In 2020, Vionna Wai, 30, and her husband, Chucky Hui, 29, moved right into a two-family dwelling in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, along with his mother and father.
The couple pays $1,600 a month to stay within the one-bedroom, one-bath condominium on the second flooring, whereas Wai’s in-laws pay the remainder of the $3,500 month-to-month lease and stay on the primary flooring, in response to paperwork reviewed by CNBC Make It.
Whereas their residing association may be acquainted to some — 16% of U.S. millennials lived with their mother and father in 2022, in response to Axios — what units Wai, a building engineer, and Hui, a UX designer, aside are the 150 houseplants and two cats, Mi and Ding, they moved in with.
“Once I have a look at my houseplants, I actually am residing within the second. I do not take into consideration like my stress or worries about work or something like that,” Wai tells CNBC Make It. “I am simply specializing in taking good care of my crops and ensuring they’re completely happy and that for me could be very calming.”
Wai says taking good care of her crops is a type of self care.
Mickey Todiwala. Picture by CNBC Make It
Wai’s plant assortment may be overwhelming for some, however she would not assume 150 crops is extreme.
“I am only a homebody that desires to remain at dwelling all day to play with my cats and crops,” Wai says. “As soon as I am going to work, it is all fast-paced… however after I come dwelling, it is a full swap. I am in my very own aspect and every part’s simply very calming and vigorous.”
Wai says there’s really little or no upkeep — she spends about half-hour every week watering them and does some pest management between seasons.
“They simply want water, solar, and a few love,” Wai says. “It is actually not that arduous to maintain them however I believe individuals miss out on them as residing issues generally. How a lot love you set into that plant it’s going to give again to you.”
The one place that Wai and her husband have no crops in any respect is of their bed room.
Mickey Todiwala. Picture by CNBC Make It
One of the crucial costly crops in Wai’s assortment is a Phildendrom Florida Magnificence she purchased for $350 through the pandemic. Wai and her pal break up the fee with the plan of propagating the plant. Whereas the worth tag might need scared some away, Wai says it was 100% price it.
“It gave me a lot pleasure.”
Although Wai admits she was scared it could die on her: “A part of the journey is nursing it again to well being and with the ability to share with buddies.”
Wai and Hui have a delegated nook the place Mi and Ding hang around round cat-friendly crops.
Mickey Todiwala. Picture by CNBC Make It
As a result of many crops could be poisonous to cats, the couple has an space they name “the cat jungle nook” that homes their pet-friendly crops. Mi is 10, whereas Ding is 5.
“I’ve realized to coach my cats to coexist with my crops,” Wai says.
The couple additionally makes positive to make use of cat repellant on the crops and retains the poisonous ones out of Mi and Ding’s attain.
The one place that Wai and her husband have no crops in any respect is of their bed room.
The couple is presently renting and made positive to maintain their plant arrange renter-friendly.
Mickey Todiwala. Picture by CNBC Make It
As a result of the couple is presently renting, they made positive to maintain their plant arrange renter-friendly however ultimately, Wai admits that she would like to have a greenhouse.
“I at all times have this dream of shifting to Japan and simply residing within the countryside with the rice paddies on the facet and simply, you already know, a greenhouse and simply have that calm, like nation life,” she says.
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