Dakota Gardener: Gabbing with the greenery — Extension and Ag… – NDSU Agriculture
By Carrie Knutson, horticulture agent
NDSU Extension – Grand Forks County
Do you talk to your plants? I read an interesting article last year on this topic plus filed it away for later use. It turns out the particular dark foggy days of January are the perfect time to explore the benefits of plants in our lives.
In 2022, Trees. com surveyed 1, 250 people to see how chatty they are with their plants.
Forty-eight percent of the people surveyed reported talking to their trees and/or plants. One in five associated with those individuals talk in order to their vegetation every day. Houseplants were the most talked to at 80%, outdoor plants in 62% and trees from 37%. Most importantly, 62% said talking with plants helps with their mental health.
On the reverse side, 34% of the people surveyed have never talked to their plant life and 18% don’t have any plants to talk to. They are missing out if you ask me. If you have in no way talked in order to a plant, even it is just to yell at a pigweed that missed the weeding, are you really living your fullest life?
The above survey results may be slightly or very humorous to you depending on how a person would respond to the particular questions. However , there is no denying the benefits we get from including plants in our lives.
According in order to the National Initiative with regard to Consumer Horticulture (NICH), indoor plants at home stimulate both a physiological and psychological relaxation response. At work, they boost creativity plus productivity and increase job satisfaction. Don’t forget that will indoor vegetation link us to nature, especially important during our long winters.
So, how many plants do you have in your own home or at your office? We will admit my office is a bit of a jungle with 21 plant life! They earn their keep by helping me write my article for this particular column!
The NICH lists the many advantages of outside plants too. As little as five minutes of “green” exercise (including gardening), improves both our own self-esteem plus mood. Gardening is good exercise. Moderate intensity garden activity counts towards the Centers regarding Disease Control’s recommended weekly 150 minutes of moderate exercise. Most importantly, gardeners tend to eat healthier food.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your seed catalogues and start talking with your own indoor greenery while you make your outdoor greenery plans. Happy gardening!
NDSU Agriculture Communication – Jan. 24, 2023
Source: Carrie Knutson, 701-780-8229, carrie. [email protected]. edu
Editor: Kelli Anderson, 701-231-6136, kelli. c. [email protected]. edu