the $1,000 Monstera obliqua Peru crash to mass-market availability.

The Stigma: Are TC plants weaker? Does it kill the excitement of collecting? Tanya and Jos debate the "authenticity" of lab-grown vs. seed-grown.

Genetic Anomalies: Why mutations like the Monstera 'Thai Constellation' are actually TC's "happy accidents."

Rate That Weird Plant:

• Selenicereus anthonyanus: The dragon fruit plant that actually looks like a "Fishbone" Cactus relative.
• Palicourea elata: The infamous "Hooker's Lips" (or Labios de Puta)—nature is getting provocative.
• Monotropa humile: The ghostly white "Corpse Plant" that gets a perfect 10/10 weirdness score.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Book: "The Plant Book" by Tammy Huynh
• Video: Kaylee Ellen: "What Really Happened to Rare Plants"
• Plant Provenance: https://plantprovenance.com

Connect with us:

• Email: PropCulture@hortikult.com
• Website: https://hortikult.com
• Facebook Group: Spill The Plant Tea

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