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5 Reasons Why I’m Not Surprised Millennials Love Houseplants

ByMiranda Published on

It’s a growing trend among the millennial generation to collect and care for houseplants. Here a few reasons why that’s no surprise!

When I first started working on the Joy Us garden blog, I’ll admit that I knew close to nothing about houseplants. Sure, I noticed them in the grocery stores and the little shops toting “shop local” as part of their advertising.

Little did I know that after working for this blog and moving into an apartment in an urban city, that I would see houseplants and succulents hanging from every other balcony my eyes could see. It didn’t take long for me to notice that millennials love houseplants in particular.

Honestly, it all makes sense now. The millennial generation is taking the lead on healthy eating, as well as decluttering our living spaces and embracing more minimalism.

As a millennial myself, I find that healthy eating encourages me to only eat two meals a day, thus saving money on groceries. And houseplants? Well, I’m going to cover several reasons why my generation has made indoor gardening the latest trend (as well as drinking La Croix).

Some Of Our General Houseplant Guides For Your Reference:

Why It’s No Surprise that Millennials Love Houseplants

Millenials love houseplants
A perfect example of a local business selling houseplants!

Houseplants Are Affordable

Millennials are taking a long time to save money for a home or even a new car, compared to previous generations. We’re living in rented spaces and several roommates to live comfortably. Because of these circumstances, we desire our living spaces to feel at home. Doing that with items like houseplants and DIY projects is possible!

We can bring a real, living plant into our home that needs care and nurturing. We can watch it grow and know that we put in the effort to make that happen.

Plus, gardening is an excellent hobby to have that doesn’t require technology which we need a break from. It’s also a huge plus when we can turn a grown plant into fresh herbs to add to our meals, no?

A variety of houseplants
Peperomias can brighten up any bathroom.

Some affordable, easy to find houseplants to start with: Pothos, Snake Plants, and Aglaonemas

*All of the above are tabletop plants. Once you’re comfortable with these, you can upgrade to floor plants!

Houseplants Add Life to an Apartment

Like I said, home decor is essential, for those of us who want to come home to a welcoming environment. To prioritize home decor, we want to limit our choices so that we stay within budget, and keep minimalism in mind. Growing an indoor garden sounds like the best of both worlds in that case.

We don’t have backyards like the generations before us. Instead, we have small kitchens and balconies, if we’re lucky. Making the most of the space with a bit of nature can make a huge impact. Having an indoor apartment brings the local park directly to our kitchens, living rooms, and office spaces.

Houseplants in the greenhouse
Aglaonema Chinese Evergreens are great for lower light.

The perfect plants for a small apartment: Snake Plants, Peperomia Plants, and Pothos

Houseplants Are Fun to Grow and Care For!

Instead of starting a family, most millennials are 20-to-30-somethings that are caring for pets and plants instead. They want to nurture and grow something while they focus on their careers and pay off their debts.

Caring for something that’s living is merely therapeutic. Houseplants clearly fall into that category since many urban dwellers are selecting them over domestic pets. Surrounding yourself with nature is also a great way to improve your mental health and well-being.

Add color to your space with a variety of plants

Bromeliads add color to any space.

Here are just a few examples of plants that are known for being therapeutic:

  • Some boost brain power like Rosemary, Orchids, and the Boston Fern
  • Some purify the air by eliminating chemicals like bromeliads and snake plants
  • Adding any type of houseplant can boost your mood while working in the office
Orchids are gorgeous and long lasting
halaenopsis Orchids are long-lasting flowering houseplants.

Therapeutic houseplants: Aloe Vera, Phalaenopsis Orchids, and Lucky Bamboo

Houseplants Can Improve Health and Well Being

Not only are they therapeutic, but houseplants can also prevent you from getting sick. They add a little humidity to the air which can help soothe your senses in the dry, winter months. One study indicated that moisture in a closed-in atmosphere slowed down a flu virus from spreading.

Plants help purify the air around them by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Succulents are especially good at this. NASA even performed experiments to see which plants improved air quality and here are just a few that they came up with: Aloe Vera, Golden Pothos, and Peperomia Plants, to name a few.

Snake plants are easy to maintain
Snake Plants are so easy to maintain.

Houseplants that filter the air: Guzmanias, Spider Plants, and Ponytail Palms

Social Media Makes Houseplant Care Even More Fun

We really enjoy documenting our lives on Instagram and Facebook. It’s typical to take a picture of my plate of food before I’m allowed to eat it. Showing off your indoor garden is no different!

You can check out #urbanjungle on Instagram and see what I mean. You’ll see a variety of plants that are pleasing to the eye, but also easy to care for in a small space. Some of my favorite Instagrammable garden profiles are Urban Jungle Bloggers, The Potted Jungle, and Magnolia.

Houseplants come in a variety of colors and shapes

Talk about jazzy foliage, Dracaena Warneckii compacta has it.

Follow Joy Us garden on Instagram for plant inspiration!

Millennials love houseplants, and that’s just the latest trend that my generation has started in recent years. After spending most of our lives studying, working toward a degree, finding a decent job, and settling into our urban living spaces, we’re ready to pick up unique hobbies.

I’ve dabbled in painting and hiking myself, but I’m ready to try indoor gardening to spruce up my own apartment. Which houseplants or succulents should I start with?

Learn more about houseplants:

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