I have grown up around gardens. From summer vacations at my Nani’s house, surrounded by our huge mango tree and blooming rose beds, to my own home, where my mother’s curated garden brought in chirping birds every morning, plants had always been a huge part of my life. However, I didn’t have the green thumb like my mother did. While I enjoyed sitting on the swing in my home garden, getting my hands dirty in the soil just wasn’t for me.
So, what changed, you may ask.
And if you are in a hurry, the short answer is - I just gave it a try. But if you want to hear how I slowly fell in love with every new leaf that grew in my garden, then read on!
When I moved into my new house, initially, there was no furniture… Just a wide, empty space that almost felt spooky at night. I kept searching for decor items that could make my house seem lively, cosy, and full of love. Then the social media algorithm, being as wise as it is, showed me ads for indoor plants, and I thought to myself - why not? I am out of ideas anyway!
I started with a few tabletop plants like Aglaonema Lipstick, Syngonium, and Rubber plant. They were small enough to keep on my home office desk, right by the window. It started with just watering and spraying water on my plants, which went to being worried when even one leaf seemed droopy. Then began my journey of research. I devoured blogs, videos, and whatnot to know how to care for my 3 little plants. I read about other people’s experiences and found myself drawn to the calmness that people mentioned they felt. And before I knew it, I had an hour-long morning gardening routine with a balcony full of flowering outdoor plants and a beautiful living room plant stand with indoor plants.
I had now ordered more than 60 plants over 2 months from Urvann!!
I have realised the peace and zen that comes when living around plants. I wake up and walk into a living room to be greeted by my bushy Areca Palm. I sit beside my brown, wooden plant stand with ZZ, Aglaonema Snowwhite, Pothos, Syngonium, Aglaonema Lipstick, Golden Croton, Monstera Broken Heart, Peace Lily, and Rubber Plant. Such different shades of green, so many shapes and types of leaves… it just fills my heart with joy and positivity to start the day. By now, I have developed a sweet routine that not only helps me spend time with all my plants but also ensures that I get a slow and peaceful start to my day before the usual humdrum of the world takes over.
So now, I take a walk on my terrace amongst my kitchen gardening plants, smelling my home-grown mint, lemon, orange, and lettuce, feeling the satisfaction and pride of growing my food. They are usually craving water by the morning, with the soil dry from the Delhi heat, gulping up the water as quickly as I pour it.
Next, I stop with my terrace favourites that rarely require any maintenance -
Jade, which I love to propagate and multiply,
Adeniums, which are sturdy and stand tall with bright flowers,
Aloe vera, my skin care hero that grows daily,
Juniper, the tall tree with its fragrant smell,
Mother of thousands, which keeps sprouting new buds almost every time I blink!
Purple heart, bringing the perfect pop of colour to my abode
And oh so many draceanas, because I just can’t get enough of them.
Oh you thought I was done? Hardly! I then walk around my various flowering plants, taking in the colours and fragrances and the little bees that fly around to pollinate. It is a beautiful sight, and one that makes every morning feel like a vacation out in the countryside. While I will control my urge to brag about each of my blooming plants, the reality is, I am genuinely proud of watching my garden grow and sharing it with everyone I meet.
That's me with my beautiful green friends!
All in all, I have gotten connected to nature like never before. I did not just fall in love with plants - I fell in love with the lifestyle that comes with being surrounded by such greenery.
If you are contemplating buying a plant, worrying about the time and effort that goes into gardening, all I can say is give it a try. Your own plants will convince you to pursue gardening further than any other person can.
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