My Plant Journey: From Childhood to Now
I've always had plants in my home. Even growing up, my mum had a lot of plants and wanted them everywhere. I liked them, but my sister never did-she tried to stop Mum from putting any in her room. She still feels that way; today, she has just a few cacti in her apartment.
Mum seems to have changed her mind, too. She still keeps some of her plants (and I took a few), but recently she bought some fake ones. Even though I wouldn’t do that myself-if something green is in my house, I at least want to try to keep it alive-I enjoy seeing her happily decorating her apartment.
The Challenges of Apartment Gardening
When I reached early adulthood and Mum moved to live with her boyfriend, I finally had the chance to do something with her apartment. I wanted more plants! However, I soon realized the flat was far too dark. It’s in an 11-story apartment building, and Mum’s place is on the second floor. Tall trees block the sun from the west-facing windows, so most of my green things didn’t flourish (read: they died). I managed to keep alive only those that can tolerate deep shade-like zamioculcas.
Mini-Gardening Experiments
During the pandemic, when we had to stay home, I tried mini-gardening on our balcony. I wanted to grow tomatoes and other easy vegetables. My grandma has a garden at her cottage and every year she grows tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, peas, cucumbers, zucchinis, and more. For a little context: during university and especially after starting my full-time job, I realized how amazing gardening is for relaxation. You just focus on the dirt, baby plants, and nothing else. Consulting is a demanding industry, and as I started my job just a few months before the pandemic hit, gardening was really helpful for my mental health.
Back to my gardening adventures. I tried primarily tomatoes and some herbs. Unfortunately, since they all require sunshine and even the balcony couldn’t provide enough, I ended up with maybe three tomatoes and practically no herbs. It’s fascinating how I can kill any herb-not just in this dark apartment. Even mint, which is basically a weed, didn’t survive. So sad. My husband (he’s the best) even bought me special grow lights to help the little plants, but I feel like they didn’t help much (or the plants would need them every day for the rest of their lives, which wasn’t possible on the balcony).
A New Apartment, A New Hope
Then we moved to our next apartment-a small two-bedroom place, but with slightly better lighting, which helped a lot. Most of my indoor plants were okay there. And interestingly, even though it was a small flat, I managed to squeeze in a lot of plants. My mother-in-law saw my new hobby and started supplying me with indoor plants, vegetable plants, and herbs. I got so many new ones that my husband now checks every green thing coming into our house, claiming I have too many. I have fun teasing him about it. But he’s partly right-I do have a lot now. I just need to figure out and prepare new places in our current apartment for them. Then, I can totally have more!
Anyway, in the second apartment, some indoor plants thrived. But I didn’t have much luck with tomatoes or herbs either. Tomatoes did a bit better, but just barely, and the herbs died again. But we were only there for one year, so just one gardening season-maybe it could have been better if I’d had a chance to try again.
Our Current Home: Room to Grow
Then we moved to our current home. We bought it (and took on a huge mortgage), so we’re staying here for a while. That means plenty of time to experiment with gardening. It’s still an apartment, but bigger, and with a huge terrace on the west side-a lot of potential!
First, the indoor plants. Despite the flat being much bigger, I can’t seem to find good places for the plants. We only have a couple of windows with sills; the other windows are either in the wrong place, or nothing can be placed in front of them, or they’re skylights. And since we started with a completely empty apartment, there were no surfaces for them (like cupboards or shelves). A year and a half later, I’m still trying to manage that. As we furnish the space, it’s getting better, but it’s still a long road ahead. For now, almost all the plants are on the windowsills, and especially the orchids seem to thrive there-they’re blooming all the time.
Our home is also very humid. That’s probably good for our health, but it also means it’s relatively easy to get mold. Not all plants love it; some prefer drier air. I have one plant that seems to thrive, but has moldy dirt on top (how it thrives like that is a mystery to me). I need to get rid of the mold. And last week, we found a small mushroom in another plant (interestingly, the same species as the moldy one). We threw it away, but it was really cute-looked a bit like a jellyfish.
Last Year’s Balcony Results
Last year, I tried planting more vegetables. My dad gave me zucchini, and my mother-in-law gave me tomatoes (about ten!), peppers, and cucumbers. We also bought a hot pepper plant for my husband (I don’t like spicy things, but he does, so I’m more than happy to try to grow them). The sunny terrace is the best so far (no surprise).
Here’s how it went:
- The tomatoes were rather below average, although I was thrilled with every red fruit. They were very late-we waited much longer than others in the area for the first fruits. However, we were still picking them almost into October.
