Why You Should Ditch That Dying Plant For Your Own Mental Wellness

A new study by the University of Reading and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) says that when it comes to our mental health, indoor plants are a great addition. However, wilting, wounded ones are not. In fact, it turns out that slumped-looking plants make us sadder than if we never had plants in the first place.

While adding to our indoor plant collection during the pandemic was medicine for the instability of those days, knowing when to let go of some plants is medicine as well, says Stylist. Since it is easier to encourage plant lovers to expand, rather than contract the assortments of palms and figs and ficus plants we grow fairly attached to, we may need a purposeful line in the sand on the matter of calling it quits with a particular plant that's not doing very well. Moreover, we may need to pledge to one another the permission to toss that toppling plant guilt-free. However, that is easier said than done.

Gardeners need a repeating adage that the garden is for us, not us for the garden. Otherwise, according to Garden Therapy, the "gravitational pull of guilt" will have us tethered and harassed by our plants rather than nourished and fed by what we grow well. Every plant is not a success story. That does not sound like much of a pep talk, but it is the splash of reality that may best serve the stability of our psyche.

The amount of data trumpeting plants as contributing to legitimate mental boosts for us in our offices or at home is rampant, says Red. University of Michigan reported an uptick in memory retention thanks to succulents at our desk. A study by Agricultural University of Norway illustrated a diminished sickness rate by an enormous 60% for the same reason. More than just succulents, any plant gets us out of our heads and into other senses thanks to the aroma of plants and the physical work involved in helping them grow. That can curb anxiety, mitigate depression and undermine insomnia, per Get Growing Foundation.

The trick is receiving that gift from plants without it spiking our stress levels, which is what happens when we watch a wilting plant, not to mention that study participants reported that unhealthy plants actually made them think the air quality was unhealthy as well, reports The Telegraph. Instagram guru Mel Robbins says that the simple secret to happiness has everything to do with the systems we put in place based on the wisdom we have at hand. Spreading the word that guilt does not have a place in gardening, and like The New York Times guest essay suggests, if a plant is going, going, going, we have permission to call it gone.