Hey, Pandas! Even though the original Bored Panda thread “Hey Pandas, Share A Picture Of A Plant You’ve Grown (Closed)” is no longer accepting new submissions, the spirit of that post is very much alive. Plant lovers are still swapping photos of monsteras, mint patches, homegrown orange trees, and slightly wonky succulents all over the internet. Think of this article as a cozy after-party for that thread: a place to celebrate your leafy victories, laugh at your gardening fails, and pick up a few tips on how to grow plants worth photographing in the first place.
Below, we’ll walk through why sharing pictures of plants you’ve grown feels so good, how to get better shots of your green babies, and simple plant-care basics so your stars stay camera-ready. Then, we’ll wrap up with real-life–style experiences that echo the vibe of the original “Hey Pandas” call for photos.
Why We Love Sharing Pictures Of Plants We’ve Grown
Plants Are Tiny, Green Success Stories
Every plant photo has a backstory: the clearance-rack pothos you rescued, the avocado pit that finally sprouted, the cactus that survived The Great Overwatering Incident of 2023. Growing anything from seedling to lush plant takes time, patience, and at least one frantic Google search about yellowing leaves. When you share a picture, you’re not just showing a leafyou’re showing progress.
Gardening and houseplant communities online often talk about plants as “projects” and “wins.” Many beginner guides emphasize celebrating even small milestones, like that first new leaf or the first blossom on a patio tomato plant. It’s a gentle reminder that growth doesn’t have to be dramatic to be worth noticing.
Plant Photos Build Instant Community
The original Bored Panda thread invited people to post anything they’d grownbackyard mint, towering palms, quirky mushrooms, and everything in between. That “all plants welcome” rule is the secret sauce of plant communities online.
Across gardening forums, houseplant Facebook groups, and plant-sharing apps, people connect by posting photos, asking “What is this?” and “Is this normal?” and then cheering each other on. Many community garden and houseplant sites note that plant lovers are famously generous with tips, cuttings, and encouragement. A single plant photo can turn into a thread about light levels, soil mixes, and “I killed three of those before I figured it out, don’t worry.”
Plants Are Surprisingly Photogenic (Even When We’re Not)
Not everyone loves being in front of the camera, but plants? They never complain about angles. A single leaf, a new bud, or a tangle of roots in a clear propagation jar can be visually striking. Plant photography guides often recommend looking for patterns and texturesveins on a calathea leaf, spiraling tendrils, or the geometric shapes of succulents. Leaves don’t get awkward on camera; they just sit there being pretty while you adjust the exposure.
How To Take Share-Worthy Photos Of Your Plants
1. Chase Good Light (Your Plant Already Is)
Most plant photographers agree that lighting is everything. Soft, natural lightespecially in the early morning or late afternoontends to be the most flattering. Some photography guides call this “golden hour,” when the light is warm and gentle instead of harsh and direct.
- Use indirect light: Place your plant near a bright window but out of direct, scorching sun. This avoids harsh shadows and blown-out highlights.
- Turn off the overhead lights: Mixed lighting (some warm bulbs, some cool daylight) can make your plant look oddly colored. Natural light alone usually looks better.
- Try backlighting for drama: Put the light source behind the plant and shoot toward it to highlight translucent leaves. You’ll see veins and textures glow.
2. Experiment With Angles And Composition
Plant photography tips from pros often sound like advice for portrait photographybecause they basically are.
- Shoot from different angles: Get low and shoot up, move overhead, or come in close from the side. A trailing pothos, for example, looks completely different viewed from above versus eye level.
- Fill the frame: If your plant is small, move closer so the subject dominates the photo. Let leaves or stems lead the eye into the image.
- Use simple backgrounds: A plain wall, wood tabletop, or neutral curtain helps the plant stand out. If your background is cluttered, your beautiful monstera ends up competing with your laundry basket.
3. Focus On Details That Tell A Story
Some of the most engaging images in plant forums and social feeds aren’t full-room shotsthey’re small, intimate details:
- The first unfurling leaf you waited weeks for.
- Close-ups of leaf patterns, like the stripes on a calathea or the spots on a begonia.
- The before-and-after transformation from droopy and sad to upright and thriving.
Photography tutorials for plants often suggest using shallow depth of field so the background blurs while the main leaf or flower stays sharp. On many phones, “portrait mode” can mimic this effect and make your houseplant look like it hired its own stylist.
