Matt and I don’t agree on the way we should treat our indoor plants, let alone what kind of plants we should have. I like plants with lots of colourful, big flowers, although I’m incapable of keeping them alive. Matt prefers strong, green plants, which I’m not allowed by him to call cacti, but which are usually in fact cacti. I sometimes wonder what will happen once we have moved to a house with a garden. It is going to be quite an impressive example of botanic eclecticism, I’m afraid.

But at least we agree we should have plants one way or the other. Unfortunately not the entire rest of the world agrees with us. Lots and lots of people don’t have any indoor plants, or any plants at all. Despite the fact that almost everybody agrees that nature itself is a good thing; a good thing that should be cherished and preserved.

However, the funny thing is that people usually don’t perceive the plants and animals that directly surround them as nature. Because nature, that’s the rainforests and the South Pole and bamboo-munching pandas, right? Erm, including but not limited to, that is…

A friend of Matt and me, who has studied a variant of biology, said it all very well.

According to him and contrary to common and popular assumptions, nature is not only the large patches of land with unspoilt trees and grass. It’s not either men in, nature out or vice versa. Good, proper, healthy, interesting nature comes into being when humans mingle with nature. The most diverse nature exists exactly on the border of where humans live and those large patches of nature are situated. There you can find an enormous diversity of animals and plants. Just because humans have interfered just a little bit with nature. For instance, planting a fruit tree or felling a tree. The fruit tree entices animals that want to eat the fruit. The space, that comes free because of the felling, gives room to more fragile and needy plants so they have a chance to grow.

I’m not saying local farmers should cut down the entire rainforest. That still is one of the most urgent environmental threats, in my opinion. But we shouldn’t be too scared (or unaware) of simply living amongst nature. To repeat once more: nature is most definitely not limited to reservation parks and similar spaces.

And it does not have to be far away either. Nature is all around us.

That park you jog in way too few times: it is nature.
That tree in front of your house: it is nature.
The birds that are sitting in that tree: it is nature.
Those three pots of fresh herbs in your kitchen: damn, it too is nature.

So let’s rewind to the indoor plant part. They may need a lot more tender, love and care than outdoor plants (at least they need some superficial rain also known as watering), but they reciprocate that love more than equally. Numerous researches show that having plants in your house or your workplace is good for your health, motivation and general happiness.

For instance, plants absorb the carbon dioxide we exhale and they emit oxygen. But they also absorb toxins and so called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are linked to Sick Building Syndrome, such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene (I don’t know what they are either, but they sound scary). Furthermore, they improve humidity. All these characteristics result in a reduction of headaches, sore throats, dry skin and tiredness. Plants absorb noise and when placed wisely provide shade from the sun. They keep people more relaxed and less stressed and happier in general. And did you know that the presence of plants makes people recover more quickly from illness or surgery? Reasons enough to enjoy a bit of nature inside your house, I would say.

So if you don’t own a house plant already: today is the day to go and buy one. If you already have a plant in your home: then go and buy another one. I don’t mind whether you buy a cactus or a flowery plant. In any case, take your new plant home and put it in a nice place where it has enough sun and everybody can see it. Take some time to see how beautiful that plant looks in your interior. Now if you feel like it or just can’t resist: give that indoor plant a hug.

*This column was written especially for Blog Action Day 2007*

Column published by Cecile on Monday, October 15th, 2007.

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