Dr. James | Pistils & Pollen
@pistilsandpollen.bsky.social
Urban gardener & houseplant educator | Founder, Pistils & Pollen 🌱 | Helping new plant parents grow confidence—from Chicago, growing indoors, on rooftops, parkways, and community gardens. Join our growing community! https://www.pistilsandpollen.com
Thanksgiving decor tip: use houseplants as living centerpieces + herb accents. Cozy, sustainable, and re-useable after the feast. Blog with my picks + styling ideas: (see site). What plant would you feature? #Houseplants #Thanksgiving
November 20, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Thanksgiving decor tip: use houseplants as living centerpieces + herb accents. Cozy, sustainable, and re-useable after the feast. Blog with my picks + styling ideas: (see site). What plant would you feature? #Houseplants #Thanksgiving
Chose “save,” not “grave.” My Platycerium elephantotis just unfurled a new frond after a rough patch. Small adjustments, big wins. What have you nursed back lately? #Platycerium #PlantCare
November 19, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Chose “save,” not “grave.” My Platycerium elephantotis just unfurled a new frond after a rough patch. Small adjustments, big wins. What have you nursed back lately? #Platycerium #PlantCare
Potted up Epipremnum amplissimum cuttings and strapped them to a moss pole—time to size up those silver leaves. Do you grow yours trailing or climbing? #EpipremnumAmplissimum #AroidCare
November 18, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Potted up Epipremnum amplissimum cuttings and strapped them to a moss pole—time to size up those silver leaves. Do you grow yours trailing or climbing? #EpipremnumAmplissimum #AroidCare
Rare joy: my jade (Crassula ovata) is in bloom. 🌸 Bright light + chunky succulent mix + lighter winter watering did the trick here. Has yours ever flowered? #JadePlant #SucculentCare
November 17, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Rare joy: my jade (Crassula ovata) is in bloom. 🌸 Bright light + chunky succulent mix + lighter winter watering did the trick here. Has yours ever flowered? #JadePlant #SucculentCare
Dolce found the sunbeam, and my Alocasia macrorrhiza did too. Gave it a hard trim after summer on the deck—now it doesn’t fit its old spot. Rearranging is part of the joy of plantscaping. Do your plants “outgrow” their corners after summer? #AlocasiaMacrorrhiza #Plantscaping
November 12, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Dolce found the sunbeam, and my Alocasia macrorrhiza did too. Gave it a hard trim after summer on the deck—now it doesn’t fit its old spot. Rearranging is part of the joy of plantscaping. Do your plants “outgrow” their corners after summer? #AlocasiaMacrorrhiza #Plantscaping
“Save or grave?” I’m walking through a few rough-looking plants and how I decide to rehab or let go: guilt-free. Full video is up on YouTube; support + discussion in the app. What’s one you’re saving? #Houseplants #PlantCare
November 11, 2025 at 1:14 PM
“Save or grave?” I’m walking through a few rough-looking plants and how I decide to rehab or let go: guilt-free. Full video is up on YouTube; support + discussion in the app. What’s one you’re saving? #Houseplants #PlantCare
Autumn sunbeam = instant spotlight ✨ My Anthurium pedatoradiatum (“Fingers”) just hardened off new leaves and they’re glowing today. I’ve got a small batch in my shop via the Pistils & Pollen app. Which plant is loving your fall light? #Anthurium #Houseplants
November 10, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Autumn sunbeam = instant spotlight ✨ My Anthurium pedatoradiatum (“Fingers”) just hardened off new leaves and they’re glowing today. I’ve got a small batch in my shop via the Pistils & Pollen app. Which plant is loving your fall light? #Anthurium #Houseplants
Doing a Fall Refresh: pest check, adjust watering, rotate toward light, lift humidity, clean leaves. I posted my 10-step checklist in the Pistils & Pollen app if you want it. What’s your go-to fall plant task? #HouseplantCare #FallRefresh
November 6, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Doing a Fall Refresh: pest check, adjust watering, rotate toward light, lift humidity, clean leaves. I posted my 10-step checklist in the Pistils & Pollen app if you want it. What’s your go-to fall plant task? #HouseplantCare #FallRefresh
Late-day sun is sliding deeper into the living room and the fern off to the side is throwing new fronds—love this seasonal boost. Which plant at your place perks up with fall light? #IndoorJungle #Houseplants
November 5, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Late-day sun is sliding deeper into the living room and the fern off to the side is throwing new fronds—love this seasonal boost. Which plant at your place perks up with fall light? #IndoorJungle #Houseplants
A quick peek at the potager gardening style—flowers threaded through herbs and veggies. Beauty + pollinators + harvests. Full 2025 Community Garden Tour is up on YouTube and in the Pistils & Pollen app.
November 4, 2025 at 1:15 PM
A quick peek at the potager gardening style—flowers threaded through herbs and veggies. Beauty + pollinators + harvests. Full 2025 Community Garden Tour is up on YouTube and in the Pistils & Pollen app.
