[One Thousand Characters a Day] The Intimate Story of a Plant Caretaker 'First Plant'＜1＞

by Jo Inkyung

Published 01 Apr.2024 06:00(KST)

Updated 02 Apr.2024 08:20(KST)

Editor's NoteWelcoming the full bloom of spring, the book introduced to 'Haruchunja' readers this week is the essay ＜Cheoeum Sikmul (First Plants)＞ by 'Apisto,' who runs a YouTube channel related to plants. Apisto is a 'plant caretaker' who carefully nurtures a variety of plants, from aquatic plants and tropical plants to jungle plants. He is also the illustrator and publishing editor of this book. ＜Cheoeum Sikmul＞ tells the story of the author, who ended up filling half of his office space with plants, about his experiences raising plants and the people he met through them. Reading the book reveals that the seemingly static hobby of plant care is actually the most dynamic form of healing and comfort. Word count: 993.

[One Thousand Characters a Day] The Intimate Story of a Plant Caretaker 'First Plant'＜1＞

On the day the plant first arrived, I kept exclaiming in amazement as soon as I opened the delivery box.

"Wow~. You are really cool!"

This plant showed with its whole being that it can be dynamic even when still. Its name is Philodendron Pastazanum. 'Pastazanum' comes from Pastaza Province in Ecuador, where it was first discovered in the 1970s, but since the name is difficult, plant caretakers simply call it 'Jjaneomi.'

However, the Jjaneomi that moved into a new pot wilted with yellowing leaves in less than a week. At that moment, my face also turned yellow.

(Omitted)

When plants move to a new home for the first time, they often suffer from transplant shock. This is partly because they grew in the best environment of a farm until then, but they inevitably struggle to adapt to the new environment with different water and sunlight. Humans also experience something called new house syndrome.

Among plant hormones, there is one called ethylene. When plants are injured or exposed to various stress conditions such as drought, lack of oxygen, or cold damage, they release ethylene. This is an evolutionary strategy for survival, as the plant senses a threat and hastens flowering and fruiting to leave offspring.

Thinking that Jjaneomi also emitted ethylene and struggled to survive while being shipped in the delivery box made me feel sorry.

After that experience, the first thing I do when bringing in a new plant is to not repot it immediately but leave it in partial shade for about a week. Then, as if performing a ritual, I take out my own plant insurance.

That is, I take a photo of the plant’s initial appearance. This is to remember the plant at its healthiest state. If one day a healthy plant suddenly dries up or yellows, I look back at the photo taken on the day it first arrived.

'Ah, this leaf wasn’t here then.'

'There were no spots back then?'

By comparing like this, I steady my mind. Looking at the photo taken when the plant first came to me and reflecting on my original intention is my only plant insurance.

－Apisto (Shin Juhyun), ＜Cheoeum Sikmul (First Plants)＞, Media Saem, 17,800 KRW