Basking in the refreshing glow of the sunny 19-degree weather and exquisite pop-up flurries on a frigid February morning, I made sure that my buddy was safe and warm. I tucked him in cozily and bid him farewell for the day.
When I returned, he listened to my complaints about lecture halls and steep Athens hills, and later we enjoyed a screening of “The Nice Guys.” It was a relaxing evening, to say the least. If you are wondering who my mystery companion is, his name is Lucius, and he is a palm tree that claims residence in my dorm room.
Indoor plants are great for you, your mental health and for the air you breathe. I believe every college student should have some form of plant life living through these dark days with them.
The number one reason I so religiously swear by having a potted or indoor plant with you in college is the satisfactory warmth you get from watching it grow. There is no greater feeling than being able to see something with your own two eyes, thriving right in front of you through your hard work.
In a college atmosphere that can seem very black and white — pass or fail, late assignments or on time — it's nice to know the plant simply does not give a hoot or a holler if you flunked an exam. The plant simply cares about living.
Adding in the patience nature plants have with your faulty-at-best, sleep schedule and test scores that may or may not irritate you, indoor plants are also fantastic for one's mental healthhe leafy green pals can boost your mood, destress and relax you and generally make you feel better.
If you're one of the notorious plant killers out there (you know who you are) who say, “I kill every plant I touch,” don’t be a Debbie Downer. Don’t let one or two bad experiences prevent you from purchasing or growing a botanical friend. The special thing about plants is there are millions of them. Not to mention certain ones that are extremely hard to kill unless you violently burn them to a crisp with a blowtorch.
Another mind-blowing fact to consider is plants are good for air quality. Studies have shown housing an indoor plant in your room or dorm space can take some of the pollutants out of the air. Taking into account that your room probably smells like old food, mold or sweat, an indoor plant can go a long way in livening things up.
So, perhaps pause the next time you pass the garden and patio services of a Walmart or Kroger, consider picking up your new roommate who could keep you company this spring.
Drew Haughn is a freshman studying communications at Ohio University. Please note that the opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Drew about his article? Tweet him @haughn_drew24.
