Plant Mindfulness Practices: Tried and True Ways to Reduce Anxiety
Caring for houseplants is one of the best ways to reduce my anxiety.
Don’t take my word for it (though you should 😜). There are many published research papers that prove the benefits of plants on our mental health. I dedicated a Blog on How Plants Help Reducing Anxiety, where you can find all the relevant facts.
I’ve experienced, time and time again, the soothing effect of working with plants, and over time, I developed my own plant mindfulness practices.
I often feel anxious and find that I am too caught up with what it’s going on in my mind to slow down and start deep breathing to calm myself down.
I need to work with my hands to shift the focus of my attention from negative thinking to the present moment. This is the essence of mindfulness.
Everyone has different passions or interests. I love plants, so I choose to work with them; hence the term plant mindfulness.
My plant mindfulness practices seem to differ from the majority of practices I’ve found out there. I don’t just observe the plants, talk to them, and appreciate them; I actually get involved with them.
what is plant mindfulness?
Plant Mindfulness is the act of caring for plants as a form of mindfulness practice.
Caring for plants brings you to the “here and now” when you truly pay attention to what you are doing.
There are many aspects of plant care, whether it’s in your garden or with your indoor plants, that can become mindful practices.
I’ve personally experienced these practices with remarkable results.
Each practice has a particular role; some are more grounding activities, while others are more rewarding and particularly effective in restoring self-esteem.
While many plant mindfulness practices are intertwined with plant meditation practices, focusing on plant observation and gratitude, my plant meditation practices are hands-on.
I personally need to interact with the plants manually to calm my anxiety and restore self-esteem.
Let’s take a look at these simple yet effective practices and how they can help alleviate the various aspects of anxiety.
1. misting plants
Misting plants can be a daily plant mindfulness practice.
It doesn’t take much time and tremendously benefits several plants around the house. It’s a win-win situation as you can both benefit from it.
However, not every houseplant should be misted. There are exceptions. Read my Blog on Misting Houseplants to learn which plants should be misted and which should not.
I find misting plants a very grounding activity. I do it when I am not particularly anxious and am simply too caught up in the chaos or whirlwind of family dynamics.
To give you my personal example and experience; I often mist my plants as soon as the kids are off to school in the morning. After the routine wake-up, shower, dress-up, breakfast, lunch kits and the nagging to make them do all of the above, misting plants allows me to recollect my thoughts, take a deep breath, and ground myself.
The combination of the sprayer sound with the mist landing on the leaves calms me down. It also allows me to check the status of my plants and see if they are healthy or in need of attention.
I use a simple plastic sprayer filled with distilled water to mist all my plants.
2. watering plants
Watering plants is another simple and effective plant mindfulness practice.
The time it takes to water your plants depends on the number of plants in your home and may be longer than misting. (I know it takes me approximately one hour to water my 100+ plants.)
Just like misting, watering plants is a grounding and calming activity.
Filling the watering can with water, walking to your plants, and carefully watering them becomes a mindful practice when you pay close attention to each step.
The repetitive nature of this task adds to its calming effect.
For me, the repetitive process of walking back and forth to fill the watering can and gently pouring water into the pots feels like repeating a mantra.
Let alone the fact that you are caring for living organisms.
Here’s another personal example to emphasize the soothing effects of watering plants on me.
It relates to my routine whenever I have to pack for a trip to the lake.
I often experience anxiety until everything is packed, including my personal items, the kids belongings, everyone’s toiletries and medications, food, the dogs’ essentials, as well as work stuff.
I manage all this while nagging the kids to unload their backpacks from school, charge their devices for the road and pee. The dogs start pacing understanding we are leaving…It’s a bit of a gong-show.
Once everything is packed and at the door, my husband starts “tetrising” everything in the car.
I start watering plants to relax. It really helps me unwind.
Watering plants is a great way to unwind.
Hey Plant Loving Woman!
Are you a middle age mom?
Do you constantly feel overwhelmed and anxious?
Do you believe in the healing power of nature?
To reveal your #1 Personal Houseplant that best
helps you reduce your anxiety.
3. cleaning leaves
Cleaning Leaves is a deeper step into plant mindfulness practices.
Not because it’s more difficult. It’s simply more involved.
First of all, you should know that cleaning leaves is very beneficial to plants. Removing the dust accumulated over the leaves allows the plant to photosynthesize more effectively.
Cleaning leaves, especially in the Fall when natural light diminishes, is a great way to support your plant’s health, as well as your own.
It’s interesting to note that people’s mood tends to plummet in the Fall, precisely when plants can benefit the most from leaves cleaning. It’s like killing two birds with one stone…
Anyway, I prepare my own homemade, chemical free leaf cleaner with dairy milk and water. You can find the recipe and learn how to properly clean your plants’ leaves in my Blog on How to Clean Houseplants Leaves.
I use a microfiber and bamboo cleaning cloth to gently wipe the leaves clean.
As I start wiping one leaf after another, I not only feel calmer, but I also become more aware of what I am doing in the moment.
The last time I cleaned my Monstera Deliciosa leaves, I was having a rough day. My self-esteem was to the floor and I really needed a boost.
So I decided to keep myself busy doing something with my hands that involved my lovely plants. I quickly concoctioned the leaf cleaner and started wiping the Monstera leaves. I already felt better by the second leaf.
Instead of keeping my head down just staring at the one leaf I was cleaning, I began noticing more things around me, until I looked at the plant at its entirety.
