Adding plants to your living space adds an element of calm and tranquility. Watching them grow and thrive under your care is rewarding and can feel meaningful in a small way. Not only do they purify the air of toxins within your home, but that splash of green and life can also instantly transform any room and make it feel safer and cozier. The impact that house plants make on our well being at home is very similar to how poetry affects our overall moods and fills us with inspiration, emotion, and peace. Here are five houseplants and poetry collection pairings to nourish you and your living space today.
Peace Lily Plant
One of the more popular houseplants for its ease to maintain, the peace lily’s simplistic look of glossy leaves and beautiful white lilies provides a minimalistic touch of simplicity to any room. The white lily flowers (known as a spathe) begin blooming with a twist at first before flourishing and revealing their yellow or white spadix in the center. The right light conditions, a mixture of sunlight and shade, are required for the flowers to bloom, which can take a couple of months. This gentle yet durable plant pairs perfectly with becoming by Renaada Williams. With a message that light is always at the end of the tunnel, Renaada Williams’s 100+ poems are short, personal, emotional tributes to the things that make us different and a celebration of all the things that make us the same.
Fiddle-Leaf Fig Tree
The fiddle-leaf fig tree produces long, elegant stems and branches with broad, leathery leaves. They need a little extra attention as they prefer as much sunlight as possible. Placing them under a skylight or next to a window is recommended. Their elegance and strength pair nicely with break your glass slippers by Amanda Lovelace. The first book in her new series “You Are Your Own Fairytale,” break your glass slippers is about overcoming those who don’t see your worth, even if that person is sometimes yourself.
Split-Leaf Philodendron
The split-leaf philodendron, or monstera deliciosa, has a distinctive leaf that looks as though it’s been gently cut into by a careful hand. These leaves are durable and easily replantable. If you cut off the top—as long as it has air roots attached—and replant it, it will bloom where it’s planted to produce as many split-leaf philodendrons as you like. This plant’s beauty and willingness to regrow reminds me of a fire like you, a fierce and lyrical collection by Upile Chisala. In this collection, Chisala grapples with themes of love, loss, and desire and explores her identity as a black Malawian woman. Offering intimate reflections on her life and experiences, imparting a stirring, universal message of empowerment and self-love, this poetry collection celebrates the moments of triumph and beauty in our lives.
Snake Plant
With sword-shaped leaves winding gently from the soil like charmed snakes from a basket, this indoor house plant strikes a balance between order and chaos. This plant can be a statement piece in any room you add it to. The fierceness of this plant pairs well with Justin Wetch’s forthcoming poetry collection Our Naked Souls. These poems lay bare a spectacular love, a devastating heartbreak, and a spiritual self-transformation along the way. Welch tackles the most universal and daunting human experience—love—through intense emotions, a struggle with anxiety and mental health, and a contemplation of some of life’s biggest questions.
Mistletoe Cactus
The mistletoe cactus looks similar to a succulent with its textures and vibrant green coloring. This sturdy plant does best in indirect light, but it can survive in low light, as well; just make sure to bring it into the light every once in a while to help it recharge. This durable cactus pairs well with Cult of Two by Michael Faudet. This collection goes deep, delving into the meaning of love, the intricacy of relationships, self-empowerment, seduction, and sex. Described as whimsical, much like our mistletoe cactus, Cult of Two is a compelling invitation to confront and explore the conflicting emotions that live within all of us.
