104: Adapting Gardening Indoors

Good Fit / Poor Fit

00:00 / 00:17:23

Show Notes:

Zao, T., Markevych, I., Buczyłowska, D., Romanos, M., & Heinrich, J. (2023). When green enters a room: A scoping review of epidemiological studies on indoor plants and mental health. Environmental Research, 216, 114715. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114715

Places to Put Your Plants:

Self-Watering Planters:

Watering Cans:

Ergonomic Tools:

LED Light Options:

Transcript:

Sarah: [00:00:00] You’re listening to Good Fit Poor Fit. Our podcast is part of The UD Project, a small business rooted in occupational therapy that looks at how the design of a home environment impacts how well people of different ages and abilities perform everyday activities. We chat about this unique perspective to boost your knowledge and help you consider what can be changed in communities like yours.

Learn more about our work at universaldesign.org.

Rebecca: Hi listeners, welcome back for another episode of Good Fit Poor Fit. Today Sarah and I have OT student Alexis Girata back with us to talk about a hobby that many of us enjoy, indoor gardening. She’s gonna go through some tips and tricks to make it easier to take care of indoor plants.

Alexis Girata: Thank you again for having me. I personally have many plants, so I thought this would be a fun topic to talk about today. As many of us know, gardening, whether it’s outside or [00:01:00] inside, can be very therapeutic for people of all ages. Sarah has covered how to care for an outdoor garden in episode nine, Benefits of a Well-Designed Garden, which I will link in the show notes below if you wanna take a listen. So today I thought it would be fun to talk about ways to care for your indoor plants.

Sarah: Yes. And listeners, you actually can’t see it right now, but Alexis has a bunch of plants behind her in our video, so she is the best one to be talking about this. But I am actually kind of a plant novice, and I could definitely use some tips in general. So I’m excited to jump into this topic today because like with any task that we enjoy, we can break it down into steps and think about ways to make it easier.

But before we get into that, I wanted to get into some plant specifics. Alexis, do you have any suggestions on types of plants that are good for a first time plant parent and why that is the case? [00:02:00] Or maybe even some easy herbs that people could use if they wanna go that route?

Alexis Girata: Yes, I do. Usually for first-time plant parents, I recommend plants that are easy to take care of. These are ones like snake plants, spider plants, ZZ plants, pathos, or an aloe plant. That’s because these plants don’t require much attention and are very forgiving, meaning if you accidentally forget to water them for three weeks or longer, they will be okay. For herbs, I think you can plant any that you use frequently. I always enjoy fresh basil because it can elevate any pasta dish or you can make your own pesto. Last year, my family and I actually grew cilantro, and that was always delicious to put in some guacamole. If you do decide to grow herbs, you can usually put them all together in one big pot, or you could do multiple separate pots for them. Just make sure that they’re getting enough sunlight.

As a warning though, if you decide to grow mint, [00:03:00] that herb should be put in its own pot, away from the other ones because it’s actually a weed, and will take over the soil.

Rebecca: These are all hot tips. Alexis. Thank you. These are great recommendations. I’m wondering if you could share with some of our pre-plant parent listeners some reasons they may want to explore welcoming botanical friends into their home.

Alexis Girata: Yeah, there’s actually been studies done on how nature can have a positive impact on someone’s mental health. Many of these target outdoor parks and urban communities, but there have been a few that also look at indoor plants. There was a scoping review done in 2023 that looked at six different studies that tested the effects of indoor plants on mental health and behavior disorders. They found that in all six of those studies, people who had indoor plants had lower levels of stress, better moods and fewer negative emotions. I feel like we’ve all seen similar effects when people would put eucalyptus in the shower to help relieve congestion or [00:04:00] use lavender scented products for the relaxing properties. Sarah or Rebecca, do either of you use essential oils or have any plants in your homes?

Sarah: I actually do, but I love all the research out there that you shared on the health benefits, and that makes me want to add more green into the inside of our home. Yeah, we do use some essential oils and products like lavender or magnesium lotions before bed, and I found some really good balm to put on my daughter’s chest and feet when she’s congested.

How about you, Rebecca? Do you enjoy essential oils or plants inside your home?

Rebecca: The only plant that we periodically have in our home is actually for our cat. She loves to nibble on cat grass as a snack or a dessert. And this is by no means scientific, but I can personally attest to the mental health benefits of having a tiny plant for our tiny cat that makes her very happy. But I digress.

Alexis, do you have any good tips for making indoor garden [00:05:00] accessible or dare I say universally designed.

