Monstera Deliciosa, Philodendron Pink Princess and Syngonium Red Spot - these tropical plants and 117 others have found a warm place in Alex's apartment.

In June 2021, Alex moved into a light-flooded 68-square-meter top-floor apartment in the Heuchelhof district of Würzburg, Germany, to be able to optimally care for all his plants. Alex discovered his passion for plants at a young age: Every corner in his parents' house was green, and his father gave him his first plant.

The parcel driver has already built several showcases for his collection - including custom-made grids, blue-violet LED plant light, heating, ventilation and humidification systems. His largest display case is located in the entrance area. Here, he primarily keeps his cuttings and cuttings from which he cultivates new plants.

"The cuttings are mostly there to trade, but I also sell a few to help me finance the hobby. Because it also costs electricity." - and time: Plant Daddy Alex spends about twelve hours a week caring for his fellow residents, making his own fertilizer, building trellises, watering and watching how they develop. And if his protégés are attacked by pests, Alex spares no effort and even gets into the shower with the plant to rid it of lice and mites.

His favorite plant is the Monstera Deliciosa, which means delicious window leaf. It also stands in front of a window, central and prominent in the living room. When he bought it eleven years ago, it was thirty centimeters high; now it is over a meter tall. Further growth is allowed, there is still room.

The advantage in the living room are the high ceilings and the long window front, so air and light at will. There are several hygrometers distributed around the living area. Thanks to these instruments, Alex always has the humidity in view. Ideally, this is between 70 and 80 percent. Keeping this value constant is no easy matter, but Alex is always learning and coming up with new designs and positions for his plants. He places particularly moisture-loving specimens in the bathroom.

There are plants in all of his rooms, whether bathrooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, hallways or lofts. A ladder in the living room leads to a room three meters higher. There are more plants up here - including a Caladium Redbubble, a red-colored caladia that shines in the warm light under the skylight. But above all, up here Alex has the perfect view of his plant kingdom.

A film by Cécilia Marchat (director), Feline Gerhardt (camera), Oleg Kauz (camera), Tobias Neufeldt (sound) and Andrea Grumbt (editing). Production: EIKON Media GmbH, on behalf of SWR.

00:00 At home with the plant collector
00:59 Living room
02:08 Plant care with humidifier
04:03 Plant traffic light from cherry tree
05:00 Loft
05:56 Dining room with subtropical display case
07:26 Kitchen
07:53 Bedroom
08:19 Bathroom
09:11 Walking with dog Lucy