My mother, a paralegal living in Ohio, expected she would need to work through the Covid-19 outbreak. It wasn’t often that she would get time off, which is why she was shocked when her boss told her she could have two weeks at home since she’s “at risk” at contracting the virus. When I asked her how she’d be spending her time, she joyfully remarked that she would garden. “I finally have the time to put up a cold frame and grow some of my own lettuce,” she said proudly.
Yes, my mother chose time with her plants. And given the grocery lines and produce-less shelves, growing any of your own food is a bonus! Her “prepper” mentality reminded me that I was behind on starting my own seeds indoors. In a month or so, they’d be ready to put out on my fire escape and in my humble community garden plot: container corn, sugar prince peas, basil, and cocona—the latter which is an eggplant relative from the Amazon, and for which is a total experiment!
But with the shelter-in-place rules and social distancing ordinances, it seems as if many of us now have time on our hands to do a little experimentation at home, and tending to our plants—whether indoors or out—seems to be an appropriate activity. Prior to all of this, plant care seemed to be the hobby du jour for many thanks in a large part to its celebration on social media, but if the spread of coronavirus shows us anything, it’s how therapeutic plant care can be in a time of high anxiety.
When I set out to write my latest book last year, How to Make a Plant Love You: Cultivate Green Space in Your Home and Heart, I didn’t realize that its core theme, which is to say—taking care of yourself, your family, and your greater community through the lens of plant care—would be so acutely needed. Plant care is very much about people care. And the science behind how plants heal—just by being in their presence—is so irrefutable that a whole discipline of horticultural therapy, which is a profession in which practitioners design programs of therapy and rehabilitation through plants, has emerged.
Of course, what many houseplant enthusiasts nowadays are practicing—whether they realize it or not–is more of a form of therapeutic horticulture. They are not quantifying everyday how they feel, but they are definitely thinking about how it’s helping them get through tough times—whether it’s because of financial stress, work stress, unelective isolation, or just the absence of a social life altogether, for example.
When I asked the community to share how plants are helping them through this uncertain time, hundreds of people from across the world emphatically responded:
@Hemleva from Washington writes:
My grandmother has been diagnosed with Covid-19. She currently lives halfway across the country, in quarantine, and it breaks my heart that I can't be with her right now. When I was little, my Mom, Grandmother and I would go to the Botanic Gardens several times a week. To walk around, take guided tours, to learn from the volunteers and experts. We enjoyed the quiet walks through the gardens and the greenhouses together. My houseplants remind me of them, and of all the hours we spent together. I can't be with either my Mom or my grandmother right now, but I know they would love my home, love my plants, and love how much I treasure all of the time we've spent together.
@froglover534 from Michigan shares:
I planted seeds the week before quarantine started and watching them sprout and grow is really helping me right now. I’ve also ordered plants online and having something to look forward to is great. It’s also relaxing to take time and just water my plants
@Andreewassermann from Switzerland writes:
I work in a hospital here in Zürich, Switzerland. And the situation here is pretty sad duo the actual situation. I'm working crazy hours, and even doing volunteer to get the shit together. My biggest happiness during this time, is go back home, and see my 26 plants blooming happily like crazy
@jugodelaselva from Adelaide in Australia says:
My plants give me an overwhelming sense that I am connected to nature still even while being completely deprived of natural settings lately.
@madsforplants from Michigan writes:
“My plants have been my escape from the stress of the world right now. I’m in college (online now) and I picked up a second job, so I’m currently a full time student working 42 hours a week. I’m so overwhelmed when I get home that it’s nice to be able to tend to my plants without having any expectations for myself.
I encourage you to read everyone’s individual stories here; and if it’s helpful to you—to share your own with the community. It’s useful to see how people are bringing plants into their lives as a therapeutic tool but also gives us a way to personally connect with others.
3,388 Likes, 251 Comments - Houseplants with Summer Rayne (@homesteadbrooklyn) on Instagram: "Call for personal stories: I'm writing an article right now as to how your plants are..."
With all the stay-at-home ordinances, many plant businesses have shuddered their doors—at least temporarily. But many shops are coming up with clever ways to get plants to people—through Instagram sales, online shopping, and even curbside pick-up. To help our local plant businesses, a number of us have started to participate in the #PlantOneForward initiative, for which over 100 plant shops across the world have responded. The idea is simple: help your favorite local or online plant shop by purchasing one plant and sending it to someone you think could really use some cheering up…maybe it’s a loved one, a friend, or someone you have fallen out of contact with—whomever you think could use it most.
If even 100 of us do so, we’ll positively affect the lives of 300 people (you, the person who owns the shop, and the person you give the plant to); 300 becomes 900; 900 becomes 2,700; 2,700 becomes 8,100; 8,100 becomes 24,300; and so on and so forth. It’s simple acts such as these that not only help our communities—but also help us stay connected to one another.
My first #PlantOneForward plant will be going to my mother, compliments of Steve’s Leaves. Steve’s Leaves is also adding something special. For folks who specify they are doing #PlantOneForward, for every order, they will send a Tillandsia to the person you specify in your order.
452 Likes, 9 Comments - Steve's Leaves (@stevesleavesinc) on Instagram: "To Start off the #PlantOneForward initiative @homesteadbrooklyn Placed an order going to her..."
If you’re plant- or garden-curious, but don’t know where to start, you can begin with one plant (probably that you purchase online at this point). I’ve done a Houseplant 101 series on Plant One On Me for those who are looking to start their journey so it’s easier to do everything from picking the right plant for their space—to learning how to water a plant.
With the way this is playing out, we might be in this for a while, so it’s not too late to try to exercise a little Plant Rx. You just may be surprised what a humble little houseplant can bring to your life—if you let it!
Plant One Forward Initiative
Over 100 plant shops—offline and online—have responded to the #PlantOneForward Initiative, which you can find out about more below. We’ve gathered the Instagrams of the shops that are participating. Please note that with the changing rules and regulations revolving around Covid-19, many of these shops may have changed their policies. Please refer to each shop separately to see their latest news.
Plant One Forward: Plant Shops Selling During the Pandemic
This is a list of Plant Shops that are open and participating in the #PlantOneForward initiative. If you’d like to be included, please fill out the form below this spreadsheet.