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Gardening may be a hobby for you, but for some it's a lifestyle.
Inspired by fellow hobbyists, this Singaporean man has grown a veritable wall of plants at the corridor outside his HDB flat.
Image courtesy of Francis Yeo
Leisurely hobby
Francis Yeo posted on Facebook about his wall of plants along the HDB corridor on Apr. 6.
Image via Francis Yeo/ FB
Mothership reached out to Yeo to find out more about his journey growing these plants.
According to Yeo, he has been growing these "generally low maintenance" plants since April last year.
The main varieties of plants he has growing outside are Monsteras, Alocasias, Philodendrons and Anthuriums.
Humble beginnings
Yeo shared that he first began gardening as a hobby in August 2021, while he was working from home.
He started indoors and gradually shifted it outdoors in April 2022 due to a lack of space.
Inspired by other hobbyists' vertical structures, Yeo said he experimented with a merchandise rack from Taobao, and after some trial and error, managed to set something similar up.
Yeo's plant set up when he first started in April 2022. Image courtesy of Francis Yeo
Planting methods
When Yeo first began, he confessed that he "killed many plants" as a result of root rot and pests.
After doing some research, he became more interested in a planting method known as semi-hydroponics.
Yeo shared that this method involves using soilless (inert/organic) media such as clay aggregates and keeping a reservoir of water with nutrients at the bottom with no drainage.
This allows the plant roots to reach deeper to the water reservoir at the base, and also prevents mosquito breeding issues as stagnant water is not exposed.
Image courtesy of Francis Yeo
Yeo's soilless medium of choice is lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA), as it has small pockets of air that keep the roots healthy.
He also said that the lack of organic material has helped prevent issues related to pests and fungus.
Ensuring his setup looks the way it is does not come easy though.
Yeo spends an average of two to three hours weekly on watering and pest control.
Watering is done twice a week for about 30 minutes, and pest control takes around 15 to 30 minutes weekly.
Yeo shared that his children occasionally help him mist the plants as well.
Sometimes, he carries out "major changes" to the setup by trimming and adjusting the plants, which can amount to about five to 10 hours of care a week.
"Conscious that it is a shared space"
Yeo posts updates about his plants on Facebook, sharing that he regularly prunes and maintains them.
Image via Francis Yeo/ FB
He shared more about how he kept the place neat and tidy:
"I intentionally tie out growing leaves back to the wall mesh. Those that grew out a lot, I will snip them despite them being healthy leaves. Just have to take the initiative to keep the path clear.
And after watering/misting, I will always use a floor wiper to dry up the path."
Yeo said he is "conscious that (the corridor) is a shared space".
According to Yeo, his neighbours are fellow gardening hobbyists and "compliment" his set up.
He said that the plant structure is at low risk of being a fire hazard, as he properly secured his mesh structure and "minimised the load" on it by using thin plastic pots and LECA, which is light compared to soil.
Image courtesy of Francis Yeo
Yeo noted that "technically, the (setup) is just one plant width against the wall", and will not be an obstruction even during emergencies.
"I measured to ensure that my fixed structure is 1.2m away from the opposite wall. Plants might grow and encroach into that space, but leaves are soft and flexible, it will not obstruct when there is a need to move across.
Have tested during a medical emergency in my household, paramedics and their trolley can pass through the corridor, my neighbour’s e-bike as well. So I think currently it is alright."
There is also no flammable material on it, Yeo said, and the path is "clear for movement and evacuation" in case of an emergency.
He has an 80L barrel of water next to his set up for his watering routine, which is the "biggest body of water on standby for any fire".
Netizens' reactions
Many netizens were amazed by the sheer size and effort of the plant display.
Image via Francis Yeo/ FB
Image via Francis Yeo/ FB
Image via Francis Yeo/ FB
Some asked about his process of growing the plants and what he used.
Image via Francis Yeo/ FB
Image via Francis Yeo/ FB
Image via Francis Yeo/ FB
A few even asked Yeo if he would be open to selling some plants he grew.
Image via Francis Yeo/ FB
Image via Francis Yeo/ FB
Yeo told Mothership that he is not actively selling them, "unless the plants grow too big... Then I will sell the extra cuttings at hobbyist rate".
He also hopes the plants continue "grow(ing) nicely" for his family and his neighbours' enjoyment.
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All images courtesy of Francis Yeo.