Inside a Vancouver artist's loft that's home to over 100 lush tropical plants

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. 

"It almost hits you like a wall of green," Glyn Lewis said of his Vancouver loft, which is home to over 100 tropical houseplants. His space, known as @loft_garden_oasis on Instagram, also serves as a photography and production studio, and is designed to make you feel like you're in nature. In this episode of Houseplanted, Glyn gives us a tour of his lush, plant-filled oasis and shares how he came to appreciate the cyclical nature of plant care. 

Check out the video, then scroll down to learn a bit more about Glyn's houseplant collection.

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

Tell us about your home.

I live in a 1,000 sq ft work-live loft in Vancouver. In addition to having many plants, I also use my home as a photography studio.

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

I started collecting indoor tropical plants in 2017. The exact number fluctuates month by month. Presently, I believe there are roughly 130 plants in my home. At the peak there were over 200.

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

One of the first plants was a large Lady Palm, which I still have to this day. It's proven incredibly resilient. Every spring, a new (taller) set of leaves open. It's been incredible to witness. 

Explain your overall relationship to your plant collection.

The one word I keep coming back to is "grounding". [It's] the process of caring for, watering and providing the elements [necessary for] life.

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

I've intentionally designed my home as a sanctuary, a place where I can feel grounded and seek refuge from the energy of city life. I'm most at peace in nature. The loft is my way to bring that feeling of living in nature to city life.

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

It's an iterative process. There was a lot of learning the first few years; what plants work best in my space based on the lighting; which plants want to be closer to the windows, which want to be further away. It was a bit of trial and error.

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

Attention, adaptation and consistency. They can't be ignored. 

Have you developed any unconventional methods or techniques for growing and nurturing your plants?

I do use a plant service once a month to help me with bug management and fertilizing. 

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

At this point, I'm perfectly happy maintaining the plants I've already collected.