If you’re dreaming of an entire room devoted to plant life, or your excuses begin with ‘I can’t go out, my plants need me,’ you may be bordering along the fine line of crazy ‘plant-lady.’ Is that something to be ashamed of? Absolutely not, plant it up my friends, I love a good plant purchase.

Orange local Marea Ruddy, far exceeds my plant-lady status, but I aspire to reach her level one day. She has over 60 divine house plants, scattered in every room.

“It has been a slow journey,” Marea admitted, “I kicked off with one or two… that I actually killed. Then the next one I got struggled pretty bad, but I brought that beauty back to life. Since then I’ve slowly built up a pretty big collection.”

“It’s a good hobby and a great distraction, it gives me something to do, I enjoy watching them grow and making them nice, big, healthy plants, it makes me feel accomplished. They keep me busy that’s for sure, I’m constantly re-arranging them, trying to find light, especially now that its winter.

It’s a tough question when someone asks me about my favourite plant but I’d have to say it’s the Pothos, there are many varieties and they come in lots of bright colours, I just love them, they are great climbing plants or they make great hanging plants too.”

Marea found so much joy amongst her greenery, she decided to share it with others, and so her little business ‘Pianta’ was created. (If you can’t help yourself and NEED a new plant but know you shouldn’t turn the page, now.)

“My friends and family would describe me as someone who is quite outgoing and very committed, when I get an idea I run with it,” Marea smiled.

“Pianta was born from a passion of all things planty. It’s something that’s been at the back of my head for a while, but I’ve hesitated in bringing it to fruition because I am quite busy with my job working in Community Services.

I think the COVID-19 experience is what really pushed me into it. I’ve been working from home since mid- April, and in doing that, I suppose I’ve got more of a reason to find an escape.”

Marea kicked off Pianta just last month and is over the moon with the support she has received so far, “I started with a test sale just to see what the response would be like, and it just went insane. I am still growing my customer base which is exciting for me. I definitely get a lot of people messaging me for help and advice.

“I just hope to continue to grow, I’m not really sure what the future holds for me but I feel blessed that I get to do this and feel honoured that the community is supporting me.”

You can find Marea and her plant inspo at @piantastore on Instagram/Facebook, or www.pianta.store