Seven in 10 millennials consider themselves “plant parents,” according to new research.
While millennial demand for houseplants is high, the poll of 2,000 millennials (aged 25–39) discovered 67% say taking care of plants is more of a challenge than they bargained for.
Almost half don’t currently own plants because they don’t know how to take care of them — and 20% would sooner sit through a root canal than take care of a plant because of the pressure.
With the great responsibility and benefits of having a plant, come great challenges — and, according to results, we could benefit from a crash course in the art of keeping plants alive.
The study, conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with Article, examined the attitudes and behaviors of millennials toward plants and uncovered that 22% are apprehensive about owning a plant because they’ve accidentally killed one in the past.
In fact, the average plant parent has killed seven plants they’ve brought into their home.
The most challenging part about taking care of plants was found to be knowing the proper amount of sunlight needed.
But the challenges don’t end there — respondents were also clueless on how much water a plant needs, whether the plant should live inside or outside and the practice of pruning a plant.
Three in 10 respondents revealed one of hardest lessons that comes with being a good “plant parent” is how easy it can be to accidentally kill your plant.
This leads to a bit of anxiety, as three in five often worry about making sure their plants have enough sunlight, while a further 56% say they often worry about whether their plants have enough water.
“Plants are an easy way to add color and life to any space,” said Zoe Garred, director of product development at Article. “The survey revealed millennials’ desire to incorporate plants into their home despite the apprehension and challenges associated with plant care.”
According to the survey results, half of respondents said they decided to add plants to their space because it complemented their overall aesthetic and decor, while a further 47% said they incorporate greenery into their home because it’s trendy.
And for 81% of those studied, adding plants to their space has had a positive effect on their mental and physical health.
Many millennials are taking on plants to see if they’re responsible enough to take on a real pet. Three in four respondents agree that plants are a test to see if you are responsible enough to get a pet.
Being a plant owner seems to be addicting: 41% of survey respondents say they plan on adding to their plant collection in the coming year.
Interestingly, four in five polled say that taking care of their plants have led them to start taking better care of themselves.
“We’ve seen a rising home decor trend of pairing bold tropical leaf plants with natural elements like dark wood and raw concrete,” said Zoe Garred, director of product development at Article. “It doesn’t come as a surprise that the number one reason millennials own plants is because they complement their overall home decor aesthetic. A touch of greenery is a simple way to make any modern space more beautiful.”
TOP 5 REASONS WHY MILLENNIALS OWN HOUSEPLANTS
- Plants complemented overall home decor aesthetic 50%
- Plants improved air quality 48%
- Plants are trendy 47%
- Plants are peaceful and calming 45%
- Plants make my space looks beautiful 39%
TOP 5 CHALLENGES OF TAKING CARE OF PLANTS
- The proper sunlight needed 50%
- How much water is needed 46%
- Whether the plant is an indoor or outdoor one 43%
- The importance of pruning plants 34%
- How easy it is to kill a plant 30%
TOP 5 PLANT PARENT WORRIES
- Making sure they have enough sunlight 60%
- Ensuring they have enough water 56%
- Keeping them alive 48%
- Stressing out the plant(s) when they move them 37%
- Finding a plant sitter when away/out of town 21%
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