A Message from Monika, Founder of leaves and prickles

Welcome to leaves and prickles!

I’m Monika, the founder and creator behind this small terrarium and houseplant business based in Poynton, near Stockport.

In 2023, I left my office job to follow my passion and dedicate myself fully to leaves and prickles. In the early days, I became best known for my handmade terrarium candles, a much-loved gift choice among my wonderful customers. Since then, leaves and prickles have grown from candles into terrariums, houseplants, DIY terrarium kits, and thoughtful gifts for plant lovers.

Leaves and prickles is still a young and growing online terrarium and plant shop. However, if you’re local to the Stockport or Manchester area, I’m happy to offer local commissions and local collection. Just select the pickup option at checkout.

I’ve always been a nature lover and knew I wanted a life that keeps me connected to the natural world while allowing me to express my creativity. My goal is to inspire others to appreciate the beauty of nature through ready-made, low-maintenance terrariums, beginner-friendly terrarium kits, carefully selected plants, or by sharing my passion for the natural world on social media and through blog posts.

One day, I dream of opening a shop in my hometown of Poynton. A cosy and welcoming space for workshops, plant advice, and sparking curiosity about the natural world in others.

Whether you’re new to leaves and prickles, a returning customer, a social media follower, or someone who has supported me from the beginning, I’m truly grateful. Your support means the world to me.

Thank you for being here.

Monika x

How It All Started…

2023

I’ve always been a creative soul. I started making terrarium candles as a hobby, originally just for myself. They quickly became popular with friends and family, and that’s when I realised they might be something special.

As a nature and plant lover, I always knew I wanted to work with plants. However, starting my business with handmade terrarium candles felt like the perfect first step. They were unique, thoughtful, and made beautiful gifts. And so, in 2023, leaves and prickles was born.

That year, I attended my very first local markets, opened my Etsy shop, and learned about the world of small business one step at a time.

2024 

2024 was the year I truly threw myself into markets and local pop-ups. Most weekends (often both Saturday and Sunday), you could find me trading at local markets across Manchester and Cheshire.

Online orders were steadily coming in, and I loved being part of the supportive local market trader community. This was also the year I introduced plants and terrariums to leaves and prickles, selling them alongside my candles at market days. It felt like my little business was beginning to grow into something even closer to my heart.

2025

In 2025, the candle side of leaves and prickles began to take a step back. Terrariums and houseplants were moving to the forefront, and I launched my very first DIY terrarium kits online. I also slowly expanded my plant collection, focusing more on creating an online terrarium and plant shop.

This year, I concentrated on improving my website, strengthening my online presence, and providing excellent customer service. I became more selective with markets and pop-ups, choosing events that truly aligned with leaves and prickles, including Houseplant Weekend at RHS Garden Bridgewater and a pop-up market at Brockholes Nature Reserve.

2026

In January 2026, it was with a heavy heart that I announced I would be discontinuing my terrarium candles to focus fully on terrariums and houseplants. This felt like a natural evolution, allowing me to share more of my passion for plants, creativity, and encouraging others to slow down and reconnect with nature.

I had the pleasure of returning for the second year running to RHS Bridgewater as part of their Houseplant event, with more exciting pop-up locations planned throughout the year. 2026 is also the year I began hosting terrarium workshops and continued building my customer base in Poynton and across the UK.

I’m so excited to see what 2026 will unfold for leaves and prickles. This journey is only just beginning.