And I couldn’t believe my eyes!!
I noticed my first fenestrated leaf with two inside holes!
And just like that, I went from cranky and anxious to happy and proud! My self-esteem was restored and I felt capable of achieving great things.
I would have never noticed that leaf, or the reward for my hard work if I kept listening to my mind monologue rather than starting to clean my plant’s leaves.
Cleaning my Monstera Deliciosa leaves is quite therapeutic for me.
4. pruning decaying flowers, leaves and stems/branches
Pruning indoor plants is as therapeutic as it is to prune outdoor plants.
And it is incredibly beneficial for indoor plants too!
Needless to say that pruning houseplants is one of the most rewarding plant mindfulness practices.
But before you channel your inner “Edward Scissorhands” on your plants, you need to be aware that there are different reasons to prune, each with its own seasons.
To learn all about pruning houseplants, read my Blog on Pruning Houseplants.
For the purpose of this Blog, limit your pruning to decaying flowers, leaves and stems. Pruning for propagation or to control plant size should be done in the Spring and Summer.
There are two key reasons to prune houseplants to alleviate anxiety;
- to eliminate decaying plant parts that drain positive energy.
- to engage in a mindful process with a positive outcome.
A spent flower, or a yellow, wilting leaf is never a positive sight; some might even say it disrupt “good feng-shui”. Removing such negative elements from your sight can only work in your favour.
How do you that? You simply prune off those decaying flowers, leaves or stems! You can use a pair of sharp pruning snips, or for larger stems, bypass pruning shears!
Did you know that plants invest energy even into decaying flowers, leaves and stems? When you prune them off, you divert that energy into new growth! It’s another win-win situation for both you and your plants!!!
I’ve found that when I start pruning decaying leaves from my plants, I experience a sense of relief. I step back and I admire the plant, free of decaying parts. It not only benefits the plant but it also makes me feel better abut myself.
Pruning an excessively long Ficus Ginseng stem.
5. repotting struggling plants
Repotting plants is the ultimate and one of the most engaging plant mindfulness practices.
Similar to the pruning practice, you should not repot a plant unless it’s infested by pests and diseases during Fall and Winter.
Repotting should always be done in Spring and Summer. For more on repotting, read my Blog on Repotting Houseplants; Everything You Need to Know.
Please notice the word “struggling” in the title of this section.
It is important that your plant is struggling in a way before your repot it.
I am providing you with some context to better help you understand how repotting struggling plants helps me with anxiety.
Airports are one of my biggest anxiety triggers. It might be because I am an immigrant and I have had to say too many goodbyes, or because of all the bureaucracy around it.
Anyway, with time, I learned that the best way to deal with my anxiety when I travel through airports is to help other people who are struggling. Helping others, helps me.
One day, as I was waiting at the security line at the Phoenix airport with my two young kids (and fully panicking), I noticed another mom fighting with a stroller as she was trying to manage two kids younger than mine. I instinctively jumped to help her and got her through security. Then I realized I wasn’t feeling anxious anymore. Being able to help a mother like me going through the same security line made me realize I was capable of doing the same for myself and my kids! 🤯
Boom! Instant self-esteem and confidence boost!
What does this have to do with repotting plants?
Well, I am not in airports saving moms every day, so I come to the rescue of my struggling plants!
With so many plants, there is always at least one that has outgrown its pot, or that has gnats all over its top-soil.
The act of caring for and helping a plant, significantly reduces my anxiety.
Additionally, researchers have discovered that the soil in plants contains bacteria called Mycobacterium Vaccae. These bacteria are responsible for releasing cytokines, proteins that lead the brain to produce more serotonin, a chemical that plays a key role in improving our mood and reducing anxiety.
Getting dirty dividing and repotting my Giant ZZ Plant.
what plants are good for mindfulness?
Any plants you already have in your home are suitable for plant mindfulness practices. The focus is one the practices itself rather than the specific type of plant.
However, many people often inquire which plants are good for mindfulness.
My response is always the same; choose plants that are easy to maintain in your home and climate. Plants that aren’t well suited to your environment or your level of expertise can lead to stress about their care, which defeats the purpose of reducing anxiety.
Some houseplants are known for their calming properties, whether due to their appearance, fragrance or symbolism.
I described the properties of 10 indoor plants that are good for mindfulness in my Blog on Why Plants Help Reducing Anxiety. Plant Mindfulness and The Best plants.
Here are ten indoor plants that are excellent for mindfulness;
- Jasmine
- Orchid
- Arrowhead Vine
- Wax Plant
- Snake Plant
- Monstera Deliciosa
- Peace Lily
- Rosemary
- Devil’s Ivy
- Aloe Vera
Of course, any plant that brings you joy, peace, or holds emotional significance related to a person or a specific event in your life is a great choice for mindfulness.
This list is by no means exhaustive. It’s merely a starting point to inspire your plant mindfulness journey.
The peace and grounding effects found in plant mindfulness practices are always available to you.
I hope you’ll be able to reap the benefits that houseplants can bring to you and your mental health and that these practices can help you alleviate your busy mind.
Disclosure: This Blog contains affiliate links, which means I will make a commission at no cost to you, if you make a purchase after clicking my link.
Hey Plant Loving Woman!
Are you a middle age mom?
Do you constantly feel overwhelmed and anxious?
Do you believe in the healing power of nature?
To reveal your #1 Personal Houseplant that best
helps you reduce your anxiety.