We meant plant parenthood. Keep reading!

You’ll never know until you dive right in. The beauty of plant parenthood is that you can make fatal mistakes (yikes!) with no real consequences. One day however you’ll see a new leaf sprouting on your Snake Plant and your chest will get filled with a sense of pride and joy that only a parent can experience. 

Maybe you haven’t bought a house or settled down yet, nonetheless, you do feel the need to fulfil that sense of ownership, the desire to nurture. Some say that caring for plants is what us Millennials turned to, in order to prepare for higher responsibilities in the near future. Why not? We believe that this is a great thing to start with. Being a plant parent is both rewarding and beneficial on so many levels. 

Here are 6 reasons why growing plants is good for you:  

  1. Boost brainpower and productivity – a plant-filled environment increases memory retention by up to 15%  
  2. Enhance creativity – the University of Exter found that creativity increases by 45% in spaces with plants 
  3. Lift mood and confidence – those who spend more time in a room with plants rate themselves more confident and energized 
  4. Improve air quality – NASA revealed that plants can decrease air toxins by 87% over a period of 24 hours 
  5. Boost health levels –  plants raise humidity levels and remove nasty chemicals and decrease mild health conditions such as sore throats and colds 
  6. Reduce stress levels – a study revealed that adopting a plant in a hospital room reduced patient’s stress levels by 37% 

Plants are pretty cool but don’t take our word for it. Have a look at these hashtags and their following: #plantsmakepeoplehappy (2.6 mil), #plantsofinstagram (4.3 mil), #urbanjungle (3.3 mil). The plant trend is hot right now! 

Plant broody yet? If so, here are a few plant parenting starter points:

  • Light: Each plant is different, but most will thrive in bright indirect sunlight. If your window is too sunny, add a sheer curtain to filter the light. Almost never a good idea to place your plant in the shadiest corner. 
  • Lifestyle: (1) Are you working from home or are you (2) mostly living out of your suitcase? If you fall in the 1st category, then the sky is your limit: Fiddle Leaf Fig, Monstera, Fern, any type of indoor palms. For the latter, you will want to go for plants that thrive on neglect, like the Snake Plant, ZZ plant, or succulents such as Echeveria and Haworthia. 
  • Watering: People often kill plants because of over-watering them. Best advice – do the finger test. Simply stick your finger in the soil and if the top 5 cm is dry, then the plant requires watering. If the soil is moist and dark, then revisit in a couple of days. Most plants (except the cacti and some succulents) will appreciate a humidifier and/or a nice misting session from time to time.  
  • Environment: Don’t rock the boat too much. Keep your plants away from radiators and AC vents. Maintain a steady temperature across all seasons. 
  • Fertilizing: Do it during the growing season: Spring to early Autumn. No need to fertilize during the first year. Give your plant the chance to adjust to its new environment. 
  • Repotting: Unless you bought a WONDER POT. Your plant is not meant to live in that small plastic pot sold in garden centers. It will need some fresh soil and a pot ⅓ bigger. Find out what potting mix your plant requires, and get it sooner than later. 
  • Drainage: For a healthy plant, the water has to flow, just like it does in the natural habitat. Chose pots with drainage holes. We love giving our plants an occasional shower to rinse off the dust and the excess salts. Very important! 
  • The source: When you go plant shopping, make sure you see no signs of distress (yellow leaves, spots, brown tips, white powdery coating). We recommend buying plants from specialized dealers who will take the time to guide you based on your requirements. 

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