Green Christmas trees and their beauty is long gone. Winter is hanging on. Spring feels like it will never arrive and we have grown weary of dark, dreary, cold days. Winter blues are very common! Seasonal Affective Disorder, SAD for short, is real. It affects millions of people. COVID19 quarantines only compound SAD’s symptoms of depression, social isolation, fatigue, and hopelessness. There is less sunlight during the winter months affecting moods and causing SAD. Phototherapy (photo meaning light) is one of the treatments for people who suffer from SAD. Light therapy is also good for houseplants. Photosynthesis is the process where plants convert light into energy. Photosynthesis is how plants make their food. So let’s bring a few green plants inside to chase away the winter blues! It will be a win for us and a win for the plants!
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and for years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so.
Genesis 1: 14-15
African Violet
I have a beautiful African Violet that a dear friend gave to me years ago. It has been so long that I don’t even remember the occasion. Perhaps it was my birthday or Mother’s Day. Who knows? I set it on the window sill above my kitchen sink and water it when the soil has completely dried out. It rewards me once or twice a year with these magnificent iridescent pinkish-purple blooms. I have never transplanted it in all those years. I have trimmed dead leaves and spent blooms off but honestly, that is it. It is low maintenance and very rewarding. My African violet remains cheerfully vigilant by the kitchen window. I highly recommend bringing an African Violet inside your home or gifting one of these gorgeous flowering plants to a friend to chase away their winter blues.
Succulents
Succulents are popular choices to bring some green in to chase the winter blues away. They do well when placed by a window or under a lamp. These can even survive if you forget to water them for a while. Succulents are able to store water in their thick fleshly stems and leaves like cactus. Succulents are slow growers so you do not have to worry about repotting them often either. Aloe Vera is a type of succulent plant that is very useful to have inside your home. The Aloe Vera’s leaves contain a medicinal gel that can be used on burns. Jade plants are another common choice. There are so many types of succulents that you may like one over another. Whichever succulent you choose will brighten your home and chase the winter moody blues away.
Peace Lily
If succulents aren’t your thing but you are interested in a plant for a larger area, a Peace Lily might just be for you. They love light and will do well when placed by a window. Peace Lilies have large leaves which are very helpful in exchanging the carbon dioxide that we exhale into oxygen. Plants need carbon dioxide to make food so they inhale what we exhale and vice versa. House plants revive the stale air in a room while brightening the area they’re in. A Peace Lily’s leaves will droop down when they need to be watered. As long as you don’t overwater them they will be a long-time companion.
Conclusion
Plants are a very integral part of human and animal life. The majority of our food comes from plant sources. Houseplants reduce stress, improve air quality, and boost moods. Bringing green inside improves air quality and chases the sadness of winter blues away. Aloe you very much! 🙂 (A little plant humor) Life would succ without you! 🙂 Have a great day full of green happiness! Be blessed!