Hope After Humanity: Our 2024 Houseplant Studio at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
"Within every dystopia, there's a little utopia"
The Concept
The year is 2099. Climate change has taken its toll on the planet, causing temperatures to rise dramatically. The UK now experiences a tropical climate, and as a result, tropical plants are flourishing. However, there's a catch - humanity is extinct.
This was the unconventional, yet thought-provoking concept we brought to the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year, in collaboration with Gemma Haigh, AKA The Plant Parlour.
Our inspiration was drawn from various sources, including:
• The Last of Us (2023) Game & TV adaptation by Sony Pictures Television and Naughty Dog
• The Day of the Triffids (1951) novel by John Wyndham
• David Attenborough: A life on our Planet (2020) in particular, the Chernobyl disaster scene
• Extinction Garden (2021) designed by Felicity O'Rouke at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Festival
Graffiti & Powerful Messaging
The studio was designed to ignite conversations with impactful graffiti artwork created by DFTE and Dappel. One of the pieces featured the wording: "Within every dystopia is a little utopia," which is a play on Margaret Atwood's famous quote. It highlights the idea that there is hope and nature will reclaim spaces after humans are extinct.
Another piece displayed the words: "You're never too small to make a difference," which was inspired by Greta Thunberg's speech at COP24 in 2018. This served as a great inspiration for the project.
One more thought-provoking message was: "The climate is changing, why aren't we?" This message deeply resonated with many visitors, some even felt tearful upon reading it.
Planting & Plant Choices
In our houseplant studio, every plant and planting choice was meticulously selected with their light, temperature, and care requirements in mind. The studio boasted a diverse collection including Monstera, Philodendron, Anthurium, Calathea, and Cissus.
Our terrarium expert, Otto, ingeniously transformed an old shop drawer into a terrarium, showcasing Biophytum sensitivum, Mexican tree fern, and Selaginella uncinata.
The plants were checked every day by our Horticulturalist Assistant to maintain their happiness, health, and vibrancy for all Chelsea visitors.
As seen on the BBC
We were thrilled to welcome Monty Don and Joe Swift from the BBC into our Houseplant Studio, who greatly appreciated the concept and idea.
Watch the full segment on our YouTube channel.
The future is green
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 was an unforgettable experience for us. Our 'Hope After Humanity' concept earned us a Silver-Gilt medal, a testament to our team's dedication and hard work.
More than the accolades, the conversations this studio sparked about our environment's future were incredibly moving and inspiring.
We firmly believe that the future is green, and we hope our concept ignited a sense of urgency and responsibility towards our planet and helped us share a sustainable approach that permeates every aspect here at GrowTropicals.