Inside a macrame artist's sunny Quebec home with over 100 houseplants

Houseplanted is a bi-weekly series where folks with extraordinary houseplant collections invite us inside their homes for a tour of their verdant spaces and to share tips and inspiration for keeping nature alive inside. 

Meet Laura Pigeon of Rimouski, Que., a plant lover and macrame artist whose bohemian-styled space is chock-full of pastels, rattan furniture and so, so many houseplants. In this episode of Houseplanted, we explore her expansive plant collection to see some enviable specimens, including a massive Monstera Albo. Plus, Laura shares her advice on how to let go of your plant-related anxiety.

Check out the video, then scroll down to learn a bit more about Laura and her plant collection.

​​This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Tell us about your home.

I live in a small village in Bas-St-Laurent. It's a beautiful, quiet place on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. 

How many plants are in your collection and how long have you been at it?

I have around 110 plants in my collection. I started collecting plants in 2018.

Can you share your very first plant, your most recent addition, and your all-time favourite?

My first plant was a Pilea that a friend gave me. I no longer have it today. The plants I got in the early days that I liked a lot were a Snow Queen pathos and a Hoya carnosa, which I still have. 

My latest additions to my collection are the Scindapsus White Tiger and Monstera Thai Constellation Crème Brulée. 

My all-time favourite plant will always be my Alocasia Frydek, which I love a lot. I even managed to grow a second one from the bulbils of the first!

Explain your overall relationship to your plant collection.

Sometimes a love-hate relationship? Haha! Jokes aside, I love taking these little moments to care for them every morning. It's quite relaxing and I always enjoy seeing new leaves on my plants.

Describe the emotional connection you have with your plants. How do they make you feel?

I feel good when my plants are doing well. There are some plants that I have a strong attachment to because I got them when they were very small, and now they have grown quite large. It's truly a pride to succeed in growing our plants so beautifully. They bring warmth and comfort to my home. But sometimes I can feel overwhelmed by taking care of so many plants while continuing my activities. That's why I recently decided to reduce my number of plants, so I can still enjoy them and don't feel like it's too much to care for.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start their own houseplant collection?

Take your time. Go gradually. Also, research the needs of your plants before buying.

What's the most important rule or practice you follow when caring for your plants?

It doesn't have to be complicated, and not succeeding can happen. Not all plants may suit us, and some types are more difficult to maintain than others. Just because you don't succeed with a type of plant doesn't mean you don't automatically have a green thumb!

Where do you see your plant collection heading in the future? Are there any specific goals or aspirations you have for it?

At the moment, I don't really have the desire to expand my collection. I love the plants I have, and my goal would be to simply watch them grow and manage to keep them all alive! The passion for having plants doesn't have to be complicated, and it doesn't have to take up your entire life either. It should remain enjoyable, and you should want to take care of them.