For most high school sophomores, juggling school and hobbies is a balancing act. For Radha Airan-Javia ’27, a lifer at Abington Friends School, that balance includes caring for more than 300 houseplants—and winning awards at the prestigious Philadelphia Flower Show.
Radha first entered the Flower Show two years ago, submitting plants from her personal collection in the Horticourt, where individuals showcase prized specimens for expert judging. This year, she returned with three entries, including a rare haworthia succulent and a variegated ficus shiveriana, both of which earned first-place ribbons on at least one judging day.
“It’s really exciting,” she says. “The judges look for cosmetic perfection—no pests, no damage, really healthy growth. There’s a lot of detail and care that goes into preparing a plant for display.”
In addition to the open-entry categories, Radha also took part in the Challenge Class, a five-month competition where participants receive the same starter plant and grow it under indoor conditions, aiming for the healthiest, most vibrant result. “There’s a lot of nuance,” she explains. “You’re trying to grow it as well as possible during the off-season. It’s definitely a challenge.”
Radha’s love for plants began during the pandemic, when she and her mom decided to try growing vegetables at home. (“I planted maybe 15 different types of tomatoes,” she laughs. “The animals got most of them.”) But there was something about the act of nurturing each plant, some of them with hyper specific needs, that resonated with her. Since that early spark, Radha has quietly but diligently expanded her roots into cultivating a full-blown collection with everything from succulents to carnivorous plants, Many of which were sourced from connections made online with local enthusiasts like herself.
“I’m really proud that I sustain my collection myself,” she says. “It started as something just for me, but now it connects me to other collectors, growers, and people who just love plants.”
Of course, plants can be very demanding—distilled water, specific soil acidity targets, precise levels of humidity. To take care of the her plants, Radha now propagates and sells plants at local craft fairs alongside a friend who creates original artwork. The small business she started helps to maintain this ecosystem.
Whether she’s trading rare philodendrons in an online group or weather-stripping an IKEA cabinet into a custom greenhouse, Radha brings an eye for detail and a deep sense of care to everything she grows.
“Being part of the Flower Show is exciting, but it’s also about sharing something I love,” she reflects. “It’s not just about the awards—it’s about connecting with people through something that brings us joy.”