Last year, we’ve seen a boost in what millennials like to call “plant parenting”, thanks to social media. It’s not a recent trend though, as keeping indoor plants has been around for a long time already. But what is it about owning plants that charm a lot of people? And what don’t they tell you about it?
Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of keeping indoor plants, so you can figure out if it’s for you or not before you plunge into the hobby:
What You Get from Indoor Plants
It Looks Good. When you’re looking for artistic furnishings for your living or even beautiful bedroom furniture online, you might encounter house plants being advertised as well. Many people appreciate the aesthetic value of plants, and it’s pretty common to want plants because of how they can elevate the look of indoor spaces. Plants give color, life, and character to your home or office. And with the many options that you have when it comes to indoor plants, you can choose one (or some) that match your style and personality.
You’ll Focus Better Having plants nearby has an interesting effect: It helps you think and concentrate better. While science is still struggling to find an adequate reason, long-time plant owners attribute increased focus to their plants. Perhaps having a vibrant green color from an organic being provides a relief to our tired eyes that’s been fixed on a computer screen for a while.
They Can Be Therapeutic. Whether it’s the lush view of greenery or the meditative act of caring for your plants, it definitely has a calming effect on a lot of people. With plant keeping, you can zone in on your plant baby while watering or trimming it and just focus on the act itself, as a form of mindfulness practice. It’s been proven effective to relieve mental illnesses like depression and anxiety that horticultural therapy is an option used in the treatment of said conditions.
You’ll Be More Productive. If you’re annoyed by your coworkers, then a quiet, little plant might be a better coworker for you. And interestingly enough, not only do plants improve your focus, but it also improves productivity as well. Studies have shown that students work around 12% faster around plants, due to being less stressed. It also helps office workers stay healthy, resulting in being more productive while on the job.
What You Need to Remember About Indoor Plants:
You Have to Take Care of Them. As with keeping anything, taking care of plants also requires maintenance and care. These are living beings after all, and you want to make sure you keep them alive under your care. It can be a chore because you’d have to water them just enough, make sure they receive the right amount of sunlight, and possibly change pots as they grow bigger. Different plants require different and specific care that if you don’t have the time to monitor their condition, perhaps sticking to fewer, low maintenance plants would be your better choice.
They Can Be Costly. Of course, you don’t have to spend way too much to get into plant keeping. However, it’s no secret how ridiculously pricey some indoor plants can get, especially the rare and tropical ones that aren’t endemic to our country. Once you get deep into the hobby, you might become interested in them, but they don’t come cheap. Of course, you can stay within the affordable range, but the temptation to get the exotic but expensive ones can be strong.
They Require a Certain Amount of Humidity. If your room is too dry, your plants might wither up and die. If it’s too humid, then it might promote the growth of mold. If either of those two happen, it’s probably time to hire an HVAC professional to see if there’s anything wrong with your ventilation. Plants require a certain amount of humidity, and keeping your room temperature at a good rate can be quite challenging.
They Have Potential to Grow Too Fast. This could be a positive problem, but if you aren’t prepared, you’d be surprised by how fast some plants can grow. And it isn’t just about moving them into a bigger pot. It also means getting more soil and other media and addressing the dry leaves that clutter the space. Some people deliberately grow their plants with the intention of growing a nursery and maybe selling seedlings. If that isn’t your goal, you’d have to at least be aware of the possibility.
Just like keeping a pet, plants also require a lot of work. That’s probably why we call it “plant parenting”. Don’t let these stumbling blocks get in the way of your interest in plants though. As they say, if you truly want something, you’ll be willing to put in the work.
