Why Plants Should Be the Newest Addition to Your Household

Has it seemed like your newsfeeds on social media have been overgrown with plant pics lately? People buying plants, taking care of plants, showing off their plants?? They’re everywhere. It’s not just in your head. Everybody knows the number of pet adoptions have soared throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Plant sales have too. People are filling the void created in their day to day lives by filling their homes with plants. Here’s why you should join them.

Like caring for pets, caring for plants can give you a sense of purpose and can help you feel less stressed. Taking care of houseplants can benefit people in numerous ways. While houseplants can function as décor, brightening a space and bringing a sense of nature within, having houseplants goes beyond their aesthetic benefits. Houseplants can provide us an increase in emotional wellbeing. A study surveyed 4,000 people around the world during COVID-19 lockdowns and found that 74% of participants reported boosted emotional wellbeing by having houseplants in their home.

With school and work moving online during the pandemic, we need a break from technology now more than ever. Houseplants require maintenance and has a calming effect on us as we get immersed into caring for them. This is an example of mindfulness. Practicing mindfulness is known to be helpful for reducing stress and anxiety. Another study has found that those who took part in houseplant task felt calmer, more comfortable, and more relaxed opposed to those who completed a technology related task. Since different plants have different needs, when you buy a plant, you’ll have to learn all the different quirks and necessities they require. For example, the amount of sunlight they thrive in, how much watering they need, the amount of humidity they prefer, dusting their leaves, and pruning dead leaves. Overall, providing them care can be a grounding experience, reminding houseplant owners what the little things in life are. They distract us from the daily demands in our lives and provide us with increased well-being.

If you’re worried about not being able to take care of plants and are cursing your lack of a green thumb, have no fear. There are hearty plants out there that even you cannot kill. Beginners are frequently recommended spider plants, who do well as potted or as hanging plants. These plants prefer evenly moist soil as well as bright or medium sunlight exposure. Jade plants can also be great for beginners, as they love bright light and don’t require frequent watering. They can also live for a long time, so if you want a plant to be your lifetime companion, treat your jade plant right and it will live 70 to 100  years!

If you ever need inspiration for your houseplant collection or are looking for ideas on how to get started, it’s a simple click or tap away. Many accounts on Instagram are filled with houseplants and offer awesome tips and tricks to make your collection flourish. @houseplantclub is a great example. They describe their page as a community for houseplant enthusiasts and have over 1 million followers, who frequently share their aesthetically beautiful plant collections. @plantkween is another awesome plant page. This page is run by Christopher, who has an amazing collection of plants and shares wonderful tips on how to provide the best care for many different houseplants. You can also purchase houseplants on a variety of websites such as Etsy, The Sill, and Bloomscape.

When you decide to start your houseplant collection, or are simply looking for another plant or two, try to support local businesses within your area! If you’re located near Milwaukee, there are many wonderful small businesses that you can shop local with. Mod Gen is a Modern General Store that offers houseplants as well as creative goods for everyday living. They are located in the Third Ward and have a wonderful selection. Maranta Plant Shop is another great local plant store to support and is Black and Brown owned. They are located on Martin Luther King Drive and offer a vast array of plants and frequently hold community events. Clover is another plant shop located in Milwaukee on Kinnickinnic Ave and is Female owned and operated. They are focused on providing an environmentally conscious way to help you grow your plant collection.

Overall, houseplants can do a lot of good for you and your community! You can support yourself and others while creating a great atmosphere in your home. Your house will not only be aesthetically pleasing, but you’re mental and emotional health will benefit as well. Here’s to taking care of our houseplants and bettering ourselves. Your future self will thank you.