Alexis Girata: Yes, I do. Well, indoor plants have many positive effects on a person or a cat in this case. They can be challenging to take care of depending on the size of the plant, how happy they are, where they are located in the home, and the functional capabilities of a person. There are many ways to make it a good fit for you in your home. Before we get into it, I want to mention that all the products and suggestions listed today will be linked in the show notes below, so that way I don’t have to repeat that sentence many times throughout the episode. The first thing that you can do is change where you put your plants. It is most ideal to keep your plants off the ground so you don’t have to bend down too far when watering or picking them up. It is also ideal to put them on a lower shelf so that you don’t have to reach too high to get to them. Many people who have difficulty with shoulder mobility, visual [00:06:00] deficits, or poor balance may find it difficult to water a plant that is on a top shelf or one that is on the floor where they need to bend down to get to it. It is also important to make sure that the space in front of the plant is clear of any obstacles so a person doesn’t have to lean over to reach it. It could become a fall risk if a person with poor balance has to reach outside their base of support. Or it could be difficult for someone who uses a wheelchair or other mobility devices to reach around another object to get to their plant.

Sarah: These are really good points and they make sense. Sometimes people just don’t think about that and it’s really important, but if you want to tend to them well, you need to be able to reach them. I am sure there are a lot of great setups out there, including tables, shelves, wall-mounted planters, hanging pots, and trellises.

I bet you could even put really large plants if you wanted one on a stand or a cart with wheels, so you could move it out of the way if you [00:07:00] wanted to do that too. Alexis, do you have any specific suggestions on the types of pots that can be easy to use? There are lots of cute ones out there, and even serve different functions. So when is it best to use one that catches the water? I’m always worried about damaging the surfaces of a piece of furniture by overfilling when I’m watering it.

Alexis Girata: I think it’s always best to have something to catch the water under it, because I also always end up overfilling, and usually, for most plants, it’s great to have pots that have holes in the bottom for that drainage so you don’t overwater the soil and put the plant at risk for root rot. On a note, I guess I’ll go ahead and talk about different pot options. I would say some of the best things to do is to use a plastic pot over one that is terracotta or ceramic. That is because these are a lot lighter in weight, make it easier to carry and move your plant indoors. And usually those are [00:08:00] the ones that also have the drainage holes. This can also be a better option for some people if there’s a hole at the base of the pot, like a self-watering plant.

So these are a little bit different. These holes allow for a spot to water your plant without having to reach all the way to the top of the pot, and usually just waters the base of the soil and lets it soak up through the bottom versus pouring it right on top. And this can be a great option for someone with limited shoulder mobility shorter stature, or if they use a wheelchair. With this type of pot, you don’t have to reach as high to water your plants and depending on the opacity of the pot, you can see how much water is actually getting into the base of the plant, so you don’t have to worry about that spillage over the edge, and having to clean it up after. Thankfully, nowadays, many pots actually come with a tray that matches the pot itself. However, if [00:09:00] this is not the case, there are many options available out there. The main things you can you want to look for finding a tray is for the base to be flat and slightly larger than the base of the pot. It is also best if the sides are raised so that the water doesn’t spill over the edge of the tray. I usually get the clear plastic ones that come in a big pack because I think you can get a little bit more bang for your buck. However, there are many options that are more aesthetic.

Rebecca: This all definitely makes sense. Alexis, and I love the shout-out specifically about getting pots with holes in the bottom. This is something that I would recommend doing when you’re shopping for your plants, because I’ve definitely had situations where I’ve bought pots that do not have holes in them, and then I have to drill them myself, which is too laborious a task for most. So I think that in particular is a great shout and also prevents us from having to lift up really heavy pots or tilt them over to drain any excess water, which is [00:10:00] also really good for safety. Are there any more thoughts you have Alexis, about specifically watering?

Alexis Girata: Yeah, using a watering can with a long spout can be a great solution for someone who has limited shoulder mobility. A long spout limits the amount of reaching a person has to do, and it can make it easier to reach the pots on the higher shelves.

Another option is to use self-watering globes. These are little globes with a long spout leading into a hole at the bottom that is put in the dirt of a plant. This is a good option to water as it’ll keep the soil moist and is very lightweight and easy to refill. I really enjoy the ones that I linked in the show notes because there’s actually a cap at the top that you can remove to refill the bulb. This way someone doesn’t need to carry multiple bulbs at one time, or risk spilling them if they need to put them on a tray to transport them from the sink to the plant. The [00:11:00] final option I have is to use an electric watering pump. This may be a better option for someone who has multiple plants like myself. They usually have a long spout, making it easier to water the plants that are higher off the ground. However, this may not be a feasible option because it can be a little bit more expensive, and it also requires some pinch strength to press the button to spray the water.

