Tucked away along Thika Road, Jacqulyne Kogo’s modest bedsitter overflows with greenery. More than 50 houseplants cascade from shelves, dangle from wooden planks, and occupy every corner.
“I love plants,” she says simply. “Wherever I live—whether it’s a bedsitter, a one-bedroom, or even a mansion—I must have plants. It’s not even a question.”
Jacqulyne, 24, is an environmental conservationist with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Conservation and Natural Resource Management from the University of Nairobi. She currently works as a sales manager at a Nairobi-based plant store.
She has been immersed in the leafy world since childhood.
“I grew up in Nandi. My parents had a lot of indoor plants, and so did our neighbours. I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t surrounded by plants,” she says. “I’ve been gardening since I was a child.”
Her apartment tells that story. There are monsteras, golden palms, peperomias, and a pink-and-green syngonium. She’s even nurtured an avocado tree from seed.
Built-in shelves house her favourites—syngoniums and anthuriums, prized for their unique leaf structures. Lipstick plants with glossy leaves add texture, while ivy spills over hanging baskets and philodendrons anchor the indoor jungle aesthetic.
“Most of these plants are ones I grew up with at home, so I understand what they need,” she explains.
That knowledge is second nature. She once interned at the National Museums of Kenya’s botany department, gaining hands-on experience with East African plant species.
Yet her setup is not without challenges. Her bedsitter lacks a balcony and receives limited sunlight, conditions that make indoor gardening tricky.
Jacqulyne Jepkemboi, a Gardener, during an interview in her house at Zimmermann, Nairobi, on May 13, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
“Succulents don’t survive here. They need too much sun. I’ve learned to focus on plants that thrive in indirect or even low light,” she says.
The secret to her thriving plant collection? “Patience, attentiveness, and the right soil,” Jacqulyne reveals. She avoids red soil, which holds water and causes root rot. Instead, she makes her own potting mix using cocopeat, vermiculite, and worm castings. Her watering style is intuitive.
“I just look at the plant,” she says. “If the leaves are droopy or soft, I water. If they’re still firm, I let it be.”
She fertilises every four months and keeps insecticides handy. Even so, there have been setbacks.
“One time, I bought some plants from a nursery and the soil had pests. I lost about 10 plants. That taught me the importance of sourcing carefully.”
Most of her plants come from roadside nurseries, random stops during errands, or plant shops. “There’s no specific place. If I see a plant I like, I bring it home.”
She shares her passion on TikTok, posting plant care tips, hacks, and sourcing suggestions.
“I want to help people embrace gardening without too much guesswork,” she says. “I’ve seen the struggles people go through with watering, fertilising, and placement. I enjoy sharing my collection and guiding others.”
Various indoor plants, pictured in a bedsitter house at Zimmermann, Nairobi on May 13, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
To Jacqulyne, plants are more than decor. “Gardening brings me peace. It’s how I organise my space. To me, decor means plants—maybe a picture or two, but mostly plants.”
It’s also her therapy. “Gardening has become more than a hobby; it is a teacher. It’s taught me patience. Watching a cutting grow into a full plant takes time and care. Even when they wither, I can revive them. It’s like life—they show you how to bounce back.”
Her love language? Gifting plants. “I just want others to enjoy them too.”
And for anyone who believes they need a garden or backyard to start? Jacqulyne has one piece of advice:“Just start. Wherever you are, you can grow something.”
