Is your houseplant hobby a coping mechanism, and when does a hobby turn into an addiction? This concept has been floating around in my mind for some time now. I, like many others, first jumped into plants during the onset of COVID. But caring for plants set something off within me- and I never stopped.
Plant care became my passion- so much so that I decided to start a blog about it. But at a certain point my friends and family wondered what I would do once I ran out of space in my apartment for plants (lol), and I began wondering the same thing myself.
I believe there’s a certain point that a hobby crosses over into part of your lifestyle, part of your personality, even. It’s more than just “something you like to do,” it becomes a comfort, and very quickly, something you’re eager to dive into, become an expert on, and teach others.
Along with that, there’s a huge satisfaction with nurturing living things: it kind of feels like my hands are magic, and it’s almost like my plants thanking me with growth. Nothing can replace the feeling of growing a mature plant from a few cuttings. Like a constant reminder that I am fully capable on my own, plant care is empowering.
Plant care is my self-care, and it’s also a coping mechanism. And I don’t think that’s a bad thing. My happy place is headphones in, music playing, and my hands in the dirt. I’m in my own world. When I’m stressed from my full-time office job (or just life in general), I go straight to the nursery, rearrange my plants, check for new growth, you name it. When I’m wired from the day or from an unexpected disappointment, you’ll find me in the late hours of the night, dirt on the floor, tending to each plant. My plant friends are like human friends. They don’t speak (and as an introvert, sometimes I need that) but they tell me things.
Has my hobby turned into an addiction? Depends on who you ask. However, once my interest in houseplants crossed that line and became a part of who I am, I believe it turned from “obsession” to “passion.” I wanted to know more, and I wanted to record my process for others to learn with me. For most of my life I’ve struggled to find something that provides me with such personal satisfaction and joy that it doesn’t feel like work: it just feels like me.
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