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Plantitos and Plantitas in the Philippines

Photo taken from buffalonews.com

The Growing Craze in the Philippines

People have been experiencing a wide range of emotions since the outbreak of Pandemic. Among the emotions felt were fear, anxiety, depression, denial, and, of course, boredom. We tried a variety of activities to cope with the situation in order to alleviate such negative emotions as we attempted to embrace our so-called New Normal. Some began to hone their skills, while others experimented with cooking/baking, working out, sewing, and, of course, gardening. Surprisingly, a growing number of people are becoming interested in plants, resulting in the rapid rise of plantitos and plantitas trending on various social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and others.

The Benefits of Gardening

Gardening and Physical Health

Photo taken from The Healthy

For most of us, digging soils, pulling roots and all the bending may be exhausting and painful but it is actually a light aerobic exercise that can help improve and strengthen the heart’s and lungs’ health. It also aids in the prevention obesity, high blood pressure and a lot more.

“Growing plants is a great way to care for your mental and physical health during quarantine. You may not be able to completely supply your own food, but the feeling of nurturing something during a time of crisis and isolation is definitely worth cultivating.” ― Caterina Leronimo, DBK News

Gardening and Pollution

Plants help to improve the environment. Pollution is perceived as a phenomenon that occurs only outside. The truth is that there is such a thing as indoor pollution, and as we spend more time indoors, we are subjected to pollutants and toxins from synthetic materials for a longer period of time due to reduced air circulation. Indoor pollution is to blame for unexpected allergies, among other things. Thus, having plants within our homes reduces indoor pollution and even provides fresh air.

Gardening and Mental Wellbeing

Photo taken from David Domoney

Gardening itself has a significant impact on our mental health. Gardening and horticultural therapy have been shown in studies to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. 

“Gardening is the greatest tonic and therapy a human being can have. Even if you have only a tiny piece of earth, you can create something beautiful, which we all have a great need for. If we begin by respecting plants, it’s inevitable we’ll respect people.” – Audrey Hepburn, late actress and humanitarian.

>Gardening  increases positive emotions 

Gardening has shown to increase brain serotonin and dopamine levels – the "feel good" hormones. It also lowers cortisol levels, which is a stress hormone. 

It also gives people an opportunity to get away from their crazy busy, often technology-driven lives and engage in a different type of sensory experience.

>Gardening develops Self-Esteem

Cultivating a living thing that grows and develops over time gives a person a sense of accomplishment and boosts one’s self-confidence. Being one with nature and raising a living thing brings a sense of well-being, which leads to a better state of mental wellbeing.

>Connecting with our Creator

Gardening also helps people stay connected to living things during a time when everyone must practice social distancing. More importantly, it has allowed plantitos and plantitas to marvel at the Creator's creations. In the midst of a catastrophic event, many people are finally paying recognize the signs of life that envelops us.

Gardening and Kids

Photo taken from UNSW Newsroom-UNSW Sydney

Gardening can encourage children to participate in ways that will help them learn more effectively. Gardening can help young, preschool- and elementary-aged children strengthen skills such as measuring, addition, subtraction, counting, categorizing, and color recognition. Gardening also teaches life skills such as practicing motor skills and the developing work ethic. 

“Why try to explain miracles to your kids when you can just have them plant a garden.” – Robert Brault

Conclusion

In conclusion, gardening reduces depression, anxiety, obesity, and heart disease while boosting life satisfaction, quality of life, and a sense of togetherness. Gardens are essential for illness recovery, and simply looking at them can reduce stress, blood pressure, and muscle tension. "These difficult times of staying at home open new opportunities," said AIPH Secretary General Tim Briercliffe. Many individuals may have more time to devote to their gardens and will discover the joy of gardening for the first time. Gardens will play an important role in keeping society happy and healthy, and the garden industry is ready to support success in this area in any way we can.