Why Should We Grow Plants?
There can be millions of reasons to grow a plant and there can still be no perfect reason BUT you should grow a few plants at every stage of your life, be it you are in kid, college student, working professional married/unmarried or post retirement age group. Trust me you must grow a few plants….it helps in all phases of life.
If you have tried or tried and failed, tried and succeeded and stopped you should just grow a few plants. I don’t know how to stress more on it but you should just grow few plants.
To Restore Your Sanity
A big revelation, stay with me for next few lines and put your brains in correlating things. I will just state few facts and researches and rest is for you to decide.
A study conducted by Lancet claims that main health-care problem of the 21st century will be trauma, depression and anxiety more specifically in developing countries – https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(04)17269-3/fulltext
India wellness index 2023 claims 1 in every 3 Indian is under mental stress(shows at least one sign stress or anxiety), a whopping 35% of our total population.
While new age Generation Z has created concepts like YOLO documented study says otherwise, Gen Z as per wellness Index is reeling under anxiety while 45% people claim they look at social media for motivation which is clearly not helping either.
Same report also suggests social wellbeing has declined the most in tier-1 population calling for urgent requirement of initiatives to address this.
Dr. Sood from leading cancer research Texas MD Anderson says – “Long terms stress hormones can inhibit a process called anoikis, which kills diseased cells and prevents them from spreading, this can speed the development of cancerous tumours”, he adds.
-Anil K. Sood, M.D., professor of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine at MD Anderson.
Here is another one – On an average human being inhales around 800 cubic feet of air in a day.
Environmental protection agency EPA, independent US government body rates Indoor air quality as top 5 environmental health risk. Most of the the toxins enter our body from air we breathe and while we are busy applying chemical free shampoo and skin care products and organic cotton bedsheets.
Now let me draw your attention to another research conducted – Study published in Journal of Physiological Anthropology states that plants kept in home office make us feel calm, balanced and soothed – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4419447/
Another study conducted in Konkuk University, Seoul in 2019 found presence of live plants in class room improved attention span of students – https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/5/796
Horticulture therapy is age old concept where people suffering with mental stress and anxiety are given exposer green space -plant and nature as prescription.
Infact clinics in Manchester are giving pot plant to patients experiencing anxiety, depression or loneliness – https://healthiermanchester.org/ey-up-petal-how-docs-are-prescribing-plants-to-keep-mancs-kale-and-hearty/
Another study conducted in 1996 found that indoor plants show positive associate in stress reduction and productivity increase.
https://meridian.allenpress.com/jeh/article/14/2/97/79431/Interior-Plants-May-Improve-Worker-Productivity
Infact there is another study which shows people show up more in office and take fewer sick leaves in office with indoor plants-https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/42/3/article-p581.xml
Studies have shown that spending time in green spaces can reduce stress, alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety, and improve overall mental well-being and productivity by 15% – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9224521/
Engaging in physical activity outdoors, whether it’s digging in the soil or tending to plants, promotes physical health and vitality, while the fruits of our labour—fresh, nutritious produce grown with love and care—nourish our bodies and nourish our spirits.
Control Atleast Some Bit of What you Eat
Lets face it, we are scared people.
Bamboo cotton shirt, organic bedsheets, chemical free soap shampoos, tooth paste we care so much that we are ready to splurge on chemical free, sulphur-free, carcinogen free beauty, linen and cosmetics and footwear and what not. Just to save our skin from getting in contact of cancer-causing substance.
But we are unknowing eating, gulping far bigger amount of chemicals and pesticide residue from the food we are eating.
Its funny that don’t want harmful chemical to touch our skin but don’t mind stuffing that down our throat. Why? Because it doesn’t suits anyone’s interest, in fact marketing giants wants to mindlessly eat anything and everything while you shop organic floor cleaner and shampoo and facewashes
Debate is long and I have nothing against brands selling chemical free shampoo and diapers or bedsheets they are atleast better than others. But as a consumer we must know our exposer is much higher when the chemical is inside us compared to our floor or detergent power of facewash.
Growing your own food (even some bit) give you control of what you are pushing in your body.
Obviously you can not grow everything that you eat, but highest percentage of pesticides and chemical fertilizers are found in vegetable and salads specially leafy. Now that good news if you no matter how small you have a space you can always grow some veggies and salad in your home and we will help you, for FREE.
Connect With Nature
Ever noticed, a nice walk on road covered with trees and plants in evening with pets or loved ones just lighten up the mood. Well my favourite CV Raman Nagar road, any road around Cubbon park or old airport road in Bangalore. A weekend party hosted at friend’s balcony with lot many plants and flowers! And lastly new Bangalore airport, my list is long.
One thing common in all these plants make us up, that’s our first home and we are homesick!
Globally, post Covid there is remarkable jump in number of hours people spend at home. In developed countries number is as high as 90%. With increasing work from home, quick commerce, online shopping, food deliveries our needs are getting fulfilled at the convenience of home and poor air quality (AQI), increasing traffic is not a motivation either to venture out.
“We are slowly becoming an indoor generation” says Velux. In developed countries like America 1 in 4 spends entire day at home without going out – https://www.multivu.com/players/English/81098241-velux-skylights-indoor-generation/
Having house plant ensure that you get to see sun soil and water, take pause and tend you plants in balcony or garden. Moreover the sight of plant within your house can also help your body stay in touch with nature.
Living Decor or Living Home Decor
Did you notice how the latest Netflix series, podcast and interviews on TV showcase are showcasing plants in the screen now. Yes that’s the latest trend of décor if you want to give you home a plush feeling. Placing the plant right is the key, as Dutch people say
“Plants help create gezellig”
Dutch one of the happiest countries in world appreciate the value of home plants. While there are no exact translation for word “gezellig” but in broadly means social and friendly.
If you walk into premium 4start 5 start or ultra-premium hotels you will notice how important is the placement of plants making the place alive.
Now this can not be the primary reason for all of us to pick up home plants but if you do like green aesthetics or wish to make office desk “your desk” or personalise corner of your house as your corner, plant can be your got to décor element.
In conclusion, the question of why we should grow plants is not simply a matter of necessity—it is a question of identity, of culture, and of our very existence as human beings. By embracing the art of gardening, we honour the legacy of our ancestors, nurture the bonds that unite us with the natural world, and sow the seeds of a brighter, more sustainable future for all.
