WHAT IS THE RIGHT PLANT FOR ME? Each plant needs unique conditions to survive, and each person has a different routine that determines how much nurturing can go into their indoor garden. Jonathan Taylor, the managing director of the plant market Andromeda District, said you must consider your environment in order to choose the best plants to flourish in your home without a lot of aid. Considering your environment includes taking note of the humidity, air quality and temperature, as well as determining the natural light levels. Plants generally fall into three categories: direct sunlight, indirect sunlight and shadow. Taylor recommends that plants with the ability to grow and be displayed on a desk or bookshelf are best for beginners. “These types of plants will give a student the knowledge in terms of how the plant behaves,” he said. “When the plant gives birth to new stems, it provides a very good sampling of the entire process and life of the plant.”
Whether you’re an expert grower or intimidated by demanding tropical plants, succulents are a go-to for low-maintenance plant owners. These drought-tolerant plants love soaking up the sun and don’t mind if you skip out on a few watering sessions.
WHY SHOULD I GET A PLANT? Plants allow us to mentally relax both from their aesthetics and through the physical act of gardening. “It has been proven that plants really enhance our living experience,” Taylor said. “They help us with a number of mental health issues, including anxiety and depression.” Research from the Journal of Physiological Anthropology suggests that “active interaction with indoor plants can reduce physiological and psychological stress compared with mental work.”
HOW DO I CARE FOR MY PLANT? Hanging plants can add a whole new level of life to your space—literally. Put them on window sills, attach them to wire racks on your wall or hang them from your ceiling with a wire plant hanger.
12 DISTRACTION The Guide
Moderation applies to all aspects of life, and it most certainly applies to plant care. “I believe that we have the knowledge innately within us to really connect to other living things,” Taylor said. “By having an interaction with the plant and seeing how it behaves, you are best able to care for it.” He even recommends naming your leafy friends by citing research that claims the survival rate increases from 40% to 80%. A good rule of thumb is that under-watering is always better than overwatering. From there, add small amounts and take note of how the plant reacts. Taylor recommends to fertilize plants using ingredients already on hand, including some things that may usually be thrown away. “Instead of going to buy chemicals,” he said, “you can use leftover coffee grounds or juicing pulp. Massage them into the soil, and the roots of the plant will soak up the nutrients.” When a plant lives inside, it doesn’t take long for a layer of dust to accumulate on leaves. This can block sunlight and reduce the plant’s ability to photosynthesize. To avoid this, Taylor suggests taking a damp paper towel with a few drops of olive oil and wiping the leaves. If you are leaving for a short vacation, don’t fret. While you aren’t expected to install automatic irrigation systems inside of your living space, Taylor has some crafty ways to DIY. “Make three holes in an empty plastic bottle,” he said. “Then, you place a shoelace in the lid and fill the bottle with water completely. After, point out each of the shoelaces to a plant that needs to be watered. This is a very basic principle of drip irrigation that will help the plant receive water.”
