5 ways to become a good plantito/plantita during this quarantine
Indoor plants are taking the spotlight during the quarantine as most of us have more spare time inside our houses. Aside from aesthetic appeal, experts say that caring for plants can benefit your mental health. A little home gardening can do you good since it can lessen anxiety and even some effects of depression. Some of my friends told me that they feel good in taking care of something, like it gives them a personal accomplishment.
According to Journal of Health Psychology, gardening is a great stress reliever. As a matter of fact, it says that 30 minutes of gardening lowers cortisol hormones, the fight-or-flight response.
So if you’re planning to start your journey of being a “plantito or plantita” or already there, here are the things you can do to get ready:
Think on how you will style your house with plants
This one is really important to avoid unnecessary clutter and maximize your space. If you have bedside table or an extra space on top of your drawer, why not decorate it with a small pot of indoor plant? In that way, it will be the first thing you’ll see when you wake up in the morning. Plants can add warmth and beauty to our interiors. At the same time, they can calm us as we try to survive in this pandemic.
Build or search for a shelf
Many online sellers offer creative and inexpensive plant shelves but it’s purely up to you how you would want to display your babies. If you are living in a small space, you might want to strategize by hanging your plant pots so they won’t take up any space. There are also ready-made shelves that lets you display multiple plants at once.
Do your research
It’s easy for us to neglect our houseplants and forget about them when we have a busy week. In that case, you should go for those low maintenance plants that can thrive without much care. Snake plants, pothos, and succulents are just a few examples of those. Aside from that, you must keep in mind that each plant has different needs, some needs frequent watering while others easily drown. Meanwhile, there are plants that need a little bit of sunlight while others survive even without it. Just do your homework by searching on Google or asking other friends who are knowledgeable about gardening.
Try out different locations
Now you already bought some plants and wondering where to put them? This is a good time to observe what’s going on with them to determine the best spot. Does it need more sun, or less? Is it getting enough humidity? If your plant’s leaves turning yellow or falling off, change its location.
Dust your plants regularly
You might be surprised but plants collect a lot of dust particles, especially if you put them in your kitchen with all those grease. Experts advise that you wipe their leaves using a damp cloth or give them a quick bath in the sink. When it’s raining, you can also place them outdoors for a short while to avoid drowning them with too much water. Keeping them clean helps with their overall health as it is a preventative measure against pests and insects.
Do you have any suggestions on how to take good care of house plants?
