Millennials embrace ‘plant mom’ lifestyle

Owning house plants is now a hot and happening trend among millennials and Gen Z. For many, possessing and caring for verdure which includes the snake plant has become one of the newest ways that younger generations are incorporating contemporary interior designs in their daily lives, while simultaneously flaunting a green thumb.

The snake plant, which has the scientific name Sansevieria, is said to be one of the most sought-after indoor plants. Scientifically, it has been found to be extremely beneficial to the air quality, not only sucking carbon dioxide from rooms, but also removing harmful chemicals and toxins that emit from everyday household appliances and furniture.

Glen Cummings, a plant salesman at Gift Flowers and Plants, which is located on Red Hills Road in St Andrew, told THE STAR that the demand for the snake plant has much to do with the durability of the plant as well as its filtering quality.

"It doesn't take many things for it to survive. In other words, it's a hard plant. Secondly, you already know in terms of cleaning the atmosphere and you know it's not very wide and humongous. So you know most people are moving to clusters of apartments now, all you youngsters won't have no fancy lawn and stuff like older folks, so the snake plant comes in handy. It's a little more compact so you have less hassle with it," Cummings reasoned.

Invoking imagery of health and growth through flourishing wildlife, the trend of owning plants has been picked up by the likes of influencers like Tanaania Tracey who has described herself as a 'plant mom'.

"I know some of you guys who know have been following for the longest time remember me always saying I cannot keep living things alive. It is now crazy that I probably have 40 plants or more right now that are living," she proclaimed on her YouTube channel.

Jamaican designer and known nature enthusiast Gabby Clarke, of Quaint by GSC, says taking care of plants have added a layer of beauty to her daily routine.

"So the biggest thing for me is that they're beautiful. They add a lot of aesthetics to the space. That's what it is for me, but at the same time I love nature, so being able to bring nature inside my house means a lot to me."

Clarke, who now has more than 40 plants, says the daily chore of watering and caring for her little green babies are integral to her daily production of the happy hormones, serotonin and dopamine.

"I would say it makes me feel good, it makes me feel happy, you know those hormone that they call serotonin and dopamine - those happy hormones. Looking at plants and taking care of them and seeing them grow helps you to have more of those happy hormones being released," she reasoned.

Confirming Clarke's theories, owner and founder of the online plant store Garden Box JA, Ashleigh Shrouder, says plants have become the quintessential therapy tool for both physical and mental trauma.

"Regarding trendy hot girl things, I think going on Pinterest and social media, and watching HGTV, people are saying, 'Wait, plants have a health benefit as well as aesthetic benefits'. So you know you have your little green area in your house, it just gives the house a vibe."

Shrouder said that houseplants have become popular gifts.

"Nowadays people are looking for unique gifts. If you have $3,000 or $2,500 you want to buy something unique, something personalised such as a plant. People want to move away from giving a cliche gift like a bottle of wine, you know body sprays. So I think people are gravitating more towards natural growing stuff," she said.

Shrouder says on a weekly basis she receives orders for 20 to 30 plants, not including her corporate orders which can range well into the hundreds.