“What’s so great about having so many plants?”
That’s the question I’m often asked on Instagram, where I go under the name @arcticgardener.
It may seem a bit crazy having 100 houseplants in a small apartment – I can see that. But I do have a philosophy underlying this green extravagance. Plants are good for me – in more ways than one: I’m inspired by their beauty, happy that they produce oxygen and purify the air around me and they make me feel calmer. Research shows that plants can improve mental well-being.
“Isn’t it horribly complicated?”
No, it doesn’t have to be – even though we Norwegians live in the frigid north, and even though all of us (including me!) have a number of plant deaths on our conscience. Over time I’ve learned one or two things about caring for plants that I’d like to share with you. You don’t have to go out and get 100 plants, but surely you can manage one, maybe two … or even more?
A few years ago, when I started posting images of my green apartment on Instagram, the response was overwhelming. Why was that? I believe the main reason is that we humans depend on plants for our well-being. I’m also aware that a lot of plant people are keen on caring for the planet. That’s why I describe myself as pro-plant and pro-planet – there’s a connection there.
My hope is that this book will inspire you to become a plant enthusiast. You might be interested in houseplants because they’re beautiful and they can brighten up an interior; perhaps you’re more interested in the health benefits – or like me, you’re interested in both aspects.
Whatever your motivation, I have a number of tips and some advice that I would like to share: what plants you should choose, how to look after them, how they can bring something to an interior and what health benefits you’ll enjoy. My aim is to help you to like plants even more. So, I hope you have a plant-astic read!