4. Don’t Forget The Practical Info
In plant groups, it’s common courtesy to share a bit of context with your photo. Orchid and houseplant communities often encourage members to list the plant’s name, variety (if known), and any special growing conditions. It helps others learnand prevents twenty comments of “What plant is this?”
When posting your shot, consider adding:
- Plant name: Even “I think this is a pothos?” is helpful.
- How long you’ve had it: “Six months from cutting” or “Year two from seed.”
- One quick care tip: For example, “Likes bright, indirect light and a good dry-out between waterings.”
Growing Plants Worth Showing Off
Start With Forgiving Houseplants
If your plant experience so far is “I once overwatered a cactus into oblivion,” you’re not alone. Beginner houseplant guides often recommend starting with tough, low-maintenance plants that can handle a little trial and error. That way, you’re more likely to end up with something photogenic instead of a leafless pot of regret.
Popular beginner-friendly options include:
- Snake plant (Sansevieria): Tolerates low light and occasional neglect. Great for moody, sculptural photos.
- Pothos: Grows long vines quickly, perfect for satisfying before-and-after pictures.
- Spider plant: Produces “babies” you can root in water and shareideal for community posts.
- ZZ plant: Shiny, upright leaves that look expensive even when the plant wasn’t.
Light, Water, And Soil: The Big Three
Plant experts and houseplant communities often boil care down to three main factors: light, water, and growing medium.
- Light: Most common houseplants prefer bright, indirect lightnot blazing midday sun. East or north-facing windows, or a few feet back from a south or west window, often work well.
- Water: Overwatering is a classic beginner mistake. Many guides suggest letting the top inch or two of soil dry out before watering again. Morning watering can help leaves dry faster and reduce the risk of fungal issues.
- Soil and drainage: Use a well-draining potting mix and a container with drainage holes. The soil should protect roots, keep the plant upright, and allow air and water to move throughsoggy, compacted soil is basically a plant’s nightmare.
When you get these three right more often than not, your plants will be healthier, fuller, and much more photogenic. It’s hard to take a bad picture of a plant that’s genuinely thriving.
Dealing With Pests And Plant Problems
Nothing kills the mood of a plant-photo thread faster than zooming in and spotting spider mites or yellow, crunchy leaves. Unfortunately, pests and problems are part of plant parenthood.
Common issues include:
- Spider mites: Tiny pests that leave webbing and speckled leaves. Many indoor plant care resources recommend rinsing leaves, increasing humidity, and using sprays like diluted neem oil to control them.
- Yellowing leaves: Often a sign of overwatering, low light, or natural aging. A single yellow leaf isn’t a scandal; a whole plant turning yellow needs investigation.
- Leggy growth: Stretched stems and wide gaps between leaves usually mean your plant wants more light.
The upside: plant communities are quick to help troubleshoot. Posting a picture of your struggling plant alongside a healthy one can be educationaland still very much in the spirit of “Hey Pandas, look what I’m working on.”
Sharing Your Plant Photos Online Like A Pro Panda
Choose Your Platforms
Even though the specific Bored Panda thread is closed, there are plenty of places to keep sharing plant photos:
- Photo-driven social media: Instagram, TikTok, and dedicated plant hashtags help your images reach a wider audience of plant nerds.
- Plant forums and groups: Houseplant forums, gardening communities, and subreddit groups are perfect for longer posts, questions, and care discussions.
- Plant-sharing apps and community tools: Some platforms focus on swapping cuttings, trading seeds, or documenting your collection, which can be very satisfying for serious collectors.
Wherever you share, remember the original “Hey Pandas” spirit: it’s not about having the rarest plant on the planet; it’s about the connection you’ve built with the one in your pot.
Write Captions That Tell The Story
A good plant photo is great; a good plant photo with a story is unforgettable. Community-building guides often stress the value of storytelling: how you found the plant, what went wrong, what you learned, and what this new leaf means to you.
Try captions like:
- “From a single cutting to this jungle in 18 monthsproof that I can commit to something.”
- “This peace lily survived a move, a heatwave, and my brief obsession with bottom-watering everything.”
- “Adopted this rescue fern from the clearance shelf. She’s thriving and slightly dramatic, just like her new plant parent.”
These kinds of captions invite other people to share their own stories, turning a simple picture into a conversation.
500 Extra Words Of Panda-Approved Plant Stories & Experiences
The First Time You Realize “Oh No, I Care About This Plant Too Much”
If you’ve ever rearranged furniture so your fiddle-leaf fig could have the “good window,” congratulations: you’ve crossed the line from casual plant owner to full-blown plant parent. In the original “Hey Pandas” spirit, picture this: you post a photo of your slightly droopy ficus with the caption, “Rearranged my whole living room so she’d have better light. Please validate my life choices.” That’s the energy plant communities live for.
