Self-Proclaimed 'Plant Addict' Says He's Spent More Than $5,000 On Houseplants

A self-proclaimed 'plant addict' says he's spent more than $5,000 (£4,049) on 200 different species of houseplants.

Cyril Sontillano from Monterey, California, USA, admits he prefers the company of plants over people and has more than 300 plants in his home and 70 outside.

As well as costing him a lot of money, he also spends a lot of time on his addiction, watering, re-potting and generally admiring his plants.

This way of life has earned him the moniker 'Plant Daddy', but the 30-year-old insists his passion for plants is worth all of the time and money he invests.

Jam Press

He said: "My friends and family send me photos of their kids; I send them photos of my plants.

"Being a father to plants is an addiction. Very much so. Although compared to any other addiction, besides the financial side, plants are generally the best to be addicted to. The positives definitely outweigh the negatives.

"In a day I spend 30 mins to an hour at least just randomly spot-checking my plants and admiring new growth and flowers. During the weekend I spend at least 2-3 hours re-potting a plant, making moss poles, taking pictures and recording videos for my social media accounts.

"I've spent a lot of money for sure but what I have gained in return is priceless and continues to add value to my life and my existence including the people around me."

Jam Press

Jam Press

Jam Press

You may think Cyril's ever-mounting plant collection might be evidence of some kind of third-life crisis, but he has actually always had a love of plants; in fact, he reckons it's in his DNA.

He said: "I come from generations of plant lovers and farmers and I think it's something I've acquired genetically and through the upbringing and the environment I grew up in.

"Those who know me personally were not shocked. They always knew me as the boy who lived in the house with a lot of plants, my mother is the neighbourhood plant lady and my grandmothers were orchid enthusiasts.

"I enjoy gardening and caring for my plants and all the creative pursuits I do which relate to it.

"I consider my plants my collection, my decor and my vices. Having plants around me is just relaxing, they allow me to be creative and encourage me to be patient and resilient."

Fair play, keeping almost 400 plants alive must require a fair amount of resilience - but they don't call him the Plant Daddy for nothing.

Topics: Interesting, Community, Weird

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey