Gardening and caring for houseplants increased in popularity throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Caring for plants gave us something to focus on and they were available for purchase at most stores that were still considered necessary to be open (I would know, I was working at a plant nursery at the time). As we continue on with life, I wondered about the impact of houseplants today, especially for the 2SLGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent communities.  

Queer houseplants? What makes a houseplant queer? 

1. Houseplants have complex genders and sexual activities: Queer Ecology combines Queer Theory with nature science to highlight how aspects of the natural world do not follow cisnormativity and heteronormativity. For instance, most flowering plants, like the orchid, are hermaphroditic. If a plant can grow both female and male parts and reproduce with a variety of partners, why can’t humans have diverse genders and sexualities? Simply put, plants help affirm our identity by validating that our identities are natural.
2. Each plant is unique and precious, just like queer people: Queer Ecology does not align with the idea that humans are somehow above other species and plants. This notion may be meaningful to us as we might sometimes feel like less valuable human beings in our discriminatory society. If every animal, bug, and plant can be special and cherished, the same should be said for every human. 
3. They give us something to care for: Having children is a complicated topic for queer people, whether it’s due to physical barriers or more ethical/environmental concerns. We often turn to fostering, adopting, and getting pets. However, if you don’t like these options or they don’t work for you, getting a plant or two might be a good way to cultivate your own nurturing instincts.
4. They help us care for ourselves: In a society that might try to make us hate ourselves, loving and caring for ourselves is a rebellion. Plants help us do this by considering our own needs as we care for them. They can teach us that speaking kind words can help them and ourselves thrive. Research also finds that plants themselves appear to be therapeutic (although we are not quite sure why – some explanations relate to the plants’ delightful colours, their pheromones and air purifying, or the soil microbiome). Whatever the root reason, plants help us slow down and participate in self-care. 

Picking out a plant that works for you! 

1. Colours and shapes do matter: you want your plant to appeal to you, visual presentation is part of the therapeutic value.
2. How much do you like to water:
   1. Rarely: succulents, ZZ plants, tradescantia, and snake plants are good options for you.
   2. Sometimes: pothos and spider plants will tell you when they want to be watered (drooping, turning grey, respectively). Ivies and crotons are also good options, but harder to know when to water. Orchids want a couple of ice cubes every week or two.
   3. Most of the time: palms, dracaena, philodendrons.
   4. A lot: peace lilies (with good quality water and drainage) or ferns are good options for you.
3. How much care do you like to put into your plants?
   1. Almost none: succulents, ZZ plants, snake plants, philodendrons (including pothos), tradescantia, and spider plants are good options.
   2. Some care: Ficus, palms, orchids.
   3. Lots: most flowering plants or herbs/veggies, bananas, and bonsai.   
4. How much sun will they get?
   1. House lights to some sunlight: pothos, ZZ plants, cast iron, ferns, spider plants, and snake plants.
   2. Lots (but indirect): peace lilies, philodendrons, most houseplants
   3. Lots (direct): succulents, crotons when gently introduced, herbs/veggies. 

References 

Bennett, M. (2023, June 30). Queer ecology – embracing diversity in the natural world. British Ecological Society. https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/introducing-queer-ecology-embracing-diversity-in-the-natural-world/ 

Johnston, E. (2023, September 12). Celebrating Queer Nature. Kew. https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/queer-nature 

McQuillan, S. (2019, September 14). 11 ways plants enhance your mental and emotional health. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cravings/201909/11-ways-plants-enhance-your-mental-and-emotional-health?msockid=1be7dced673f62e0227cc8f8669563bc 

Sandilands, C. “52. Queer Ecology”. Keywords for Environmental Studies, edited by Joni Adamson, William A. Gleason and David N. Pellow, New York, USA: New York University Press, 2016, pp. 169-171. https://doi.org/10.18574/nyu/9780814760741.003.0057