Benefits of houseplants

My Love For Houseplants

I have a passion for growing and maintaining houseplants in my home. It all started with a small cutting. Our Scout leader gave us girls a begonia slip. She sent us home and told us to put it in water until roots sprang forth.

Within a week my sample sprouted tiny roots. Then I transplanted my begonia to a vase filled with potting soil. Imagine my fascination and amazement that the plant thrived. It went on to delight me with pink blossoms. I grew eight more plants out of that mother begonia. I gave some to my friends as gifts.

I have always had “a green thumb”. I don’t understand those who seem to fail at keeping houseplants alive. Their requirements are simple enough. Give them water when thirsty. Make sure they receive plenty of daylight. Feed them with a houseplant fertilizer on a regular basis. Talk to them. They also enjoy classical music.

I have to replant some of my plants this winter. They’ve become root bound and need bigger pots. Take a good look at my flowering cactus. The branches are sprawling and producing buds again. It’s not Thanksgiving time yet! It doesn’t care. It continues to bloom all year long like a spoiled child.

I don’t mind my oddball flowering cactus, for it gives me great joy. I’m going to have trouble repotting this one though. I know I’ll break some segments off.

I used to have more houseplants than I do now. This house doesn’t have as many windows or space for plants. I have to place them under grow lights to thrive.

I have a shelving unit with grow lights. I use it to propagate my vegetable seeds before transplanting them into raised beds. Grow lights help to expand your space for more houseplants. I live in Iowa and that means all houseplants have to come inside during the winter months.

The above spider plant needs to be divided. I don’t look forward to doing that chore. This one will have to come inside. The porch isn’t heated. I wish I had a greenhouse-like Elder Taoist. I would go wild!

I used to work in a greenhouse — garden center before I retired. It was so uplifting, surrounded by lots of green plants. They give off an energy that calms the soul. Most of us loved getting our hands dirty as we filled flats with tiny nursery plants to sell to the public. I had to restrain myself from buying more than I could care for.

If you want a mood booster in your home, consider placing houseplants in front of your windows. I promise they will cheer you up on gloomy days. And they don’t talk back. With just a little loving care, they will delight you for years. And spider plants clarify your air.

It’s a great hobby. Go for it!

This is written in response to a prompt about “loving houseplants” by Dr. Preeti Singh.

Please read some wonderful articles I’ve come across. They are representative of the talent to be found among members of Reciprocal.

Dr. Preeti Singh writes a beautiful piece about a visit to a tropical garden. The pictures alone will astound you. She expresses the feeling of calm and peace derived from a garden nurtured with loving care.

Suma Narayan writes a heartfelt piece. Her granddaughter’s joy and bubbly laughter over discovering her feet is precious. It reminds us to be natural in expressing our own joy. Adults tend to avoid attracting attention to their feelings in public.

Mia Verita writes about the resilience of her roses. They continue to bloom after the onslaught of nature’s storms. Her photos are spectacular. The roses become a metaphor for those who go on living despite troubling circumstances.