The collection is – apart from an established dwarf schefflera, the inevitable hand-me-down jade plants, and a few slow-growing dracaena – very young. A plethora of small but promising plants perch on a couple dedicated shelves in the large all-purpose room of our apartment. One shelf is near and one farther from a south-facing window bank. The windows are screened with sheer curtains and partially blocked by buildings across the street, so the room is bright enough to read in from sunup to sundown but nobody bakes in direct sunlight. Other plants are scattered around the room on trolleys or stands; heartleaf philodendron clambers out of holders hung from a low beam; and one corner of the kitchen is currently devoted to a vertical hanging of different varieties of pothos. I recently visited a plant swap and don’t at this moment have anything ready to walk out the door except some heartleaf and ‘Brasil’ philodendron cuttings, but there are some plants that I could take cuttings or divisions of for trade, given notice.

Plants I’d like to add to the collection:
1. Calatheas. They’re fascinating. I have a delightful makoyana, but wouldn’t say no to a lancifolia, ornata, or warscewiczii. Or surprise me! I’m pretty sure I don’t know all the available varieties, but would become fast friends with most of them.
2. Philodendron Congo Rojo – philodendrons are rewarding to grow, and they seem happy in my local environment. Apart from the omnipresent heartleafs, there’s a monstera start doing its best impression of Godfather Drosselmeyer on the top shelf, an Adansonii just unfurling its third leaf, two as-yet-unidentified hybrids (we’ve narrowed the field to three likely varieties, and are now waiting for more growth), and a newly-acquired Little Phil already in residence.
3. Ferns – all sorts, but especially white rabbit’s foot. I started my fern habit with a maidenhair which I accidentally killed by not watering one day when I was sick. It resurrected, and we’re now working to find equilibrium. Lately, two birds-nest ferns and a boston fern have joined the party. Humidity in numbers!
4. Others: oakleaf creeping fig, variegated ctenanthe, bromeliads, interesting rex begonias…try me.

Plant cuttings or divisions I could offer in trade include but are not necessarily limited to the aforementioned heartleaf philodendron and ‘Brasil’, maranta leuconeura, schefflera arboricola, rex begonias ‘Escargot’ and ‘Red Kiss’, ficus pumila (medium & light green leaves, not curly or variegated), tradescantia, and a few varieties of pothos. And in the world of supplies, I have a few cachepots that could be included as currency.