Did you know that the 10th of January is dedicated to houseplants? Yup, on this day, we celebrate National Houseplant Appreciation Day! So, give your little green friends some love on this cold and gloomy January day.
After we finish celebrating Christmas and New Year and all other holidays in this winter holiday season, we pack up our tree and all our decorations and leave them somewhere safe until next year. But, then, our homes tend to look empty and lifeless, don't you think? If you do think that, what you can do is get a new plant. Houseplants can bring life to any home β they can make homes happier and brighter places to live. Thus, don't think much. If you have an empty corner in your room or some empty place by your window, get yourself an indoor plant.
However, plants are not used only for their beauty and for the freshness and brightness they bring to our homes, no. They are extremely beneficial for improving air quality! This is what you learned in your biology classes, remember? Plants convert carbon dioxide into much-needed oxygen. By doing this, they create more air for us to breathe while also purifying the air we already have.
So, if indoor gardening sounds interesting to you, keep reading. We will share with you a couple of amazing houseplants as well as some ways for you to give them the love they need to thrive.
So, how did we all start celebrating this βholiday'? That is, what are the origins of this holiday?
Well,Β it all started with The Gardener's Network and their desire to establish this holiday so that it can bring awareness to all of us as to why we actually need plants in our homes. However, the history of National Houseplant Appreciation Day goes much deeper than that.
For instance, we know that even Egyptians celebrated this holiday by bringing the outdoors inside. For them, this was a status symbol. Namely, only the noble and wealthy families had plants inside their homes. We can see the same thing in the 17th century were powerful families grew citrus trees as these too were considered a status symbol at that time. In France, England, and Spain, only the wealthiest had the chance to build greenhouses and grow different citruses in them. Then, in the 18th and 19th centuries, we can see aristocrats bragging about their rare imported plants which were usually beautiful flowers that brought an amazing scent to their homes. In the 20th century too, we have many artists (usually poets and painters) who also celebrated plants in their works of art.
So, with such a rich history, it really is no wonder how and why this holiday came to be.
If you are one of those hardcore plant lovers who have a huge plant collection, you should celebrate National Houseplant Appreciation Day. You should celebrate it even if you are not. Because, c'mon, plants are amazing.
But, how does one celebrate this holiday, per se?
Well, there are many things you can do. For instance, the least you can do isΒ learn more about plants and all the benefits they have. Learn how you and your home can benefit from just one plant. And, then, share your knowledge with others. The more people know about plants, the more they will plant and grow them. And, the more they grow the plants, the healthier our planet will be.
However, if you want to do more than just talk about plants, here are some ideas on how to celebrate National Houseplant Appreciation Day.
Get houseplants
The first thing you can do is buy a plant and put it into your home β yes, it is that straightforward. Or, if you want to save money, you can get a leaf of some plant your friend has and grow it all by yourself. But, to do the latter β you will need to have that green thumb trait.
All of this raises another question. Namely, which house plants respond best to indoor conditions. Many of them do. But, the following three are the cheapest to buy and the easiest to grow.
Aloe Vera
The aloe vera plant is a mixture of succulents and cactuses. It is a very resilient plant which means that it can thrive without much care. So, if you forget to water it now and then, don't worry, it'll survive.
However, this plant is not famous for its beauty. Don't get us wrong β this plant is not ugly. Rather, it is famous for something else. The βgel' you can find inside this plant is beneficial for humans. That get is used for curing many skin problems. And, the best part is that you don't have to be a chemist to create this cure. All you have to do is get a knife, cut an aloe vera leaf, and squeeze the gel out. Then, just put it on your face or onto any part of your body that need moisture or remedy. After just one usage, you will have skin as soft as a baby's butt.
Spider plants
And now, we have a plant that is famous for its looks. If you ask us, the spider plant is one of the best houseplants you can get for your home. It is easy to maintain and it will elevate the look of any room. You just need to put it somewhere close to the window as spider plants really love sunlight. When it comes to watering, you don't need any watering cans or anything. A cup of water once a week is all this plant needs to have those beautiful and healthy white and green leaves.
Cactuses
Finally, we have cactuses. We all had one at one point in our lives. So, why not have them again? Especially because these are the most resilient plants ever. They can grow inside your home and outside in your garden. They can go weeks (and in some cases even months) without watering. The only thing they actually need is direct light, that is, direct sunlight.
Moreover, just because we are used to seeing those tiny cactuses all over, doesn't mean that this plant can grow bigger. People just prefer to keep them tiny because of their spines. But, if you want your cactuses to become bigger just buy some new pots (bigger pots), mix the soil with some good-quality fertilizer and wait for the magic to happen. Once you do this, you will have a cactus growing all year long.
Give your plants love and grow them right
If you already have a lot of growing houseplants, you can celebrate National Houseplant Appreciation Day by giving those plants some love. Do that, by doing the following.
Fertilize them
All plants should be fertilized once a year. This will allow them to grow and continue doing their job. And, their job is, of course, producing the air and beautifying our homes. But, when you do this, make sure you know which fertilizer is the best for your type of plant. If you don't know the answer to this, do online research. Or, go to a plant nursery, and ask the experts.
Repot them if needed
When you fertilize the plants, you need to repot them. This means changing their soil and placing them in a new, and preferably, in a bigger pot. However, keep in mind that the processes of fertilization and repotting may not be as easy as it seems. So, before you do it, talk to an expert. Or, if you can't find one, look for experts' videos on YouTube.
Give them a Shower
If your plant does not have to be repotted, then, what you can do in this early January is give your plant a shower. All plants love getting a shower β believe it or not. So, put your plant in the sink, or if it is bigger, put it in the bath, and give it a rinse. Of course, don't use water that is too hot or too cold. Always go for something warm.
Gift someone the houseplant
Maybe one of the best ways to honour National Houseplant Appreciation Day is to give a plant to your loved one. Or, to give it to your family member, friend, colleague, or even to that annoying neighbour with whom you want to bury the hatchet.
Why are houseplants good for you?
Indoor plants come with many benefits! So, let us mention some of the most important ones.
Productivity boost
Did you know that plants have the power to get us out of bed in the morning? Their green colour and the pure air they provide tend to be a great productivity boost. That is why most offices have plants in them! And, if they don't have plants, they paint the walls green and put air purifiers everywhere.
Less anxiety
One-coloured, empty, and dark homes can take a toll on our mental health. When we are surrounded by all things grey, we tend to feel anxious. Luckily, plants come with many mental health benefits, especially during winter months when the outdoors are just as gloomy. Thus, enrich your home with some greenery and say goodbye to anxiety.
Less air pollution
As previously mentioned, plants are the ones responsible for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen! So, their purpose is not only to serve as decor but also to give us the air we need for breathing. Moreover, carbon dioxide is a gas that hurts our planet. And, since plants are getting rid of this gas, they are helping us have less air pollution.
Last but certainly not the least benefit you will have from your new houseplant (or from all of your old houseplants) is higher levels of humidity.Β This can be very beneficial for our skin and respiratory organs. Some houseplants produce enough humidity levels that help people with their snoring problems as well.
Conclusion
As you have seen, there are many things you can do to honour National Houseplant Day. So, do all of them. Or, do just one of them. The most important thing is to know and understand why plants are so important to us all. Share that importance with people around you, and if we all give our best to plant and take care of plants, this world will be a better place.
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