Green Thumbs Up: Plant Therapy for Your Space

The color green brings life and growth to a concrete jungle.

It started with two small succulents that I bought from a grocery store, to building a mini garden in my room. I felt like a parent whenever a leaf would dry; I would freak out thinking that my plant was dying. Then I would notice that there were new baby leaves emerging underneath. The cycle of growth was exciting and it gave me something to look forward to.

Although I went into the plant community clueless, it was a learning experience and it is worth it! The more I started to tend to my plants, the more I related them to myself. We both need basic necessities: rays of sunlight and water, which reminded me to take breaks and care for myself.

Having plants in my room has changed the way I deal with stress. I find it therapeutic to water, re-pot, and remove the dead leaves from the plants. Plant therapy works and it’s a positive activity to start.

Succulents are the perfect plant for your room to purify the air and bring delightful energy. The majority of them are pet friendly and they are easier to take care of because they don’t require as much attention.

As you fall in love with your plants, here’s some good news: they are effortless to propagate. There are three different ways to reproduce a succulent: it starts with a leaf or stem cutting. In a nutshell, after the pieces callus over (let it dry for 4-5 days) you can place the end of the leaf or cutting into water, place them on top of soil, or do absolutely nothing and they will grow.

Basic tips to care for succulents

• A south-facing window will be an efficient light source for your plant family. Be sure to research your plant, some succulents need indirect instead of direct light.
• Use distilled water because tap water can have minerals harmful to the plant
• Re-pot as soon as possible using soil meant for cacti and succulents
• Always, always, always use pots with a hole on the bottom or else your plant will rot as it sits in water. The best and cheapest pots to use are plain terracotta pots. I find my pots at thrift shops because they are less expensive than a regular store.
• Water directly to the soil (avoid wetting leaves) and water only when soil is completely dry (once a week depending on weather). Be mindful of over-watering because it is the most common way to rot a succulent.
• Have a small paint brush nearby to clean leaves of dust or dirt (Do not remove the white chalky powder on leaves, it serves as a coat of sunscreen to prevent burning.)
• Play them some plant music

Remember, these succulents are growing just like you. It’s okay to make mistakes even leaves that have fallen off continue to sprout roots! Ultimately, you deserve to have fun and go green!