Improved quality of life

Plant therapy and Mental health

It's kinda crazy and surreal and cool all at the same time how much plants have improved my overall quality of life. Aside from some general ways (I will go into detail below) that plants have made my life much fuller--

plants have improved my mental health, overall mood and moodiness, daily routines, taught me lesson, and have brought some much needed joy into my life!

I truly believe our society does us a great disservice by discouraging hobbies and just doing things that bring you joy. I mean when I really think about it, it's wild that these plants that have always been around, but in the background, are now a main character in this chapter of my life. Sometime I think, how did I ever live without plants?! Lol, it's cool if your laughing right now, but if you came to this blog and are reading this, you are probably just as obsessed with plants as I am! If you are considering becoming a plant mama or plant zaddy, or are just curious about the benefits of having plants in your space here are some general benefits!

General benefits of Houseplants ...

Improve the air quality significantly in your home (Snake plants are really great for this) ! Keep in mind you need a significant amount of plants to improve the air quality in your home -- the more the better. I just mean 1 or 2 lil plants in the corner aint gonna clean your air in your home very effeciently. I'm not saying you need an urban jungle in your living room -- bt HONEY, I have about 30 or so indoor house plants and I probably have some of the cleanest air in Los Angeles! I've got a story that I think proves my theory.

If you are into interior design and love a good home decor situation, plants can provide this as well. Now, I always tell folks you must design your home around your plants and not your plants around your home. Shoutout to Jade the Black plant Chick for teaching me that hack! It's the truth, even if you don't want to accept it and you think that monstera deliciosa looks good in that corner over there -- trust me your plant won't look good in that corner over there in a month if it doesn't get adequate lighting.

Obviously beauty is enough reason to bring plants into your space. Plants bring that extra something to your life you didn't know you needed. They are so beautiful. Adding some greenery to your space is one of the easiest and most natural ways to make your home more beautiful.

Deeper benefits

All of these things are some of the more surface reasons to get into plants. Although, better air quality seems like a reason alone to bring plants home. Some of the more complex and personal reasons for surrounding my space with plants has frfr changed my life and taught me some HUGE lessons.

A win for mental health

Mental health is one of the biggest reasons I advocate for everyone to bring plants into their home. You don't have to become obsessed, but it is a fact that plants have the ability to overall improve mental health and instantly boost serotonin and dissolve a stank mood. Simply looking at or holding a plant boosts my serotonin. It's incredible. A recent study done in the U.K. discovered a bacteria in soil identified as Mycobacterium Vaccae -- this bacteria can actually increase the levels of seratonin in your brain! Read more about this insaneeeeee and incredible phenomenon here

How have houseplants improved my mental health? Well for one, something about caring for something other than oneself will easily boost your mood. It's the same concept as listing off the things you are thankful for. If I'm upset and watering my plants, I can feel my bad mood dissolve away. A calm waves over me and I feel better, always. Getting your hands in soil is super calming as well. Something about this act brings your closer to the earth which brings you closer to the Divine.

Houseplants love music too!

Cleaning my plant's leaves is another plant care aspect that calms me. I also love listening to music as I take care of my plants. They love Bob Marley and Dua Lipa but their absolute fav is jazz music and Sade though. How do I know this? Well it's like whatever comes to mind first when I go to play music as I care for them. I think it's something about Sade's voice they vibe with. They just love beautiful music generally.

Houseplants encourage healthy routines

I'm the type of person that needs a routine, when I don't have one my life feels like it's in shambles. I used to have hella trouble waking up in the morning -- ask anyone who knows me and they would chuckle and say, "Sher ain't no morning person." I was good for sleeping through alarms and waking up but going back to sleep. This went on for years to the point that I was almost failing classes in college for oversleeping. My momma had to call me in the morning to make sure I was up for class, and I went to school in a whole other state. It's gotten better in the last couple years as I took 9-5 jobs and worked at restaurants early on the weekends.

I'd been practicing becoming a morning person for years, but it was still tough, and I eventually reconciled with the fact that I'd never be that girl who goes running around her neighborhood at 8am. Last year, I went through a lot with my health and had to wake up early before work for physical therapy and doctors’ appointments. But something incredible happened. As I began to integrate plants into my life and daily routine, it gradually became easier to wake up early in the morning because I craved time with my plants.

And BANG! Ya girl became a morning person. I now loveeee waking up in the morning before I start my day and just spending time with my plants. It sets the tone for an amazing fucking day and I love it. And guess what else? **Clears throat* -- I am now that girl who goes running around her neighborhood at 8am for fun.

Nature: the great Teacher

Personally, plants have taught me so many lessons. It's crazy to think something that can't talk and just sits in your home could teach you anything. Once you really understand and respect the fact that plants are living, breathing, beings - this concept of student and teacher makes complete sense. Some of the lessons I've learned so far --

patience and consistency, growth and healing, resilience, discipline, nurturing a living being, how to let go and that it's okay to let go, "you just never know", and trying different things to solve a problem and not getting frustrated in the process of finding a solution.

I will talk about all these lessons in separate blog posts. As much as I pour into my plants they pour into my life, the reward is probably 1000% the return you are looking for to invest your time and energy.

In conclusion

If you feel your mental health or moods are suffering or you need a routine to stabilize your life or you need something beautiful to look at because you are tired of your four white walls or you live in Los Angeles like me and the constant threat of the smog has finally gotten to you --- go get you some plants!! And if you are already on this plant journey with me - go get you some more plants, you deserve it, Beautiful!

Happy Plant shopping!

--- Poison Ivy