National Houseplant Appreciation Day
Gosh I love learning about national days! I like finding out how thoughtful the founders of national days are and I like that most of the days enhance joy. I clicked on the link for National Houseplant Appreciation Day on the website Nationaldaycalendar.com because I was curious about the story behind this day. I am glad that I did because it confirmed a lot of what I already knew but opened my eyes to other tidbits of information.
I received this aloe plant as a pinch from my friend Susie Jessop; she taught both of my kids in lower school. Susie gave me the plant in support of my Thoughtful Pinch business back in 2018. Yes, I drove this plant from MN to CO. In the picture, beyond the aloe plant, notice one of my favorite trees. I talk to him all the time.
I’ve been known to have a few too many houseplants in my house because I refuse to throw away plants (or compost them) if I sense that there is a fighting chance for them to live. Interior designers do not understand my need to keep the greens of the orchids after the flowers have died off. But I keep them and many have made “come backs” and new blooms have appeared just as I had hoped they would.
With this national day, back in 2012, the founders, The Gardening Network, thought that the busy holidays caused many of us to “neglect some of our regular routines, including houseplant care.” according to Nationaldaycalendar.com. “National Houseplant Appreciation Day on January 10th serves as a reminder to give your houseplants a little extra attention to keep them thriving through the winter months. The day also honors all the benefits of growing houseplants.”
Notice the yellow leaves? I moved this gal (my residual orchid) from a spot in my house because it lacked the sunlight she needed to make it thru the winter. She should be fine in no time.
Neglecting my houseplants during the busy holiday season is exactly what happened in my house this year. I kept up with watering the Christmas tree but for some reason, the plants and trees that have been here all year long were forgotten. Just today, I noticed some yellow leaves on my orchid plant so I immediately apologized to it and moved it to better lighting after a good watering. Yes, you read that correctly, I talk to my plants. I have conversations with them all the time.
I’ve noticed over the last five years that being a “plant mom” is a legitimate title and I love it. I think the concept was primarily for women who only have plants to care for - no children or pets - but I do think anyone can be a plant mom if they care for plants as if they are humans. Why not? With everything going in in the world, is there anything wrong with caring for houseplants? We can all benefit from healthy relationships and with plants there are no judgements or talking back. We already have too many other relationships that come with strings attached so plants are perfect buddies.
Here’s what nationaldaycalendar.com recommends for celebrating National Houseplant Appreciation Day on January 10th.
“During National Houseplant Appreciation Day, give your plants some love. Check their soil, make sure their roots are happy, and maybe talk to them. We also suggest:
Adding to your plant collection.
Pruning overgrown plants and offering the cuttings for trade.
Joining a plant group. These groups help plant lovers to troubleshoot plant problems. They also offer plant swaps for cuttings and full-sized plants.
Buying a plant for the first time. Be sure to select plants that are not harmful to pets and children.
Taking a class. You can learn how to care for plants, access resources, and improve your understanding of horticulture.
Sharing photos of your plant collection.”
My former neighbor was such a loving and caring person that she would smother her houseplants and they would die - always. She over-watered them. The funny thing is that her yard was always perfect but whenever she had a houseplant, she would be anxious that it would die and so she smothered it. I suggested succulents but even then, she would over-love it. Nationaldaycalendar.com recommended some plants as suggestions for first time plant owners: “pathos, philodendron, sansevieria, or spider plant”. My thoughtful pinch suggestions for a first time house plant owner or someone who is just starting to experiment with plants are: a cactus or an aloe plant.
This cactus was a 49th bday pinch from my friend Rebecca. Yes, this traveled with me from MN to CO too.
The main purpose of having houseplants is to add greenery to our indoor surroundings. And quite frankly, even though we are all busy, we also need a little more responsibility and accountability for our earth. I don’t mean that having a houseplant will save the earth. But caring for a plant, gives us a little more context of life, death, beauty, sustainability, purpose - all of these things indirectly, in the tiniest way, helps the earth. I like live plants in my home as opposed to having the most beautiful, real-looking fake plants. I’d rather try to keep a plant alive than to dust off the leaves of fake plants.
So I’m thinking about my interior designers who tell me that keeping my poinsettias weeks after Christmas isn’t a good idea. I understand their point about plants being part of clutter and they take away from the vibe. But I just can’t part with a plant if it is still alive. At one time I had a poinsettia for three years; it would continue to bloom for us. I also had a Christmas cactus for a decade. Of course they didn’t look as vibrant or as fresh as the day I got them, but they were still alive and kicking! I wish there was a place to send such plants, like a storage unit for plants or a long-term day care for plants that are not in season. Then next Christmas, I would go pick them up and I could decorate my house with them again.
Of course I want to hold onto these poinsettias! They are still doing great and I cannot imagine tossing them out just because Christmas is over.
Some of my non-plant pinches to give to a plant lover are: plant-themed notecards or notebooks, vintage watering cans or fancy misters, unique plant pots and botanical garden memberships. But there’s nothing better than receiving a plant because seeing it each day makes us think of the person who gave it to us. If you know someone who enjoys caring for houseplants - be sure to reach out on January 10th and let them know you’re thinking of them.
Pinches,
Barb
