4 Self-Care Lessons From Houseplants
Blog post written by Lama El-Hanan, Straight Up Health
Indoor plants have taken the world by a storm in recent months. Working and studying from home has given many of us the time to cultivate and care for houseplants. Having limited opportunities to be outside has also increased the allure of creating an indoor urban jungle. Our houseplants require lots of care and attention, including regular watering and feeding. However, they give us so much more in return. Not only do plants fill our homes with lush greenery, they can also teach us a lot about self and community care. Below are some of the lessons I have gleaned from my houseplants in the few months since I have acquired them.
Lesson 1: Ask for What You Need
The Spathiphyllum Pictum or Peace Lily gets a bad wrap for being a “diva” plant. It tends to wilt dramatically when it needs to be watered, to the horror of many new plant parents. But the Peace Lily’s ability to communicate through its foliage is precisely what makes it a great houseplant. It tells its owner exactly what it needs and when, making life easier for both parties. Having the ability to ask for what you need and desire does not make you selfish or self-indulgent. Rather, it is an act of self-care. Being communicative about what you need also strengthens your relationships with others. The people in our lives are not mind readers and being upfront about what we need allows them to care for us in the ways that we want.
Lesson 2: Practice Community Care
Most houseplants are native to the humid tropics of South America and South East Asia. These plants tend to fare much better when they are grouped together because they create pockets of humidity that help them to thrive. There is a lesson to be learned here. As important as self-care is, caring for each other is just as essential to promoting our mental health and overall well-being. Unlike self-care, community care distributes the onus of care onto a bunch of different individuals. It involves providing care for the benefit of others and can range from macro-level systems of care and support to interpersonal acts of care. While this seems like a selfless concept, in reality, community care is deeply connected to self-care. By creating a culture of commitment to the well-being of others, we ensure that we are taken care of as well.
Lesson 3: Go At Your Own Pace
Epipremnum Aureum, commonly known as Pothos or Devil’s Ivy, is a prolific grower. Given ideal environmental conditions, Pothos can quickly overwhelm a space. They can grow up to 40 feet high and 6 inches wide. On the opposite end of the houseplant spectrum is the Crassula Ovata or Jade Plant which will only grow a couple of inches a year at best. We recognise this diversity in growth rates in the plant world. We understand that the rate at which our plants will grow depends on several factors, both environmental ones and those endemic to the plant. It would be absurd to expect a Jade Plant to grow as quickly as a Pothos. Somehow, though, we fail to apply this sage wisdom to our own lives. We often measure our growth and success relative to that of others, feeling dismayed when we inevitably come up short. This logic is inherently flawed. You and your conditions are unique; therefore, the only standard of growth that matters is your own. The true marker of growth is trusting your own process and deciding when it is best for you to take the next step.
Lesson 4: Understand that One Size Does Not Fit All
Plants are not shy about telling us that one size does not fit all. Have you ever tried potting a cactus in soil meant for a tropical houseplant? Spoiler alert--it ends tragically. It is okay if what seems to be working for someone else is not allowing you to thrive. Each of us is unique and we must make the choices that are best for us in our given circumstances. We are often told that there is one right way to go about things--whether that be in our careers or relationships. However, conforming to these external expectations is unrealistic and often leaves us unsatisfied. Determining what norms we want to adhere to and which ones we would rather discard is a challenging and life-long process. However, it is worth it. Becoming acquainted with and trusting our inner voice allows us to be okay with the fact that what might work for others may not work for us and vice versa.