Many students find joy, routine and beauty in growing houseplants

From first glance, it looks like a typical dorm room: walls covered in posters, bunk bed with colorful sheets, and a TV. However, when glancing towards the window, it’s hard to miss the green plants in colorful containers lined up neatly on the windowsill, basking in the midday sun.

For some college students, this living decor is simply an aesthetically pleasing addition to what would otherwise be a dull and drab room. For many more, however, houseplants offer much more than just an eye-catching design statement.

Houseplants can be a great stress-reliever for college students who are facing the rigors of being away from home, school work and life. They offer colorful foliage, rich textures and patterns and some produce blooms. Further, taking care of a houseplant can help a student develop a daily routine.

Indoor plants can range from low to high maintenance, and all of them require proper placement for the correct amount of sunlight, water and general maintenance like trimming and fertilization. Taking care of another living thing can make a student feel a sense of pride and maintain a healthy schedule.

Many students also find themselves wanting pets, whether for companionship, a need to care for something, or simply because they miss their pets back home. However, pets are not always feasible for college students with very little time to care for them. For Drury junior Esther George, houseplants are a great alternative.

“Plants are great because they teach you how to care for something, with less stress than an animal,” George said.

George has a large collection of houseplants and finds that they also improve her mood, even during bleak Missouri winters.

“I love my plants because they make me feel better in the winter, when it’s dark and grey and everything outside is dead,” George said.

Buying houseplants in Springfield
Springfield is home to many excellent local nurseries, such as Schaffitzel’s, Wheeler’s, Wickman Garden Village, and even mobile plant trailer Hickory Lane Plants.

The plant trailer visits street fairs, art walks, and other events in Springfield year-round and also hosts classes, events and ‘plant parties.’ Tasha Adams, the owner and founder of Hickory Lane Plants, believes that college students can greatly benefit from owning and caring for plants.

Photos via Hickory Lane.

“Plants just make you happy,” Adams stated. “By adding live greenery to your little slice of dorm room heaven, you can boost your mood, productivity, air quality, and creativity. Plants can make any bland room look amazing.”

Adams also suggested stopping by the trailer to get help with which plant to purchase–although her favorites for a low-light dorm include spider plants, pothos, snake plants and calathea.

An increasing number of students find themselves considering plants when they are looking for a new hobby, decoration or low-maintenance companion. Houseplants can be beneficial for relieving stress by beautifying the environment and purifying the air.

However, Adams and most plant-lovers lightheartedly warn of the addictive nature of the plant-loving hobby.

For most people, she says, houseplants are like potato chips–you can’t have just one.

Article written by Olive Thompson.