Esther E. McGinnis, Horticulturist

NDSU Extension

Despite my best efforts, I thought I had failed to pass on my love of gardening to my daughter. For years, she laughed at my passion for all things green. That changed this spring.

Weary from an exhausting year at college, she deleted social media and poured herself into a burgeoning love of houseplants. She carefully transplanted rootbound plants, started propagating succulents and agonized over when to water plants. She took an active interest in designing our flower and herb pots for the deck. While nurturing her plants and creating plant-filled spaces, she slowly began to perk up and seem more human.

This gives me hope that Gen Z and other generations will pour themselves into gardening and creating green spaces as an antidote to the dehumanizing influence and the mental stresses of online life in general. Humans have an innate desire to slow down and connect with nature. Research compiled by Charles Hall and Melinda Knuth at Texas A&M supports what we intuitively know: human-plant interactions result in significant emotional and mental health benefits.

Time spent in outdoor green spaces, such as parks and gardens, can reduce anxiety and stress. This can be objectively measured by lower heart rates and cortisol levels, as well as deeper breaths. In urban areas, high percentages of green space relative to built areas correlate with improved overall resident health.         

Green spaces also improve attention and concentration. A 2003 study by Bernadine Cimprich and David L. Ronis researched recently diagnosed breast cancer patients. These patients frequently suffer from attention fatigue because they must digest large amounts of medical information and make consequential treatment decisions in a short time. To counteract the cognitive overload, researchers asked half of the patients to spend two hours at a botanical garden per week before and after surgery. The time could be spent sitting in a garden watching the birds and flowers or strolling through the gardens, admiring the natural beauty. Compared with the control group, the garden group reported greater concentration levels on various tasks.

Indoor plants can be beneficial to mental health, too. In the workplace, plant-filled interiors increase productivity by boosting attention spans, reducing stress levels and improving overall well-being. One study showed that adding plants to a windowless office increased the speed of computer tasks by 12%. Unfortunately, plants can’t make up for a bad boss, but they can lower your blood pressure!

This is just the tip of the iceberg. The above examples capture some of the benefits of passive green activities. When you combine exercise and green spaces, something magical happens. Gardening, walking and cycling in green spaces can temporarily increase self-esteem and mood. Thankfully, vigorous and lengthy exercise sessions aren’t required to gain these benefits.

As we spend more time indoors and online, it is important to set aside time to connect with nature. If your child starts developing a houseplant collection, it may be the gateway to a world of nature, gardening and mental health benefits.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – June 2, 2026

Source: Esther McGinnis, 701-231-7406, esther.mcginnis@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu