Plant Care as Self Care

by Lindsay Denecker

For a long time, I resisted buying plants. Yes, I thought a plant or two would look cool in my apartment, but having plants would mean yet more responsibilities. After debating about it with myself for over a year, I decided to just go for it. On my birthday, I bought eight new plants and set them up in front of my balcony. While I didn’t know it in that moment, it soon became apparent that caring for my plants would become an invaluable way of caring for myself. The plant responsibilities I’d long avoided help me stay positive, embrace a deeper connection to nature, and slow down.

When COVID-19 struck and I was quarantined in my tiny apartment all day, every day, I was extremely grateful to have my plants nearby. Instead of ending my days on an anxious note, dwelling on thoughts of my impending tasks, I spent time tending to my plants. I misted them, I dusted off their big glossy leaves, I stuck my fingers into the soil to sense how much water they needed, I checked the stems and leaves for pests, and I repotted them as they continued to grow. The vines I saw sprout when I first bought my plants – those vines now almost reach the floor. Despite the fear, uncertainty, and stress in the world, this evidence of life and growth gives me something to look forward to. Indeed, my plants have helped me maintain an optimistic outlook.

Additionally, my plants bring some of the outdoors inside, which reminds me to go outside more often. Shortly after buying my plants, I started taking daily walks around my neighborhood. I now notice and have a greater appreciation for the natural life surrounding me. I see the plants blooming in the spring, I notice the birds flitting in and out of trees, and I even witnessed a hummingbird raise two of its babies. These experiences have made me feel more connected to nature than I have in a long time.

Lastly, caring for my plants forces me to slow down and focus on what is happening right in front of me. If I don’t take time to appreciate the present moment, how else will I see a new leaf unfurling on my Monstera adansonii? How else will I notice the teeny green upshoots at the base of my peperomia? Through the process of caring for my plants, I have been able to appreciate these simple things.

My plant care activities help my plants thrive and grow, but they’re also therapeutic for me. They help me stay positive, be more mindful of the natural world around me, and remind me to slow down and appreciate the simple things. For a long time, I resisted owning plants because I thought they’d take away from the bit of free time I had, but in reality, caring for plants has given me much more than I ever expected. If you’ve mulled over a plant purchase, I can attest that plant care is well worth the effort, and you, too, will see that the plant is not the only thing that will flourish.

Lindsay Denecker was an active member of the Interactive Measurement Group from Spring 2019 through Summer 2020. During her time in the lab, she fulfilled various roles, including Website Coordinator, Action Editor for the newsletter, and Poster Leader. With the knowledge that she has gained from her studies and in the lab, she hopes to apply psychology to the workplace in the future.