Plant therapy became the label for the mental health benefits millennials and Gen Z found in houseplants during the 2017-2020 boom.
The Mental Health Angle
Houseplants offered: nurturing (caring for living things), routine (watering schedules), achievement (new growth), aesthetics (green spaces reduce stress), and purpose. For apartment dwellers without yards or pets, plants filled the void.
Instagram plant parents from 2017 onward posted captions like “plants saved my mental health,” “my leafy therapists,” and “cheaper than therapy.” The hashtag #PlantTherapy hit millions of posts.
The Science (Sort Of)
Studies showed indoor plants reduce stress, improve air quality (minimally), and increase productivity. But the effect was often overstated — NASA’s 1989 air study required impractical plant density.
The real benefit seemed psychological: having something to care for, watching growth, creating green space.
Pandemic Boom
COVID-19 lockdowns (2020) sent houseplant sales soaring. With therapy sessions moved online and outdoor activities limited, plants became coping mechanisms. Nurseries sold out; Facebook Marketplace plant prices doubled.
Source
- The Atlantic: “Why Millennials Are So Into Houseplants” (March 2018)
- Instagram peak: September 2017+
- Pandemic plant boom: March-December 2020