Kristine
The COVID-19 outbreak has led to major life changes for millions of people around the world. As everyone’s trying to adjust to new safety guidelines and working from home, there has been a noticeable shift in the total sales of plants and seeds throughout the country:
- The Arkansas-based retailer, The Seed Guy, has reported that the company can barely keep up with the increased sales demands this spring.
- Eliza Blank, the founder of The Sill, reported, “Since mid-March, we’ve seen a tremendous spike in online sales, especially for blooming plants. We can hardly keep up with fulfillment.”
- Chairman of The Burpee Company, George Ball, explained, “We’ve experienced a level of interest like I’ve never seen before. We sold more seeds in March than at any other time in our 144-year history.”
Several other sellers of gardening supplies, seeds, and plants have reported that this year’s sales are 2-3 times higher than normal, with some companies even seeing increases of 250% in mere days. It may seem like a strange occurrence for people to get the urge to buy more plants in the midst of a pandemic, but it turns out that the simple act of tending to a garden can yield more benefits than just beautiful flowers.
Positive Benefits of Caring for Plants
Rutgers University professor Joel Flagler believes that gardening can be calming and comforting in a time of uncertainty. Watching plants flourish can also help people feel a sense of purpose and regain a sense of control when they feel stressed. “It’s these predictable outcomes, predictable rhythms of the garden that are very comforting right now,” Flagler notes. “It’s that positive control, a feeling of ‘Hey, I did this, I did something good here.’”
Although simply caring for plants won’t be an immediate anxiety-killer, adding a few houseplants or creating a small outdoor garden can positively impact your physical and mental health in a variety of ways. A few of the best plant perks include:
- Improved air quality. Placing a green plant or two in your home office or bedroom can decrease indoor air pollution. The air quality indoors can often be much worse than the air outside, but scientists have found that plants can remove potentially harmful toxins from your home.
- Boosted mood. In hospital and nursing home settings, patients frequently report better moods when they have the opportunity to be around nature. Flowering plants and greenery can add life into an otherwise drab space, which may even help alleviate symptoms of depression in some individuals.
- Decreased anxiety. Physically working in your garden helps your brain release “feel-good” chemicals, including serotonin and dopamine. A study conducted in 2007 found that certain bacteria in soil can also trigger the brain to release serotonin, which naturally reduces anxiety levels.
- Greater self-esteem. When people contribute to something successful, it’s common to feel a sense of accomplishment and positive self-esteem. Seeing a tiny seedling flourish into an enormous, blooming plant can be reassuring for those who struggle with a negative self-image.
Plants for People with “Black Thumbs”
If you don’t have the best track record with keeping plants alive, you might be hesitant to try your hand at gardening again. However, not all flowers are difficult to care for; after all, some plants can literally sprout from concrete! For a low-maintenance yet beautiful addition to your home or garden, try one of these hardy plants:
- Green onions.
- Snake plants.
- Lucky bamboo.
- Pothos.
- Golden barrel cactus.
If the current state of the world has you feeling stressed out, turn your focus to a small part of the world you can control. Plus, with just a handful of seeds and some adorable pots, you can redecorate your home while reaping the positive benefits of gardening!
