Green over thumbs take
Plant popularity brings awareness to benefits of greenery
Amid all the questions and a little bit of chaos that the COVID-19 pandemic caused this past year, bringing a little bit of nature indoors was one way people decided to take on the challenges. Javier Valdes' apartment is full of plants — about 20 of them, to be exact. He has a little bit of everything: bird of paradise, fiddle leaf figs, monsteras, snake plants, prayer plants, a cactus, some succulents and a pothos.
His love of plants started three years ago when he was gifted a snake plant from a coworker and his goal was to keep it alive. Today, he has green in different areas of his apartment, and he's done his homework to keep them growing.
“I initially saw plants as a way to add some life to a dull space. But since the pandemic started, I found myself doing research into different ways that would help my plant thrive,” Valdes explained. “I started setting humidifiers for some, and misting the leaves of others. Now it almost feels like an enjoyable part-time job.”
Local plant store owners have also noticed interest skyrocket this past year.
Amanda Klawitter, House of Flowers co-owner, said repeat customers, as well as people just starting out with their green thumbs, have stopped by her store, looking for the right plant to take home. She believes a heightened appreciation for nature and people's need to care for living things are some of the factors that may have led to the plant boom.
“I think especially during COVID times people are looking for ways to care for themselves, and in a way...a lot of times we learn how to care for ourselves by caring for other living things,” Klawitter said. “Houseplants are a great way to do that, we're giving them sun and water, and it's been a sense of therapy for a lot of people.”
House of Flowers, located on 19th Street, has a variety of plants available, from small succulents and cacti to large trees.
Customers who walk in are surrounded by green, living things, which in turn makes them “feel relaxed and good vibrations,” explained Klawitter.
The foot traffic at White Oaks Florist on Rosedale Highway has also increased both in-person and through online orders and deliveries. Owner Jami Graham has always had houseplants in her life — she grew up in a household that had a lot of greenery, she sends pictures of new plants to her mother and daughter and her own home has a sort of “jungle feel” to it — and she said it's exciting to see other people get more into them.
She's noticed three types of customers in the last year: a younger crowd that wants to watch a baby plant grow; shoppers who are looking for rare houseplants; and people who want to bring organic
and natural elements into their homes. No matter what they're shopping for, it's clear they're ready to decorate with various shades of green.
“Walking into a home without a live plant feels like there's something missing. It adds life,” Graham said. “What's fun with this trend is it's fun to educate people. I never knew people had a fear of plants, but they're showing more interest and want to learn more.”
The two business owners say many people are afraid they're going to kill their plants, which is why they have often steered away from them. However, they believe those individuals are missing out on several benefits plants offer.
According to WebMD, researchers found that rooms with plants
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Walking into a home without a live plant feels like there's something missing. It adds life. What's fun with this trend is it's fun to educate people. I never knew people had a fear of plants, but they're showing more interest and want to learn more."
— Jami Graham, owner of White Oaks Florist