plant-parent – Jellybeans in the City

The strict quarantines may have been lifted by now but one of the trends they gave rise to sure looks like it’s here to stay.

With quite a number of plantitos and plantitas flexing their verdant and thriving plantbabies to their houseguests and social media buddies, we can definitely say that gardening has taken root among many of the metro’s denizens.

While gardening is a rewarding and fulfilling activity that has become increasingly popular during the pandemic, it still presents a variety of benefits that make it a hobby worth pursuing even as we continue on to our “next normal” lives.

Read on to see six reasons why gardening is good for you, even in your post-pandemic era.

1. It provides you with an opportunity for outdoor activity

Gardening is an outdoor activity that allows you to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine while still practicing social distancing. After months of lockdowns and isolation, getting outside, loading up on Vitamin D from the sun and being in nature can provide a much-needed mood boost.

2. It is a way to de-stress from your increasingly busy life

Gardening has been shown to be an effective stress reliever. It allows you to focus on a simple task and can help calm your mind, reduce anxiety and even provide an outlet for your creativity. Additionally, seeing the fruits of your labor can provide a sense of accomplishment and boost your mood. Especially now that our days are filling up with so many tasks and responsibilities at work and at home, the simple joys of gardening can certainly lessen the load of our daily worries.

3. It can be your form of physical activity.

Gardening is also a form of exercise that can help improve your physical health. Tasks such as digging, planting, and weeding can provide a low-impact workout that can help increase your strength, flexibility, and endurance while burning off those pesky calories.

4. It can provide you with a steady source of healthy food.

Speaking of calories, you would need to burn off some of them to keep fot

Gardening can also provide you with fresh, healthy food that you can enjoy at home. Growing your own fruits and vegetables allows you to control what goes into your food and can provide a more sustainable and affordable source of nutrition.

5. It can help in building a sense of community with your neighbors

Gardening can also help build a sense of community. Whether you join a community garden or simply share your produce with neighbors, gardening can help connect you with others and foster a sense of belonging.

6. It can be your contribution towards sustainability.

Gardening can help promote sustainability by reducing your carbon footprint and promoting biodiversity. Growing your own food can reduce the amount of transportation and packaging needed to get food to your table, and planting native plants can provide a habitat for local wildlife.

Clearly, gardening provides a multitude of benefits beyond just a pandemic pastime. Continuing to garden as a hobby offers a sense of physical and mental health benefits, sustainability and self-sufficiency, connection with nature, a creative outlet, and social connection. So whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting out, there are plenty of reasons to continue gardening as a hobby beyond the pandemic.

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Pictures featured in this blog post were taken during visits to EFS Garden and Pond Center.

It is a plant nursery owned and operated by Engr. Ed Santiago and Architect Errol Santiago. The nursery offers a wide range of plants and garden accessories to both novice and expert plant enthusiasts, manned by knowledgeable staff to assist you with your gardening needs and queries.

EFS Garden and Pond Center is located at Green Meadows 3 Lower Park, Green Meadows Ave, Quezon City, Metro Manila, open daily from 7am to 6pm. For inquiries, call +63 2 89824975 or email efsgardenandpondcentre@gmail.com.

To know more about its updates and offers, follow EFS Garden and Pond Center on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts about gardening and green spaces:

New to being a plantita? Keep these tips in mind

Are you a plantita yet?

During quarantine, it seems that people all started cultivating houseplants. This is hardly surprising because plants do contribute to beautifying a space by providing spots of color or unique touches to the area. Since most of us are spending practically all our time at home, we are seized with the urge to improve the visual appeal of our abode with the use of houseplants.

Aside from their aesthetic contributions to our homes, houseplants also help in maintaining our health.

Some houseplants have known medicinal benefits. Aloe vera, for example, has been used to treat burns and skin, while the root of the ginger plant is used to help with digestion and nausea.

Aside from these, houseplants also help in maintaining our mental well-being. They give off a calming vibe that eases our stresses. Plants help to bring the outdoors into the home by reminding us of nature and wide open spaces. Also, since plants give off oxygen while taking in carbon dioxide, they help in improving air quality in our home.

If you’re a newbie plantita (or plant-parent), you might want to keep these tips in mind to make sure you get to enjoy your plant-babies, and their health benefits, for a long time.

1) Have the basics on-hand.

Plants basically need three things to grow and thrive: soil, sunlight and water. The availability of these requirements in your home should determine which plants you will choose and what gardening method you will employ.

If you have a large outdoor space for a garden, for example, you have the leeway to opt for larger plants that need lots of sunlight and soil. If you live in a condo, on the other hand, a smaller potted plant that does not require constant sunlight might be more appropriate.

2. Check your lifestyle.

Some people may have lots of time to devote to gardening and can take on plants with exacting care requirements.

Other may not have time in abundance, plants that are low maintenance may be the order of the day.

Luckily, there are products now available that help make plant care a lot easier such as self-watering systems and misters.

You might also want to consider if you have family members or pets that you may not always be able to control around houseplants. Pets may dig the soil from potted plants or chew on leaves, making themselves sick. Meanwhile, small children might pull off flowers or knock down potted plants.

Bearing in mind how much time and effort you can devote to the care of your houseplants, as well as the other living things that share the space with them, choose the ones that suit your lifestyle best.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

The plantita/plantito community in the country is growing and many of its members are more than happy to share best practices and useful advice to newbie plant owners. Search Facebook for groups on plants and gardening where you can post questions and ask for advice.

Your local plant nurseries are also good sources of information and equipment for plant care. Just ask the gardener about plant care tips.

You can also brush up on your plant care know-how by reading books or browsing plant care websites.

Being a plantita has its own unique rewards. Seeing your plant-baby grow and flourish will surely feel akin to a big accomplishment.

So with these tips in your plantita arsenal, you can face your plant ownership journey head on and enjoy the happiness it brings.

This post contains affiliate links.

Photos of plant nursery taken at D’Flora’s Garden along Katipunan Road, White Plains Subdivision, Quezon City.

Tag: plant-parent

6 ways gardening may be good for you even in your post-pandemic era