House plants used to be something people simply remembered to water – but now they are considered ‘family members’.
As many as one in seven people have a ‘highly connected’ relationship with their pot plants, a study has found.
It means they have ‘deep love’ for the plants that share their home, or even see them as part of the family.
The findings come from an academic survey of 115 owners of house plants including Swiss cheese plants, heart-shaped Devil’s Ivy and cacti.
The study volunteers, aged 18 to 69, were asked to ‘describe your relationship with your indoor plants’.
Responses to the research, conducted in Australia, included a 28-year-old man who told researchers his plants are ‘like my children’ and a woman who said: ‘I often water them and take care of them as family members’.
The study found 14 per cent of people had a ‘highly connected’ relationship with their indoor plants, while 42 per cent were ’emotionally attached’.
Like King Charles, one 48-year-old man confessed to speaking to his plants daily because of his love for them.
House plants used to be something people simply remembered to water – but now they are considered ‘family members’ (stock image)
As many as one in seven people have a ‘highly connected’ relationship with their pot plants, a study has found (stock image)
A 27-year-old woman said: ‘Who needs kids when you have plants?’
It comes amid a social media craze for posing with elaborate pot plants, whose sales boomed during Covid and beyond.
Dr Brianna LeBusque, who led the house plant study published in the journal Plant Environment Interactions, said: ‘It is well known that many people see their pets as being like their children, but house plants now seem to be like family members too.
‘People have intense feelings for their pot plants, perhaps because looking after them provides a real sense of purpose and gratification.
‘A generation ago, house plants were more like furniture – decorative but not much more.
‘Now people seem to really research the care of their plants, and know their precise scientific names, with some people telling us they really emotionally suffer if a plant loses a leaf or starts to wilt.’
On average people surveyed, who were recruited through posters and social media, had 15 indoor plants, but one person had more than 500.
Interestingly, men were most likely to be among the 12 per cent of people who said they had ‘no relationship’ with their plants.
It means they have ‘deep love’ for the plants that share their home, or even see them as part of the family (stock image)
The findings come from an academic survey of 115 owners of house plants including Swiss cheese plants, heart-shaped Devil’s Ivy and cacti (stock image)
Women made up a higher proportion of those with a highly connected relationship.
That included one 21-year-old woman who said: ‘I cried over my plant’s leaf getting broken off today, so you could say I’m pretty attached to her.’
It follows studies showing house plants reduce stress and negative emotions, while triggering feelings of relaxation when placed in offices.
Asked what benefits they experienced from having indoor plants, half of people in the current research project said plants were nice to look at or improved rooms, while almost a third mentioned the beneficial effects of plants on indoor air quality.
The study was conducted during the Covid pandemic, but researchers say house plants continue to occupy people’s hearts.
This seems to be particularly the case among Gen Z, with a 24-year-old woman saying her plants made her ‘almost feel like my pets’ while a 26-year-old said: ‘They are my babies’.
Tijana Blanusa, Principal Horticultural Scientist at the Royal Horticultural Society, said: ‘This Australian study highlights different levels of engagement people have with their houseplants, showing that owners value plants’ aesthetic and calming role.’Recent RHS-supported research highlighted people’s preferences for rounded plant contours and the importance of healthy plant appearance to reap those wellbeing benefits.’
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