On Consistency
When I say, “plant care is self care”, what am I really saying?
Plants don’t require much but they do require consistency, at least to some degree. The more consistent with your care, the more your plants will thrive - and so will you. When we consistently take the time to care for our plants in small ways, like watering them appropriately, simply observing them throughout the day, or taking a moment to pluck dead or dying foliage from them, we are creating conditions for our plant to thrive.
Plant care is self care in that some of the most powerful forms of self care come from the small and subtle ways we consistently show up in the world. This deeply rewarding insight creates the possibility for us to integrate the practice of Plant Care is Self Care into our day-to-day life.
consistency leads to connection
As we learn how to consistently care for our plants, we foster connection. Plant care, at its core comes down to consistent connection. So how do we connect with a plant?
We use our senses!
When we touch our plant we really feel it. Notice that it’s alive. Notice the rigidity of it’s leaves from water coursing through it’s veins enabling your plant to reach higher for the light.
When we look at our plant we really see it. Notice the vibrancy of it’s color. Notice how tall and strong it stands - or doesn’t (our little buddy might be thirsty!) We notice if the leaves seem a tad too yellow (too much water, perhaps) or brown (probably too dry).
When we’re really noticing and being with our plants we might even be able to smell them. Science is showing us more and more just how alive plants are. Plants communicate* by creating chemical signals that other plants can identify and interpret. In response to stimuli, like a hungry caterpillar, plants can send these chemical signals to other plants to warn them so they can prepare to defend themselves. We can usually smell these chemical signals - think cut grass or the sharp smell after cutting your plant.
When we engage our senses while caring for our plants, connection grows and consistency becomes easy.
*Scientists don't have a clear definition for what qualifies as communication and while I certainly don't intend to suggest plants can communicate like we do, I do think science has shown that even in a rudimentary way, plants can send information to other plants which results in modified behavior by the information receiving plant