We’re Joakim & Emilie
A plant-loving couple from Aarhus, Denmark.
Our Story
It started with one Monstera.
Emilie brought it home from a local market, convinced it would “basically take care of itself.” Three weeks later, it had yellow leaves and a suspicious smell. We had no idea what we were doing.
So we did what anyone would do—Joakim went down a research rabbit hole. Scientific papers on humidity. Reddit threads on watering schedules. YouTube videos with conflicting advice. Meanwhile, Emilie experimented. She moved plants around, tried different pots, and learned to read their subtle signals.
Some plants thrived. Many didn’t. But slowly, we figured it out.
Today, our small Aarhus apartment is home to over 20 plants—from finicky Calatheas to a surprisingly resilient Orchid that keeps reblooming. Every window has a plant. The bathroom shelf is full of them. Our east-facing living room has become a tiny indoor jungle.
Why We Built This Site
We’re not botanists. We don’t have horticulture degrees.
What we have is hundreds of hours of research and real experience—the kind that comes from killing plants, learning why, and doing better next time.
The Plant Manual exists because we wanted the resource we wish we’d had when we started:
- Research-backed advice (not just opinions)
- Practical tips that actually work (tested in a real apartment, not a greenhouse)
- Honest content (we’ll tell you when a plant is hard to keep alive)
Meet the Team
Joakim — The Researcher & Website Builder
I’m a multimedia designer who loves digging into data. When Emilie asks “why are the leaves curling?”—I find the answer. I handle the research, write the science-y parts, and build everything you see on this site.
Emilie — The Plant Whisperer
I’m the hands-on half. I do the watering, the repotting, the “hmm, this one looks sad” troubleshooting. My advice comes from trial and error—and a Sunday morning routine that involves checking every single plant with my coffee.
Our Promise
We only share what we’ve researched thoroughly or tested ourselves. If we haven’t grown a plant, we’ll tell you. If something is difficult, we won’t pretend it’s easy.
We’re here to help you grow happy, healthy plants—without the overwhelm.
Get in Touch
Have a question? Want to say hi? Reach out at [email protected].
Follow our plant journey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_plant_manual/
Thanks for being here. Now go check on your plants. 🌿