Hello my dear,
Green is the new black, at least, as far as thumbs are concerned.
Prior to living in my new apartment, I was notorious for killing plants (accidentally!). In my defense, my last apartment was in Alaska and was halfway below ground; therefore, the natural lighting was… not ideal. Especially during the six months of winter (and we wonder why I moved). Given the fact that I grew up in a house with a sixteen-foot-tall palm tree in the living room and a jade that was too heavy for my parents to relocate when they moved, I was, quite understandably, feeling inadequate. So, I decided to up my game.
Now that I am the proud owner (mother? co-parent?) of eighteen plant children who have been thriving for quite a while with no signs of dying, I have some hard-earned wisdom to convey. I do recognize that holding the belief that merely keeping something alive is a tremendous accomplishment may be aiming a tad bit low, but I would imagine that this is a taste of the way parents of newborns feel; just keeping the baby alive is a major win!
Before we discuss some of my tips for nurturing your plants, let’s talk about the reasons why you should surround yourself with living greens. First, there is the obvious answer that plants produce oxygen and absorb your expelled carbon dioxide.
What one needs, the other produces; what one cannot use, the other needs. Research shows that houseplants also eliminate nearly 90% of household airborne toxins, including the carcinogens benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde (a lot of this research has been done by NASA and can be read about here https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19930072988,or here:https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19930073077.pdf). Additionally, plants go through a process known as transpiration, releasing water molecules into the air, regulating indoor humidity, and helping your skin to retain that supple, youthful glow.
Perhaps more importantly is the impact that plants have on your mental health. As a highly anxious person, I have spent years looking for natural solutions that I could implement to help keep me calm and centered. As a student (formerly academically, currently idealistically) of psychology, I am always seeking easily implementable methods for improving mental health. Because of the aforementioned toxin reduction and increase in air oxygen levels, anxiety and stress has been shown to be reduced through the practice of owning houseplants (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4419447/). The linked study shows that the parasympathetic nervous system, the system that controls the “fight-or-flight” response is positively effected by the presence of houseplants. Furthermore, there is a great deal of research that purports that being surrounded by a green space increases certain endorphin levels and supports a calm, at ease state of mind. The takeaway is this: if you want to take a deep breath in your home and exhale feeling more centered and tranquil, cultivate houseplants.
Finally, there is something definitively therapeutic about caring for something, having the fate of another living being’s existence in your capable hands… and following through. One pop-culture reference that illustrates this best is the movie 28 Days. In the movie, addicts who are actively trying to recover are encouraged to buy a houseplant and successfully care for it for an entire year. After the year is over, they are told to get a dog and care for it for the next year. Finally, after these two practices are complete, they know that they are ready to enter a mutually beneficial relationship with another human.
Whew!
Heavy heavy.
Deep breath.
Let’s move on to my tips for optimal plant health/ keeping your plant babies alive:
1. Light, light, light.
As previously mentioned, perpetual darkness kills plants. And spirits (but that’s a topic for another day). Plants and people (but not vampires, which one probably wants to avoid keeping in one’s home anyway) thrive in environments with plenty of natural light. This may seem a bit extreme, but darkness = death. This rule should especially be applied to desert plants such as succulents and cacti.
2. Name your plants.
Darling, I’m serious. The prospect of accidentally killing something that you have taken the time and care to name is exponentially worse that accidentally killing that green thing in the corner. You might forget to water that cactus that you bought at Trader Joe’s, but you are much less likely to forget to water Daphne or Alexander, Portia or Maisy.
I have a recurring reminder on my phone that buzzes to let me know to water my plant babies. We are humans; we forget things. Set yourself up for success by recognizing that your phone is smarter than you and hence, will not forget.
Before we discuss some of my tips for nurturing your plants, let’s talk about the reasons why you should surround yourself with living greens. First, there is the obvious answer that plants produce oxygen and absorb your expelled carbon dioxide.
Plants and humans really do have a beautifully symbiotic relationship in this way.
