Winter break was much-needed this year, yet the extreme cold and lingering lockdown procedures left me feeling a bit lonely. Unfortunately, we all knew this winter would be especially hard, as we have never experienced a pandemic in our lifetime, let alone one in freezing temperatures. What were we to do without the warm weather for distanced picnics, birthday parades and neighborhood walks?
All three of these activities have mother nature in common. The fresh air, sunlight and other elements of the outdoors personally made the pandemic bearable. This winter, I brought nature inside in the form of house plants. I had 12 of them, actually. And, if I’m being honest, watering them was one of my favorite parts of the day.
Health benefits of a plant buddy
My excitement for this routine wasn’t a coincidence. As we finish a semester of mostly online school, it’s likely that we’ll encounter some stressful or anxiety-inducing situations. A study published by Physiological Anthropology, however, found that interaction with house plants reduced participants’ stress.
Additionally, a study conducted by NASA found plants can help rid the air of toxic chemicals. This actually doesn’t impact us too much, but it’s still an amazing plant property. If you live on campus, a cramped dorm room could certainly benefit from some clean air.
Finally, a plant is a low maintenance responsibility with high rewards. Simply nurturing the plant and understanding its watering needs instills a sense of satisfaction. You understand that the plant needs you, and in turn, you get clear feedback that it’s thriving as it grows.
An article from The Sunday Times (London) described it beautifully: “As each new leaf grows and you watch them thrive each day, you’ll be overwhelmed by the simple pleasure that will uplift you from the lockdown blues.”
Suggestions for starters
For me, I’ve chosen plants that are relatively easy to take care of. They require minimal watering and don’t need too much direct sunlight. The jade plant, also known as the lucky plant or money plant, has adorable, round and waxy leaves; it is by far one of my favorite succulents. Because jade plants are succulents, they only really need to be watered once a week (which is super doable for busy college students).
A healthy jade plant.
Another favorite is my pothos plant. It’s a very common indoor plant that usually hangs from the ceiling because of its sprawling vines and big leaves. They can thrive in pretty much any amount of light, but they do require a bit more watering than the jade plant.
If nothing else, plants are simply a pretty view.
I hope you consider taking a plant in for the remainder of the semester!
