Ah, January. The time of year when the holiday excitement has come and gone, and we’re looking at approximately another six weeks of minimal sunlight, cold temperatures, and lots of snow here in Bismarck.
If you’re a gardening enthusiast, it’s also about the time of year that you likely start longing to be digging in the dirt in the bright summer sunshine rather than looking out the window at the winter drab. Unfortunately, we’ve got a few months to go until we can do that again.
Here are five ways that a trip to the local greenhouse or garden center can help improve your mood in even the darkest of winter days.
Plants Are Proven to Help Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder
The middle of January is about the time when the Winter Blues (also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD) hit their pique. This is due to a considerable reduction in active hours of sunlight, and in turn, the amount of vitamin D available to help keep our melatonin and serotonin levels at a comfortable, functioning level. It can affect your energy, mood, appetite, and even your ability to sleep.
Luckily for gardening and plant enthusiasts, surrounding yourself with plants has been proven to help kick those winter blues! Take a trip to a greenhouse simply to bask in the therapeutic qualities of plants, which help boost productivity, creativity, and give your lungs a nice oxygen boost.
You Can Start an Indoor Gardening Routine
Keep the greenhouse vibes rolling by adopting some new plant friends to brighten up your home office or living room. Since light levels can be a challenge in the wintertime, consider picking up a houseplant that can handle a little shade. Pothos, rex begonias, anthurium, snake plants, zz plants, and philodendrons can thrive in relatively low light.
Spider plants, ferns, and peace lilies are also renowned for their air-purifying capabilities, making them ideal houseplants to have around in the winter months. Once you get your new houseplant collection all settled, you can bask in the therapeutic and meditative practice of indoor gardening for the rest of the winter.
Start Planning Early for the Upcoming Gardening Season
January is a great time for goal setting, so why not head out to daydream about what your garden could look like in the upcoming season and start planning now? By the time the first little tulip bulb shoots start to poke their little green heads out, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running!
Connect with Fellow Gardening Enthusiasts
Being stuck inside all winter can feel a little bit lonely, particularly for those working from home full time. If you’re itching to talk about gardening this winter, a quick trip to the local garden center will surely help you find a fast friend who would be more than happy to oblige. Whether you talk to a staff member or a fellow gardener just waiting for green grass and the growing season, we’d encourage you to give it a try!
Take a Little Mini Tropical Vacation Right in Your Hometown
There’s a reason so many people fly to tropical places in the depths of winter, and it’s not just for the sunshine and margaritas. Your local greenhouse is likely excitedly stocking up on all sorts of gorgeous tropical plants right about now, so head on down to soak it all in, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
