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Packed full of plants

Taking care of houseplants helps student’s mental health

Emma Tomlinson tomliemm000@hsestudents.org

As spring rounds the corner, plant nurseries stock their collection of both indoor and outdoor plants. Students ll their room with hanging pots, succulents, and plants with trailing foliage to brighten up their rooms. The Agricultural University of Norway encourages keeping houseplants in one’s room as they decrease the incidence of dry skin, colds, sore throats and dry coughs. In addition to improving physical health, plants also help mental health. “I like having plants in my room because they make the air feel better,” junior Lindsay Wells said. Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that having plants in o ce spaces can make one feel more comfortable, soothed and natural. Not to mention, taking care of houseplants can increase feelings of well-being in people with mental illness. “Plants make a room look so much more lively and comforting,” senior Kylie Terpening said. “Growing them also gives you a feeling of responsibility because you’re taking care of a living thing.” When starting out growing plants, it is recommended to purchase a plant that does not need as much maintenance and is harder to kill. Plants that fall under this umbrella would be succulents, snake grass or a spider plant. “My favorite plant to keep inside is a ddle leaf g because I love the way the leaves are shaped and they’re very easy to take care of,” Wells said Plant propagation is the process of multiplying plants by taking a small cutting from a grown plant and putting it in either soil or water to grow. This is a cheaper, alternative method to buying new plants at the store. Plant cuttings can be taken from virtually anywhere, as long as the owner’s permission is obtained. “There’s certain types of plants that are easier to propagate than others,” Terpening said. “Pothos are really easy to propagate. You just have to cut the stem o and put it in water, and the roots will grow within a week or so.” The rst step when buying plants is to rst look where in the room there is space for them. Take note of these locations and think about what size plant would t there or match existing decor. If it is a narrow space, a tall skinny plant or hanging plant would t well. Broader plants with big leaves would have more room to grow in a wider space. Light is critical for optimal growing conditions so take note of how much light an area receives when shopping for a new plant. How far these locations are from a window or door will determine what sort of plants would best suit the room. Every plant is di erent, and when caring for them it is important to know what kind of conditions it requires. Some plants require direct exposure to sunlight, while other plants may prefer indirect sunlight, which means that they can be kept inside. They can still be in front of a window, since the window will block them from being directly exposed. “I actually got a plant light, since my room doesn’t get a lot of sunlight,” Terpening said. “They’re good to use for plants like succulents that need a lot of light.” Humidity is also very important to consider when taking care of a plant. Jade and snake plants both enjoy indoor dry air, so misting them or placing them in a humid room would be bad for them. Other plants, such as ferns, require humid temperatures for optimal growth. Some people use misting sprays on the plants in order to keep them hydrated, but placing the plant in the bathroom while showering also provides it with humidity. Allisonville Nursery has been in Fishers since 1976, and has one of the largest inside and outside plant nurseries in Fishers, spanning over ve acres. The nursery has a variety of starter plants, fertilizer, and pots needed to begin growing houseplants. If looking for an alternative route, propagation is a cheap method that requires a little more work but ultimately less expensive. “I typically get my plants from Allisonville Nursery, they have a super wide variety,” Terpening said. “Growing houseplants not only teaches responsibility but can liven up a space and improve mental health. Wells recommends lling empty space in a room with houseplants, and she prefers to use plant hangers because they allow room for even more plants. “The more plants I have in my room, the happier I am,” junior Students put houseplants into colorful pots to liven up the room. Photos by Emma Tomlinson and Emi Citoler.