Sarah: These are all really great ideas. I’ve honestly not heard of some of these options before, especially like the self-watering ones, and they really do make sense. I’m sure listeners, you’ve done this before, trying to get your watering can over your plants. I’ve often struggled with this because I fill it up really full so I don’t have to make another trip, but as I’m walking, I’m spilling water out of my can on the way to the plants.

I know my husband has struggled with this too, when he is wanting to help water the plants. Listeners, you may know that he uses a wheelchair and so often he’ll put a flat cutting board on his lap and fill up the watering can and put [00:12:00] it on the board so he can keep his hands free, to push.

So there are a lot of different adaptive strategies to watering, but if you only have to take that one little bulb and and fill it up, I think that makes it a lot easier. Another thing that I know you wanted to talk about was repotting plants. Do you have any suggestions for that?

Alexis Girata: I definitely do, as many of us who are current plant owners, it can require a lot of energy to re-pot your plants. One way to conserve energy while doing this is to re-pot them while sitting at a table. This way, you have a stable surface and it reduces the task of balancing when standing to re-pot your plants. This is also a great option for someone who uses a wheelchair. Just make sure that the table has a height of at least 30 inches to allow for that clearance to roll underneath a bit. Another way this can be made easier is to keep all your tools and equipment on a rolling cart. [00:13:00] This way, everything you need is kind of in one place and it’s easier to move around and you don’t have to carry the big, heavy bags of dirt with you.

Rebecca: That’s really smart. Alexis. Gardening can be so tough on your body in a lot of ways, carrying the soil, bending down to repot or even just weed your garden or your potted plant. I think finding ways to do these tasks seated can be really smart. I actually got this adjustable garden stool for my mom a few years ago.

That can either be a knee pad if you’re kneeling, working in your garden or with your plants, or you can raise it up so that it’s a stool to sit on if you’re working in a raised garden bed. And I love this because it’s flexible and as listeners know, we love flexibility when we’re talking about universal design. Are there any other good tool recommendations you have, Alexis?

Alexis Girata: Yes, there definitely are, and my sisters and I actually got that same kind of stool for my mom for Mother’s Day last year because my mom really likes to garden outside and have fresh [00:14:00] vegetables in the summer. I’m really glad he posed this question because I actually didn’t think about it before doing research for this podcast.

And I found some really cool gardening hand tool sets that was designed specifically for people with arthritis. However, it could make gardening more accessible for people with other deficits. These tools were designed with a larger handle that is angled upwards at 90 degrees.

Instead of out like the commercial hand gardening tools. This makes it easier for someone with limited grip strength to use the tools and the upward angle of the handle allows the users to sustain a neutral wrist while using the tools and reducing strain. There’s another product that I found where the handle’s actually curved instead of at that 90 degree upward angle, and is designed to have the same benefits.

Sarah: It sounds like some of these, home improvement places need to have a tester to be able to test all of these tools to see which one fits [00:15:00] your hand the best. Kind of like Costco when you go in and taste all of their food. But anyway, I do know in previous episodes that we’ve talked about natural light as being helpful for our mental health in general.

And we also know that’s helpful for plants too. So, Alexis, I’m gonna have to do this to you and I asked the question, but, can you shed some light on how to creatively add light to plants when there’s not a lot of natural light?

Alexis Girata: Yes, I could definitely shed some light when there’s not a lot of natural light. There are actually many options for alternative light sources for your plants. Some of the most accessible options are either a tall standing grow light, a smaller grow light that can be clipped onto the side of a table or a pot, or grow lights that can even stick to the top of a shelf right above your plant. Many of these options allow you to choose how bright you want the light to be. And it also has a timer. So [00:16:00] you can choose how long you want the light to be on, and that way you don’t have to worry about remembering to turn it on and off at the beginning and end of the day. Not only are these great to use, so the plants can grow, but it also improves the amount of light around the plant to make it easier for someone with visual difficulties to see what they’re doing. As you can see, there are many ways to make taking care of an indoor plant a good fit for you, depending on your needs, so you can continue to enjoy the greenery in your home. Thanks so much for listening.

Rebecca: Thank you, Alexis, for bringing your plant power to Good Fit Poor Fit. Listeners, thanks for tuning in and best of luck with all of your gardening adventures.

Sarah: Thanks for listening to Good Fit Poor Fit. If you want to learn more… first, find more episodes with transcripts and show notes at goodfitpoorfit.com. Don’t forget to subscribe! Second, check out our courses at universaldesign.org.

We cover housing topics like [00:17:00] advocacy, collaboration, home modification, universal design and task adaptations. Lastly, if you have questions or topics you’d like us to discuss, email us at [email protected]. Thanks for fitting us into your day.

Show Notes:

Transcript:

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