What Saved My Mental Health this Pandemic - Hint: It's PLANTS!

The Plant Porch
Oct 28, 2020
2 min read

Updated: Nov 18, 2020

Besides instantly boosting a home’s aesthetic, studies show that being surrounded by greenery can help with cleaning the surrounding air, creating a sense of well-being, and enhancing your life.

Some exciting benefits of plants include lower levels of anxiety, an increase in attentiveness and memory, increased productivity, lower stress levels boosting mood and making an individual more creative.

My own personal growth journey really started taking shape once I started to care for my first plant. A Boston Fern or some call it the Sword Fern Nephrolepis exaltata.

The purchase of that plant then started a domino effect of events that would eventually lead to where I am now. Needing a place to showcase my marvelous new baby I decided to clean and remodel my closed-in porch. This initial spark of creativity was just the beginning and exactly what I needed at the exact right time.

Prior to the purchase of my Boston Fern I was in a low spot in my life. One that I had encountered many times before but knew I would pull myself out of as I always do. I was feeling at most times very withdrawn, sad and rather uninterested in everything. A routine shopping trip would soon change all of that.

I wish I knew what inspired me to buy that plant initially, but I do not recall other then thinking that it was just beautiful. That first plant then quickly lead to another and another. It also lead to an interest in things I had never wondered about before. Propagation, proper care for each plant that I acquired, soil types, water pH, complimentary plants, and pet friendly plants. I found myself diving into research for each new plant baby, I brought home, which usually lead to more questions and more wonder about what else I could do with my new found love.

Now I stand at the beginning of my newest and exciting journey yet. My plants have lead me to the start of my own small homestead. I love the land my family resides on now, but I have never really used it as wisely as I could. I'm excited for the new outlet for my creativity and to all the things that a Boston Fern could potentially lead to.