What one needs, the other produces; what one cannot use, the other needs. Research shows that houseplants also eliminate nearly 90% of household airborne toxins, including the carcinogens benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde (a lot of this research has been done by NASA and can be read about here https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19930072988,or here:https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19930073077.pdf). Additionally, plants go through a process known as transpiration, releasing water molecules into the air, regulating indoor humidity, and helping your skin to retain that supple, youthful glow.
Perhaps more importantly is the impact that plants have on your mental health. As a highly anxious person, I have spent years looking for natural solutions that I could implement to help keep me calm and centered. As a student (formerly academically, currently idealistically) of psychology, I am always seeking easily implementable methods for improving mental health. Because of the aforementioned toxin reduction and increase in air oxygen levels, anxiety and stress has been shown to be reduced through the practice of owning houseplants (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4419447/). The linked study shows that the parasympathetic nervous system, the system that controls the “fight-or-flight” response is positively effected by the presence of houseplants. Furthermore, there is a great deal of research that purports that being surrounded by a green space increases certain endorphin levels and supports a calm, at ease state of mind. The takeaway is this: if you want to take a deep breath in your home and exhale feeling more centered and tranquil, cultivate houseplants.
Finally, there is something definitively therapeutic about caring for something, having the fate of another living being’s existence in your capable hands… and following through. One pop-culture reference that illustrates this best is the movie 28 Days. In the movie, addicts who are actively trying to recover are encouraged to buy a houseplant and successfully care for it for an entire year. After the year is over, they are told to get a dog and care for it for the next year. Finally, after these two practices are complete, they know that they are ready to enter a mutually beneficial relationship with another human.
Sometimes, what one needs is to lovingly care for something else.
Whew!
Heavy heavy.
Deep breath.
Okay.
Let’s move on to my tips for optimal plant health/ keeping your plant babies alive:
1. Light, light, light. As previously mentioned, perpetual darkness kills plants. And spirits (but that’s a topic for another day). Plants and people (but not vampires, which one probably wants to avoid keeping in one’s home anyway) thrive in environments with plenty of natural light. This may seem a bit extreme, but darkness = death. This rule should especially be applied to desert plants such as succulents and cacti.
2. Name your plants.
Darling, I’m serious. The prospect of accidentally killing something that you have taken the time and care to name is exponentially worse that accidentally killing that green thing in the corner. You might forget to water that cactus that you bought at Trader Joe’s, but you are much less likely to forget to water Daphne or Alexander, Portia or Maisy.
3. Set reminders for yourself to water 1-2x per week.
I have a recurring reminder on my phone that buzzes to let me know to water my plant babies. We are humans; we forget things. Set yourself up for success by recognizing that your phone is smarter than you and hence, will not forget.
4. Look up/ ask the gardening lady the needs of your specific plant.
For instance, your cactus needs to be watered less frequently than your philodendron. Some plants like light waterings more often, while others like a deluge once in a blue moon.
5. Use Miracle-Gro (or a similar product).
You take your vitamins (right?). Your plant has been uprooted from its natural environment, placed in an artificial one, and is expected to thrive without help? No, silly. Just as you can’t be expected to have healthy bones and adrenal glands while living off a diet of Cheetos and milk shakes, your plant can’t be expected to grow to be big and strong without extra vitamins. You need to supplement.
6. Turn your plants regularly.
As is natural, plants will grow towards the light source. Though letting this go on for too long will give your plant the lovely look of something desperately yearning, it will also mean that your plant will grow crooked and potentially topple over. To avoid this, rotate your plants when you water them.
7. Talk to your plants.
No shit. Plants respond to their environment, including sounds. Don’t believe me (I understand why you wouldn’t, though my feelings are a little hurt)? Check out this great explanation on the multiple studies that have showed how listening to certain kinds of music made crops produce better yields: https://dengarden.com/gardening/the-effect-of-music-on-plant-growth
My dear, get yourself a plant.
Caring for it will be an act of compassion and self-love.
Nurturing it will, in turn, be a way to nurture yourself.
Love,
Lola
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