The Best Plant Subscription Boxes for a Happier, Healthier You
Updated by Jaime Netzer
You might say to us that Millennials and Gen Z are becoming parents later in life than any generation before. To which we would say, well, true —but also, have you heard about their plant parenting skills?
Maybe it's because millennials are the first "always-on" generation, and Gen Z are the first true digital natives, that folks from each generation are turning increasingly to something as decidedly non -digital as gardening and tending to houseplants. Maybe these generations want something to care for while they wait to have their fur babies and baby-babies.
Regardless, the science is clear: owning a plant, and specifically an indoor plant, makes you feel better . Let's dig in more on why you should consider a monthly subscription for plants—no matter what generation you are.
How and Why Plants Make Us Happy
Whether or not you have a green thumb, keeping plants indoors will inarguably increase your well-being. Let's start with the obvious: plants release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, otherwise known as the opposite of what we humans do. And this little magical reversal of nature is very, very good for us: NASA research has shown that humble houseplants can remove up to 87 percent of air toxins in just 24 hours.
The return on investment for a houseplant is big, too: with just a small initial investment, and a little bit of TLC, you get a lot of happiness back. Not sure you're sold on caring for a plant? Think of it this way: it turns out plant care is self-care, and of the DIY variety to boot! Don't believe us? Research shows that patients in hospitals surrounded by plants and flowers recover faster, take less pain medication, and have lower heart rates and blood pressure. If they can do that for hospital patients, imagine what they can do for your burned out nerves!
If the DIY self-care argument doesn't convince you, maybe the productivity one will: it turns out that indoor plants can increase concentration and productivity by up to 15 percent. So they're good for you, your career, and the earth. Sold yet?
How to Become a Plant Parent
So you're ready to take the plunge and become a plant parent. Great! But you're not sure where to start—understandable! Live plants are, well, living things, after all, and even the most avid of plant lovers can make a misstep or two along the journey to raising healthy and happy plants.
Reading the care instructions that come along with your plant is a great start, and knowing whether you're an easy-care type of plant parent or someone ready for more complicated greenery. Let us help! If you need something extremely low-maintenance, you can't do better than a monthly plant subscription box for air plants specifically. That's where Air Plants Monthly comes in. Straight from their greenhouse in the Bay Area of Northern California, this subscription service ships beautiful unique air plants, needing only what their name suggests, straight to your doorstep!
The next step up in terms of care maintenance for indoor house plants is succulents—that's right, darling little cacti ready to keep you company and only asking you to occasionally remember to sprinkle them with water. The Cactique is a great option, as are Succulents Monthly and Succulents Box—all of which offer charming cactus and succulent arrangements as monthly plant subscriptions.
Just as important as the "Do I need low-maintenance or high-maintenance plants?" question is: Do you want indoor or outdoor? (Or both!) It all depends on the amount of space you have, as well as the amount of time you want to devote to your new plants.
Each month of My Garden Box delivers everything you need to build relaxing, rewarding, and enriching garden projects, including live plants. If you're torn on indoor vs. outdoor, don't worry, as they offer a variety of indoor and outdoor plants.
If you want a subscription service tailored to the exact space you have available—whether that's a tiny windowsill in NYC or an entire garden for potting and plotting in the middle of Kansas—try Urban Organic Gardener , who deliver heirloom organic seeds chosen with your space in mind.
So long as you like to get your hands in the soil, The Bloomin Bin is a gardening subscription box for all skill levels. And if you're having trouble deciding between succulents and houseplants, indoor vs. outdoor, you might start with the House Plant Box , which delivers a custom-crafted collection of house plants and house plant products in a simple monthly package.
Oh, and one word of caution? Do remember your fur babies, if you have them: many common houseplants are toxic to pets. You can find advice from the ASPCA on pet-friendly plants here .
The bottom line is, just because you might be known in your family as the one who tends to kill plants doesn't mean you can't change your reputation and become a successful new plant parent! Grab some potting soil from your neighborhood nursery, select a monthly subscription box to suit your plant needs, and take off from there! Before you know it, you and your plant baby will be growing like a weed.
