Confessions of a Recovering Plant Killer (Or, The Unexpected Joys of Plant Parenthood)




Confessions of a Recovering Plant Killer (Or, The Unexpected Joys of Plant Parenthood)


From Black Thumb to Proud Plant Parent

Let’s be honest, I used to be a plant killer. I’m talking serial succulent assassin, notorious cactus crusher. My apartment housed a graveyard of well-intentioned greenery, each wilted leaf a testament to my horticultural ineptitude. But then, something changed. Maybe it was a global pandemic, maybe it was a quarter-life crisis, or maybe (just maybe) it was the irresistible allure of that perfectly plump fiddle leaf fig at the local nursery. Whatever the reason, I took the plunge, adopted my first “easy-care” plant (a snake plant named Severus, don’t judge), and embarked on my journey to plant parenthood.

plant?” and “Is my plant dying or just dramatic?” But here’s the thing, as I started paying attention to my leafy companion, I realized something unexpected: caring for a plant was actually…calming.

The act of watering, of checking the soil moisture, of misting those delicate leaves—it became a meditative ritual. Suddenly, I wasn’t just keeping a plant alive, I was cultivating a sense of peace in my own life. Plus, there’s something deeply satisfying about watching a plant thrive under your care. It’s like, “Hey, I did that! I kept a living thing other than myself alive!”

Plants: The Ultimate Home Décor (That Doesn’t Require Assembly)

Let’s face it, my apartment décor could best be described as “early graduate school chic” (read: hand-me-down furniture and a distinct lack of style). But then came the plants.

Turns out, plants are like living, breathing sculptures. A trailing pothos here, a majestic monstera there—suddenly, my apartment went from drab to fab (or at least, less drab). Plus, unlike that cursed IKEA bookshelf, plants don’t require a PhD in engineering to assemble. Win-win!