PLANT CARE IS SELF CARE
Do plants like to be touched?
Touch is one of the best ways to establish a connection with another living being, but does this apply to plants? Before we all run to massage our philodendrons, let’s take a step back (literally).
I’m a huge proponent of intuitive plant care. Instead of relying on rigid schedules, I prefer occasional checkups to see how my plants are doing. In addition to watering, I would often gently caress the leaves with my hand or wipe them with a soft microfiber cloth if they got too dusty. These activities help relax and de-stress us humans so I thought they must also benefit my green friends. Right?
Well, not quite.
According to the most recent study on plant response, well-meaning plant whisperers might be doing more harm than good. Researchers at the La Trobe Institute for Agriculture and Food discovered that when plants are touched even slightly by a human, animal, insect, or even another plant, they elicit a massive genetic response. Within 30 minutes of contact, 10 percent of the plant’s genome is altered, redirecting a significant portion of its energy to defend against a potential threat. Since plants cannot avoid danger by running away like humans or animals, they employ a variety of genetic mechanisms to do the job. For example, some plants can change the chemical composition of their leaves to taste bitter when they detect being eaten by an insect. The same research also showed that repetitive touching slowed plant growth by as much as 30 percent. A plant that’s preoccupied with defending itself has less energy left for growth.
In other words, touching plants stresses them out.
For humans, touch is one of the best ways to connect with our loved ones. We hug our kids, kiss our partners and pet our dogs to show our affection and yearn for it in return. And as plant lovers, we want — no, we need — to express our emotions toward our hyper-sensitive green friends in a similar way. Plus, from a practical plant care perspective, this new “no touching” discovery is plain confusing. The internet is bursting with advice on how to wipe leaves, shake plants to imitate a gentle breeze, and group houseplants to increase humidity.
What’s a well-meaning plant parent to do? Well, there are a few things.
• Put away the microfiber cloth.
Dusting your plant’s leaves, no matter how softly, falls under the umbrella of repetitive touching. Instead, try using a watering can with a wide rose spout to give your green friends a tropical shower in your bathroom. It’s kind of like rain. And since rain is a naturally occurring event, it will remove the dust without triggering any self-defense hormones in your plant.
• Respect your plants’ personal space.
When plants grow together in nature, they know to respect boundaries by optimizing available sunlight for themselves and their neighbors. They also humidify the air in the immediate vicinity by transpiring water out of their leaves as part of their circulatory process. However, if you suddenly stick a bunch of your bushiest plants in one corner, they will likely react like straphangers on their way to work — stressed and irritated. It’s best to keep them close but not too close. If they don’t touch one another, they will have plenty of space to thrive and maintain adequate humidity levels. And you still get your lush, Insta-worthy living room oasis.
• Connect with plants without touching.
Not touching someone or something we care for is difficult. From the day we are born, it’s one of the main ways we express affection and love. The good news is connecting with nature doesn’t have to be a tactile experience. We can feel many positive physiological and psychological effects just by being around it. Even a short walk in the woods is proven to lower blood pressure, expand lung capacity and decrease cortisol — the stress hormone — in your body, making you calmer and happier without any direct physical contact with the trees. In Japan, doctors even began prescribing “forest baths” by sending patients into forests and local parks for a much needed dose of R&R. You can and should experience the positive effects of caring for houseplants just by being around them and enjoying their growth. Just try not to touch them too much unless absolutely necessary.
It is also worth noting that talking to plants is allowed. So far, no study has found harm in that.
