The love of house plants

With everyone in quarantine, people develop new love and interests as they shift gears on how they spend their time. I myself, find that house plants have gained a new place in my heart. Looking at Google Trends, we can see that indoor plants have peaked this growing season. 

Impact of COVID has made peopled siloed in their own homes and plants are inexpensive companions that can help decorate the home and give a sense of nature indoors. I recently discovered that plants can do a lot more than just being a simple decor piece. Many people attribute plants as air purifiers but plants are actually not as efficient at filtering toxins in the air does really little to help that. However, the biggest benefit and well researched is the numerous ways that plants can actually help with mental wellbeing such as signs of improving mood, focus and relieving stress. I've read studies comparing a group that was doing a computer activity vs. a group that repotted a plant, the plant group improve their test for creativity. Also having greenery in the office supported improved creativity as well. 

For me, caring for a living thing that relies on you as a support can be very rewarding, watching the changes the plant goes through. It's also a less demanding kind of pet compare to getting a dog or cat in the home. A plant dying is a learning process in plant care, whereas a living breathing cat and dog dying can feel much more tragic. 

For these reasons, I think that plants are a great addition to any home, a great gift to those who aren't plant lovers yet. These are my favourite and interesting plants that are common enough that you can find them in some big box stores.

1. Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma, most commonly known as Mini Monstera. These plants grow super fast, a new leaf each week in front of my east-facing window and just a joy to watch it grow. The plant can be grown as a trailing basket or a trellised plant. The compact growth habit doesn't take much space horizontally like a traditionally Monstera so perfect for even smaller spaces. The cheapest price point I've seen is $8 at Canadian Tire for a baby pot with no fenestrations on the leaf yet ($13 with fenestrations 5inch pot). 
2. Scindapsus Pictus - There are many versions but I highly recommend the Exotica as the leaves are 3x the size of regular Argyraeus and have lovely silver speckled leaves and inexpensive in comparison with other 'rare' forms. Huge velvety silvery sparkly leaves in the light, a great bang for the buck especially if you are able to catch it at the big box stores. Also can tolerate lower light conditions (not no light!). Cheapest price point I've seen it is $7 at Canadian Tire 4inch. 
   
3. ZZ Plant - It's basic but also very reliable as it can be tucked in the corner without natural sunlight and still look unphased. Water once every 3 weeks or a month when the soil is dry and it's good to go. Slower growing but mine has grown a few branches this growing season.$14 at Ikea. 
   

With the quarantine in place in Toronto, picking up a plant can lift up your spirits. It may be trickier to find many plants to fill up a home during the middle of winter. Though I've heard there are still some great finds at Queensway Canadian Tire and if you're downtown Tiny Flower is a local small shop and plants are reasonably priced.