Many people describe a similar turning point: they buy one plant “just to brighten things up,” then suddenly their camera roll is 80% leaves. The more photos you take, the more closely you pay attention. You notice tiny changesa new bud, a subtle color shiftand you start to adjust your care accordingly. Sharing those photos becomes a way of celebrating your growing knowledge, not just your growing plant.
From “Plant Killer” To Proud Poster
One of the most relatable threads you’ll see in plant communities goes something like: “I used to kill every plant I owned. Look at me now.” The photo underneath is usually a thriving pothos or a shelf full of succulents. That kind of transformation is incredibly encouraging for beginners who are convinced they just “don’t have a green thumb.”
Over and over, experienced gardeners explain that it’s rarely about talent and almost always about information: understanding how much light your home gets, learning to check soil moisture instead of watering on a strict schedule, and choosing plants that match your environment. When someone posts before-and-after photos of a once-sad plant that’s now lush and full, it’s proof that learning worksand that it’s okay to ask for help.
The Joy Of Sharing Plant “Children” With Others
There’s a special kind of pride that comes from giving someone a cutting or seedling and seeing it grow in their space. Many plant lovers talk about tracking where their cuttings travel, almost like a family tree. A spider plant baby gifted to a coworker becomes a full-sized plant, which then produces its own babies that end up in yet another friend’s apartment.
Imagine a digital version of that: photos of the same plant line shared across different homes, different cities, even different countries. The caption might read, “Grand-baby of my original pothos from collegethriving on my friend’s kitchen shelf.” Threads like “Hey Pandas, share a picture of a plant you’ve grown” quietly document these connections. You’re not just posting a plant; you’re posting a branch of your own little green family tree.
Learning To Love Imperfect Plants
Scroll long enough through any plant thread and you’ll notice something refreshing: not every plant is Instagram-perfect. Some have crispy edges, a bald patch on one side, or a stake holding up a stem that grew a bit too enthusiastically toward the window. And yet, those imperfect plants often get the most heartfelt comments.
People share tips, sure, but they also share empathy: “Mine did that last winter too,” or “Don’t worry, give it a trim and it’ll come back fuller.” These conversations echo what mental health and community experts say about online connectionshowing real, unfiltered experiences can make others feel less alone. In a small but meaningful way, a slightly ragged plant photo says, “You don’t have to be perfect to be worth showing up.”
The Quiet Mindfulness Of Taking Plant Photos
There’s also a subtle mindfulness element to all of this. When you stop to photograph a plant, you’re slowing down enough to notice shape, texture, color, and growth. Some people describe their plant-photo sessions as a mini break from stressa few minutes of focusing on something alive and gently growing, instead of on notifications and deadlines.
Positioning the pot, adjusting the angle, wiping dust off a leaf before snapping a close-up: these little rituals can feel surprisingly grounding. Posting the photo afterward and getting a handful of kind comments extends that calm. You’re reminded that growth is gradual, often barely noticeable day to day, but wild and impressive when you look back over timejust like your own progress.
Conclusion: The “Hey Pandas” Spirit Lives On
The original “Hey Pandas, Share A Picture Of A Plant You’ve Grown (Closed)” post may no longer be open for new entries, but the idea behind it is thriving everywhere people share plant photos. Every time you snap a picture of a new leaf, a surprise flower, or a rescued clearance-rack victim that finally pulled through, you’re participating in the same joyful tradition.
So go aheadarrange your plant by the window, wipe that dust off the leaves, and take the photo. Share where it came from, what went wrong, what went right, and what you’ve learned along the way. Somewhere out there, another Panda is scrolling, thinking, “If they can grow that, maybe I can, too.”
SEO Summary & Metadata
sapo: The original Bored Panda post “Hey Pandas, Share A Picture Of A Plant You’ve Grown (Closed)” invited plant lovers everywhere to show off their mint sprigs, towering monsteras, and carefully nurtured seedlings. That thread may be closed, but the spirit lives on in every photo of a new leaf, a revived rescue plant, or a windowsill jungle shared online. In this in-depth guide, you’ll learn why posting plant photos feels so satisfying, how to take better pictures with simple lighting and composition tricks, and the basic care tips that keep your houseplants healthy and highly photogenicplus real-life–style experiences that capture the fun, supportive chaos of plant-loving Panda culture.