Plants: The All-time Provider of Humanity

Katherine Sebastian Cunanan

Since the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19), the health of everyone was put to the line due to the recorded high fatality rate around the whole wide world, thus, making this pandemic correlated to all negative ideations that the human mind could reach but as impossible as it may seem, this quarantine season has still resulted to something good and advantageous to humanity and even to the environment – the rise of interest in plants.

Even before this pandemic happened which has begun in China, planting has always been suggested to be done by everyone because of its copious benefits to the world: detoxification; purification; neutralization; restoration.

The list of having plants, either indoor or outdoor, comes with plenty of bullets for its advantages to all the aspects of humanity. One basic knowledge is that they produce Oxygen that all humans breathe into their lungs to continue living. They are also producers of the food that gives everyone the energy to move every muscle in their bodies. The list also includes absorption of toxins which makes the surroundings safe and a number of advantages follows next.

In accordance, Sophie Lee, a registered botanist, also confirmed the benefits of having plants and trees both inside and outside of one’s house. She barely described that houseplants are good for the health and the visual beauty comes as a bonus. Extensive researches also revealed that houseplants can remove up to 80% of air toxins in less than just a day.

Likewise, with the quarantine situation where almost all errands go online, studies have also proven that indoor plants improve concentration and productivity by 15%, reduce stress level, and even helps in boosting the mood of the people who sees their natural calming beauty.

Mental health is also affected positively with the presence of plants. It is proven that having green spaces in your sight is associated with a relaxed and calmer mindset. Another is that having plants as pets gives the people the distraction they need to avoid thinking about how this pandemic caused too much troubles and problems not only in their households but also in the entire world. It also results to one’s satisfaction once their plant-children grows through their care especially those sensitive ones such as the cactuses.

Moreover, plants being on trend nowadays also helps economically. A lot of people were having their monetary gain during this quarantine through selling plants. Others also grabbed the opportunity to sell other materials related to planting like vases, pots, sprayers, soil, and even fertilizers.

Practically, plants always provide benefits to humanity be it physically through their beauty, mentally by making the minds calm, bodily functional because of the Oxygen and foods they provide, and a longer list more. Therefore, since everyone can now witness how helpful they are, may being plantitas and plantitos, as to what people who take care of plants are referred to in the online world, be more courageous as time passes by.

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The author is Teacher II at Pampanga High School