How I Accidentally Found Happiness
I got a couple of houseplants, instead of a cat.
It was just one of those wintry weekends in January, so cold and snowy you feel justified staying home all day.
Having run out of things to do after watching a couple of Netflix shows and reading a book, I started mindlessly musing over an old debate with myself on whether I should get a pet. I have been wanting one ever since I was a kid, but never really had a chance to actually commit to one. Is this finally the year I get a lovable, living thing (probably a cat)in my apartment? Am I just feeling a little bored and lonely and is that a selfish reason to get a cat? I mean, I am still learning how to take care of myself; can I be responsible for another life?
After much thoughts, I decided I should start with something easier. Taking small steps at a time before I commit to a big step.
So I got some houseplants. No big deal.
After all, there are so much research out there describing numerous benefits of having plants around you.
To start, indoor plants are proven to not only improve air quality by removing trace organic pollutants but prevent fatigue and increase productivity during attention demanding work (why office plants make so much sense).
Plants can also contribute significantly to your mental and emotional health. Many studies have confirmed that the plants reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety and help reduce stress levels.
What I found especially fascinating was that there are actually measurable physiological changes in a body when interacting with plants. A study showed that active interaction with indoor plants suppress sympathetic nervous system and diastolic blood pressure. Also known as ‘fight or flight’ response, sympathetic nervous system entails a body’s rapid, involuntary response to dangerous or stressful event; this includes flooding of hormones to increase alertness, quickening breath to promote faster delivery of oxygen to body and brain and increasing heart rate to send more blood to muscle for short burst movements. By suppressing this response system, plant promotes calmness and relaxation- a perfect partner for a chilled evening after work.
On top of that, another interesting study even went further to discuss tangible therapeutic value of plants in a hospital environment as a noninvasive, inexpensive, and effective complementary medicine for surgical patients and recommended that hospitals consider using plants to promote healing of patients.
Reading about all these various benefits was one thing- but experiencing some first hand immediately on the first month I got my plants was definitely something else. I never once thought about just how much these two little green plants I brought home on a whim ( I confess- I now have four and I will probably have more next time you ask me) would boost my mood whenever I look or touch them. I find myself smiling more for no reason and enjoy greenery in my living room. It makes me calm, peaceful, quietly happy and satisfied. To top it all, it also feels kind of amazing that something living and breathing is growing alongside with me under my care.
So if you ever thought about getting a houseplant, listen to me and get a few. After all, ‘planterior’, which involves using plants as a part of interior in a living space, is huge on social media these days. And let’s be honest, you won’t be able to just get one when you are at a nursery- the place is full of pretty and cheery plants.
Here is a quick guide as to how to pick your first plants and care for them.
1. Do some research and figure out what kind of plant will survive best you and your your living space.
Different plants have different needs. If you think you will often forget to water or simply have not much time to care for plants, make sure you get one of those low-maintenance plants. These are usually super resilient, hard to kill type of plants that require infrequent watering and care. They are also an excellent choice if you are a first time plant carer.
You also need to consider your living space conditions. If your place has a south or west facing window by where you will be placing your new friend, you should get a plant that will thrive under a lot of full sun exposure. On the other hand, if you have east or north facing window, make sure your plant is classified as low-light plant.
2. Visit your local nursery to pick out your plants.
Where you get your plant is important. I recommend you buy your plants from a local nursery. You will not only have more diverse choices, your plants will often be healthier. The nursery I bought my plant even offers a full refund or revival care if the plant they sold is dying or catching a disease during the first few weeks. Check with your nursery and see if they have similar policies. Other clear advantage of sourcing your plant from a nursery is that you will have access to very knowledgeable staffs and get pro-tips regarding your plant care.
3. Get to know your plant.
If you are as inexperienced with plants as I was, you may think plant caring is a passive activity: they are just chilling and you just need to remember to water it once every few days. To the contrary, plants are very expressive and will tell you exactly so if they are not happy. They will droop their leaves if over watered or under watered, curl or yellow leaves depending on how much light, draft, nutrients or humidity they are getting. Just like any relationship you form, there is an adjustment period where you and the plant (mostly you learning about the plant and the plant patiently letting you know) get to know each other.
First few weeks, you will have to figure out the optimum environment your plant will thrive within your living space. This involves research, trying different watering schedules and caring methods, and observing daily for any changes. With time and patience, and after a few panic attacks (“I over-watered my plant! It’s dying on me!!”), you will get a good understanding and find a happy agreement.
4. Enjoy your friend and embrace your newly found green-thumb.
I find the entire plant caring process very much like practicing mindfulness. I look for any changes in my plant appearance daily and touch soil and leaves to check whether or not it needs watering. I can’t even describe how excited and proud I was when I successfully nursed an over-watered droopy plant back to health and when I found a new cute little green leaf growing on one of my plants.
In Conclusion:
Growing indoor plants is one of the most rewarding experience with boundless benefits at a small cost, and I definitely recommend you and my other loved ones to give it a go. I promise you will find small joy and peace in an everyday ritual of caring your plant.