- Peppers undoubtedly had the best results. They grew and fruited beautifully, probably enjoying the sun and warmth of the terrace. Unfortunately, when we tried to dry the hot peppers at home, they all turned moldy.
- Zucchinis and cucumbers grew and fruited just a little. I think they didn’t thrive with so much direct sun and heat.
- I also bought some strawberry plants that should fruit this year, and I got a berry bush. We’ll see how they do this season.
This Year’s Gardening Plans
I’ve been thinking for a long time about what I want to grow this year. But I already have the berry bush (curious how that will turn out) and strawberries, which already have a few blossoms. I’m so excited and hopeful that I’ll eat my own strawberry soon! After all, strawberries are the first ones to be picked.
My mother-in-law (I’m so lucky to have such amazing in-laws) gave me about eight tomato plants and two peppers. So that’s decided. I spent Sunday afternoon transplanting them outside onto the terrace into larger pots-it was time for them to face the outside world and try to survive. I’m also planning to buy another hot pepper plant and maybe one more thing, as I have one last pot free.
I should clarify: I actually have only about two proper pots for plants; the others are just old buckets with holes drilled in the bottom to allow water to drain. Last year, when I was delighted with our big terrace, I wanted to buy all the proper things (like raised garden beds), but I found out it’s all terribly expensive. So no, that wasn’t in our budget, but we made it work anyway. Maybe someday, when we have everything we want and need, I’ll buy those things. Or maybe we’ll build them ourselves (I’ve seen a lot of YouTube videos where people DIY everything, which amazes me and I’d love to be able to do that too).
The Therapeutic Benefits of Gardening for Sensitive Souls
If you’re a sensitive, introverted, or self-reflective person, gardening can offer so much more than just fresh herbs or flowers. It can become a gentle, grounding ritual-a way to reconnect with yourself and find peace when the world feels overwhelming.
Why Gardening Feels Different for Sensitive People
Many sensitive souls are deeply affected by their environment. The noise, the pace, and the demands of daily life can sometimes feel like too much. Gardening, even on a small scale, offers a quiet refuge. It’s a space where you can move at your own pace, listen to your own needs, and nurture something without pressure or judgment.
How Gardening Supports Emotional Wellbeing
1. Gardening creates a mindful pause.
Watering, pruning, and simply observing growth pulls you into the present moment. For a few minutes, you’re not worrying about work, relationships, or the world-you’re just here, with your plants. This mindful attention is a form of meditation that can calm anxious thoughts and help you reset.
2. It’s a safe space for imperfection.
Plants don’t judge if you forget to water them or if a tomato plant only produces three fruits. Every little success feels like a win, and every setback is just part of the journey. For sensitive people who may be hard on themselves, gardening is a reminder that growth is not always linear-and that’s okay.
3. Nurturing plants nurtures self-compassion.
When I care for my plants, I’m reminded to care for myself. If a plant struggles, I try again. If I struggle, I try again. There’s comfort in that cycle. Each new leaf or blossom feels like a small personal victory, and each droopy stem is just a gentle nudge to adjust and try something new.
4. Gardening connects you to something bigger.
Even in an apartment, tending to a living thing can help you feel part of the natural world. Watching the seasons change, seeing tiny seeds transform into green shoots, and noticing the resilience of even the smallest plant can be deeply reassuring.
Practical Ways to Make Gardening Work for Sensitive Souls
- Start with easy, forgiving plants.
Try a pothos, snake plant, or zamioculcas. These thrive on minimal attention and will forgive the occasional missed watering. - Create a soothing gardening ritual.
Set aside a few minutes each day or week to check on your plants. Make it a time for quiet, reflection, and gentle music if you like. - Celebrate small wins.
Notice every new leaf, every blossom, and every tiny bit of growth. Let these moments remind you that progress-no matter how small-is worth celebrating. - Accept imperfection.
Not every plant will thrive, and that’s okay. Use these moments as reminders to be gentle with yourself, too. - Share your journey.
Connect with others online or in person who understand the ups and downs of plant care. You’ll find you’re not alone, and your experience might encourage someone else.
My Personal Reflection
For me, gardening has become a quiet form of self-care. On tough days, just touching the soil or misting my orchids helps me feel more grounded. When I see a new shoot or a stubborn plant finally bloom, I feel a sense of hope and accomplishment that extends beyond the pot.
If you’re feeling sensitive or overwhelmed, try starting with a single plant. Notice how tending to it makes you feel. Even a small green friend can offer surprising comfort-and remind you that growth, in all its forms, is something to be celebrated.
What’s your biggest plant challenge? Share your story in the comments.
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