Jana stewart
A love of leaves led this plucky microbiologist to start a business preaching the gospel of Plant Parenthood
How did Microcosm begin? I started Microcosm about two years ago. I had a big plant collection and was always being asked by friends for advice about them, so a friend suggested a business. Back then, the only examples of plant businesses I saw were either nurseries or plant hire for offices. I tried plant hire first but didn’t really enjoy it. Then I started offering my Plant Parenthood workshops at Daisy’s Milkbar in Petersham [Sydney] and had a great response. That was a huge step. I really enjoyed the one-on-one interaction and the relationships I built. Getting to be part of people’s homes was really rewarding. Eventually, I started being asked to do plants for small businesses around the area and now that’s my main jam. Most of my clients are referrals. What is the philosophy behind the brand? My main focus is to offer tailored, personal advice [on plants] to suit a space. Whether that’s someone’s home or office, or a restaurant. The best-looking plant is a healthy plant, and having them around you makes you appreciate plants further afield.
Tell us about your proudest professional achievement I feel honoured any time someone asks me to be part of their space. The fit-out I did for the Willie the Boatman brewery in
St Peters was my biggest and I’m very proud of that one. Getting a call from [skincare brand] Aesop to turn their Chatswood store into an ‘overgrown greenhouse’ was the most fun. And Poor Toms Gin Hall in Marrickville I will always have a soft spot for, as they were my first commercial space and just the all-round nicest people.
What do you love most about working with plants? Plants really transform a space, and I love sharing my excitement about that with people. For commercial spaces, it’s the fun of hunting down the perfect statement plants, and for someone’s home, it’s knowing I am contributing to a long appreciation/addiction. Plants can be a bridge between everyday life and nature, and the same way that having pets often makes you care about animal rights, having plants often makes you care about green spaces.
Jana Stewart at her Microcosm plant nursery in Sydney’s Petersham; Microcosm plants at Aesop’s Chatswood store; Jana sources many exotic-looking yet fairly low-maintenance species, such as variegated miniature umbrella trees and prayer plants; a bright lemon lime heart-leaf philodendron in a self-watering Mr Kitly pot; Poor Toms Gin Hall in Marrickville; plants and Banks Journal clothing on display at PCP Sydney.