Plant Therapy

Learning to care for plants has taught me so much about caring for myself. Plants—much like people—are living things which requite certain conditions to survive and thrive. Keeping plants in your home has many therapeutic benefits, one of which is that learning to care for plants can teach us how to better care for ourselves. Here are some important life lessons I’ve learned through caring for plants.

Identifying Individual Needs

Different kinds of plants have different needs. Some plants need lots of water, some need very little. Same with sunlight; all plants need some, but some need much more than others. It is important to know what your specific plant needs so that you can give the plant what it needs. People have different preferences and needs too. Some people are introverts who need a lot of “alone time” to feel their best. Others are extroverts who thrive on lots of social interaction. It’s important to identify your own individual needs and preferences so that you can provide for that.

Environment is Important

Sometimes even small changes in environment can make a huge difference. This is true for plants and for people. I used to put plant in a dark corner of a room to “brighten it up” a bit, but then I’d end up with a dead plant in the corner because there’s no sunlight there! I’ve also kept plants (barely) alive inside for YEARS, and then I move them outside and suddenly they explode with growth! This can happen with people too. Even the most “normal/healthy” people can really struggle in a toxic environment where their needs are not being met.

Identifying New Growth

There is a big difference between “surviving” and “thriving,” for plants as well as people. You will know your plant is healthy and thriving if it is consistently producing new growth. You'll want to inspect your plant regularly so you can recognize when new growth emerges. It’s also important to occasionally take stock of your life to see where you’ve grown and where you can continue to grow. Recognizing the progress we’ve made can help keep us motivated to keep growing. Sometimes the change isn’t apparent if you’re focused on the past few days or weeks, but if you look back several months or even years, you’ll notice a lot more growth and change.

Patience

Growth takes time so it is important to be patient with our plants as well as ourselves. Some varieties of plants grow quite quickly, while others grow more slowly. People also grow and learn at different rates even under ideal conditions. Be gentle and compassionate with yourself, and try not to compare yourself to other people.

Checking In

It's important to check in with your self, and your plants regularly. This helps us recognize problems early on so that we can successfully intervene before the problem gets out of control. Many people only notice their plants when they are almost (or completely) dead. We definitely don't want to ignore our own needs that long! Oftentimes, small problems can become big problems if we ignore or avoid them. Participating in therapy can help you start to recognize your own “warning signs” sooner, and learn to break the cycle of avoidance.

Deep Roots

Many plants benefit from a practice called “bottom watering” where the pot is partially submerged, allowing the soil to soak up water through the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. This helps the soil to retain more water and encourages the plant's roots to grow deep as they seek water rather than staying on the surface. It’s also important for us to explore and understand our own “roots,” our history, and our ancestry. Strong, healthy social support systems with family, friends, and community can also keep us “rooted” and keep us grounded during challenging times. It’s important to know what helps you feel firmly rooted and the things that help you grow deeper roots.

Embracing Diversity

Plants are very diverse which is part of their beauty. We don't expect a tulip to look like a rose or a daisy, we just appreciate the beauty of each type of flower. People are also very diverse. We have different skin, hair, and eye colors, different body sizes and types, different gender and sexuality identities, different cultures and languages, political ideologies, and religious beliefs. Our lives are enriched when we start to view diversity as a strength rather than a threat.

Pruning

Sometimes plants (and people) sustain damage. It is often helpful or even necessary to remove the damaged or diseased part of a plant so that the healthy part can recover and survive. Sometimes we need to “cut off” certain activities, beliefs, or people from our lives if they are inhibiting or sabotaging our growth. Therapy can help you identify beliefs and behaviors that are no longer serving you, and help you develop healthier patterns in your life. Participating in therapy can also help you learn to set healthy boundaries with people so that you can maintain those relationships without being “infected” with their toxicity or negativity.

Too Much of a Good Thing

Plants need water, but it is also important not to give your plant TOO much water or they will succumb to “root rot.” Similarly, plants need sunlight, but plants can also get sunburned if they get TOO much sun, just like people do. Sometimes getting or having “too much” of certain things in our lives ends up causing other problems for us. Good boundaries and healthy limits are important! Therapy can help you identify healthy limits for yourself so that you can achieve more balance in your life.

Seasons of Life

Plants (just like people) go through stages and changes throughout their life cycle. There are phases of birth, dormancy, recovery, growth, bloom, reproduction, and death. Reflecting on the impermanent but resilient and cyclical nature of life is challenging work. Using plants as a metaphor can help remind us that these cycles are natural and change is to be expected. Reminding ourselves that not all seasons of life are for blooming can help us be patient with ourselves when we’re feeling “stuck” or “stagnant” during certain phases of life.

Want to go learn more?

• Go buy a plant! I recommend a Pothos as a great starter-plant.

• Schedule a session to talk about it in therapy

• Check out The Black Plant Chick Podcast (The host Jade has the most delicious voice!)