New frond on my bird’s-nest fern = time for a light audit. Shorter days mean I nudge plants closer to windows or under grow bulbs to keep growth steady. What are you moving this week? #AspleniumNidus
November 3, 2025 at 1:14 PM
New frond on my bird’s-nest fern = time for a light audit. Shorter days mean I nudge plants closer to windows or under grow bulbs to keep growth steady. What are you moving this week? #AspleniumNidus
Spooky season pick: dark, dramatic foliage! 🌿 I shared my favorite Halloween-ready houseplants on my blog (including ZZ ‘Black Raven’, Alocasia “mask,” red Syngonium). Which one is your vibe? #Halloween #Houseplants
October 30, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Spooky season pick: dark, dramatic foliage! 🌿 I shared my favorite Halloween-ready houseplants on my blog (including ZZ ‘Black Raven’, Alocasia “mask,” red Syngonium). Which one is your vibe? #Halloween #Houseplants
Autumn sun = deeper beams through my south windows, and my Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum is living its best life. I move it a foot closer this time of year and rotate weekly. Where does your best fall light land? #Houseplants #CozyVibes
October 29, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Autumn sun = deeper beams through my south windows, and my Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum is living its best life. I move it a foot closer this time of year and rotate weekly. Where does your best fall light land? #Houseplants #CozyVibes
This season our community garden almost doubled—more gardeners, more food, more blooms for pollinators. 🐝 The full 2025 Community Garden Tour is live on YouTube (and in the Pistils & Pollen app). What would you plant with extra space? #CommunityGarden #UrbanGardening
October 28, 2025 at 12:15 PM
This season our community garden almost doubled—more gardeners, more food, more blooms for pollinators. 🐝 The full 2025 Community Garden Tour is live on YouTube (and in the Pistils & Pollen app). What would you plant with extra space? #CommunityGarden #UrbanGardening
Popped into the Golden Triangle (Chicago) for an end table and left inspired by their plant styling—low-light classics, elevated with unexpected containers + great placement. Simple plants, big impact. What’s your go-to vessel for a dim corner? #LowLightHouseplants #PlantStyling
October 27, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Popped into the Golden Triangle (Chicago) for an end table and left inspired by their plant styling—low-light classics, elevated with unexpected containers + great placement. Simple plants, big impact. What’s your go-to vessel for a dim corner? #LowLightHouseplants #PlantStyling
TBT: Gave my Anthurium vittarifolium a hanging basket upgrade so those long leaves can really shine. Anyone else team “plants at eye level”? #Anthurium #Houseplants
October 23, 2025 at 12:15 PM
TBT: Gave my Anthurium vittarifolium a hanging basket upgrade so those long leaves can really shine. Anyone else team “plants at eye level”? #Anthurium #Houseplants
Found baby ginger at Granor Farm—no peeling needed and the flavor is unreal. Local, organic food feeds more than us; it feeds the community. How do you use fresh ginger? #BabyGinger #SupportLocal
October 22, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Found baby ginger at Granor Farm—no peeling needed and the flavor is unreal. Local, organic food feeds more than us; it feeds the community. How do you use fresh ginger? #BabyGinger #SupportLocal
New short: Community garden tour—small space, big growth. Full video on YouTube (link in bio).
October 21, 2025 at 12:56 PM
New short: Community garden tour—small space, big growth. Full video on YouTube (link in bio).
New frond on my Platycerium elephantotis after a move to brighter light + higher humidity. Proof that small tweaks add up in plant care. What’s thriving at your place this week? #Houseplants #FernCare
October 20, 2025 at 12:14 PM
New frond on my Platycerium elephantotis after a move to brighter light + higher humidity. Proof that small tweaks add up in plant care. What’s thriving at your place this week? #Houseplants #FernCare
Playful plant chore: adding a moss pole extension for my pothos so it can keep climbing and leafing up. Simple upgrade, big payoff. What’s your go-to support for your climbers? #Pothos #IndoorGardening
October 16, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Playful plant chore: adding a moss pole extension for my pothos so it can keep climbing and leafing up. Simple upgrade, big payoff. What’s your go-to support for your climbers? #Pothos #IndoorGardening
Spotted a bouquet with full fall colors at David’s Delicatessen & Coffee—flowers turning before the trees. Also: big love for their seasonally fresh, veg-friendly sandwiches. What’s your first sign of autumn this week? #AutumnVibes #LocalFood
October 15, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Spotted a bouquet with full fall colors at David’s Delicatessen & Coffee—flowers turning before the trees. Also: big love for their seasonally fresh, veg-friendly sandwiches. What’s your first sign of autumn this week? #AutumnVibes #LocalFood
Small space, big wins: my starter trio = herbs, flowers, and leafy greens. Perfect for community plots or containers, and a great way to plan for next season. What’s your first pick? #SmallSpaceGardening #CommunityGarden
October 14, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Small space, big wins: my starter trio = herbs, flowers, and leafy greens. Perfect for community plots or containers, and a great way to plan for next season. What’s your first pick? #SmallSpaceGardening #CommunityGarden
Weekend planting: Solidago flexicaulis plugs in the parkway—compact, shade-tolerant goldenrod that blooms late to keep pollinators fed after Agastache. #UrbanGardening #PollinatorPlants
October 13, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Weekend planting: Solidago flexicaulis plugs in the parkway—compact, shade-tolerant goldenrod that blooms late to keep pollinators fed after Agastache. #UrbanGardening #PollinatorPlants
New leaf on my Philodendron melinonii. Brighter spot + humidity and a chunky aroid mix = steady, happy growth. What small change made a big difference for your plants? #Philodendron #IndoorGardening
October 9, 2025 at 12:14 PM
New leaf on my Philodendron melinonii. Brighter spot + humidity and a chunky aroid mix = steady, happy growth. What small change made a big difference for your plants? #Philodendron #IndoorGardening
Black swallowtail caterpillars on bronze fennel = host plant magic. Fall is prime time to plant for next year’s pollinators—root now, bloom later. Pollinator series is in my app (link in bio). 🌿
October 8, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Black swallowtail caterpillars on bronze fennel = host plant magic. Fall is prime time to plant for next year’s pollinators—root now, bloom later. Pollinator series is in my app (link in bio). 🌿