“Organic Growth: 5 Plant Inspired Insights"
March 21st, 2022
About this time a year ago I decided to leave an unfulfilling job and move to Brooklyn, NY, in an effort to spark my creativity. Unfortunately, the job market was not ideal for a growing UX Designer and my rent wasn’t going to pay itself. In pursuit of funds, I carried my resume to every cafe in Bedsty, but COVID had proved detrimental to the part-time job market as well.
Leaving a cafe on Bedford Ave, I happened upon two dreadlocked Caribbeans drenched in sweat, loading a handful of paper wrapped Fiddle Leaf Figs into a truck. I approached and jokingly mentioned how skilled I was at “picking things up and setting them back down” should they need a new part time worker. Little did I know that this would be my introduction into the world of Horticulture.
For the next ten months, I was blessed with the opportunity to work intimately with plants of all shapes and sizes as I continued to grow as a freelance UX designer on the side. Below are the 5 most easily translatable lessons on personal growth that I was able to absorb from our chlorophyll laden friends.
About this time a year ago I decided to leave an unfulfilling job and move to Brooklyn, NY, in an effort to spark my creativity. Unfortunately, the job market was not ideal for a growing UX Designer and my rent wasn’t going to pay itself. In pursuit of funds, I carried my resume to every cafe in Bedsty, but COVID had proved detrimental to the part-time job market as well.
Leaving a cafe on Bedford Ave, I happened upon two dreadlocked Caribbeans drenched in sweat, loading a handful of paper wrapped Fiddle Leaf Figs into a truck. I approached and jokingly mentioned how skilled I was at “picking things up and setting them back down” should they need a new part time worker. Little did I know that this would be my introduction into the world of Horticulture.
For the next ten months, I was blessed with the opportunity to work intimately with plants of all shapes and sizes as I continued to grow as a freelance UX designer on the side. Below are the 5 most easily translatable lessons on personal growth that I was able to absorb from our chlorophyll laden friends.
1. Cutting back allows for new growth.
Sometimes a well established house plant will stop growing or even begin losing some of its leaves. There are many possible solutions to reinvigorate the plant, but oftentimes scaling the plant back down a bit will promote new growth in new directions, allowing the plant to healthily readjust.
I’ve noticed that when I’m always giving 110% for an extended period of time, I’m faced with burnout, stagnation, or even atrophy. Periods, or seasons, of rest, are just as important as seasons of growth.
2. Overwatering can be more damaging than underwatering.
Many first time plant parents will make the mistake of thinking their plant needs more water just because the surface looks dry. However, overwatering can cause significantly more damage to the plant than underwatering.
A plant with consistently damp soil is susceptible to root rot, fungus gnats, and cytolysis, all of which can hamper growth. At times, the best care a plant can get is skipping a watering.
Similar to a website with poor UX, an overwhelming amount of information or thought can often lead to indecision. Borrowing from Eastern Philosophy, sometimes the best course of action is inaction, giving the mind space and time to calmly make the next decision, if one needs to even be made at all.
1. Cutting back allows for new growth.
Sometimes a well established house plant will stop growing or even begin losing some of its leaves. There are many possible solutions to reinvigorate the plant, but oftentimes scaling the plant back down a bit will promote new growth in new directions, allowing the plant to healthily readjust.
I’ve noticed that when I’m always giving 110% for an extended period of time, I’m faced with burnout, stagnation, or even atrophy. Periods, or seasons, of rest, are just as important as seasons of growth.
2. Overwatering can be more damaging than underwatering.
Many first time plant parents will make the mistake of thinking their plant needs more water just because the surface looks dry. However, overwatering can cause significantly more damage to the plant than underwatering. A plant with consistently damp soil is susceptible to root rot, fungus gnats, and cytolysis, all of which can hamper growth. At times, the best care a plant can get is skipping a watering.
Similar to a website with poor UX, an overwhelming amount of information or thought can often lead to indecision. Borrowing from Eastern Philosophy, sometimes the best course of action is inaction, giving the mind space and time to calmly make the next decision, if one needs to even be made at all.
3. Some plants just aren’t cut out for certain environments.
Plants have spent the better part of 700 million years, or so I’m told, evolving in ways that allow for their survival and growth in particular environments. Forcing a plant to completely adapt to a new environment overnight will often result in a distressed plant. Yes, the plant may be exotic, but there are plenty of beautiful plants here that were built for this environment.
In an effort to succeed, we sometimes knowingly put ourselves in environments that don’t suit us, thinking the long term benefits will pay off. But some people just aren’t cut out for corporate, some people need order and discipline, and some people love surrounding themselves with quirky individuals, and that’s all ok. The environment that encourages me to grow, is the environment I want to set roots in.
4. Growth takes time.
Plants are always growing, but visible growth doesn’t happen overnight and can never be forced. By providing the plant with the sunlight, water, and soil conditions it needs, we allow the plant to grow at its own pace.
Every time I began a new adventure, whether it was the Navy, UX, or even art, I wanted to know everything about everything overnight. I wanted to read all the right books and watch all the right videos. But growth can never be forced, it can only be encouraged with consistency. Rushing growth will do nothing but generate anxiety and disappointment.
3. Some plants just aren’t cut out for certain environments.
Plants have spent the better part of 700 million years, or so I’m told, evolving in ways that allow for their survival and growth in particular environments. Forcing a plant to completely adapt to a new environment overnight will often result in a distressed plant. Yes, the plant may be exotic, but there are plenty of beautiful plants here that were built for this environment.
In an effort to succeed, we oftentimes put ourselves in environments that don’t suit us, thinking the long term benefits will pay off. But some people just aren’t cut out for corporate, some people need order and discipline, and some people love surrounding themselves with quirky individuals, and that’s all ok. The environment that encourages me to grow, is the environment I want to set roots in.
4. Growth takes time.
Plants are always growing, but visible growth doesn’t happen overnight and can never be forced. By providing the plant with the sunlight, water, and soil conditions it needs, we allow the plant to grow at its own pace.
Every time I began a new adventure, whether it was the Navy, UX, or even art, I wanted to know everything about everything overnight. I wanted to read all the right books and watch all the right videos. But growth can never be forced, it can only be encouraged with consistency. Rushing growth will do nothing but generate anxiety and disappointment.
5. Plants grow towards the Sun.
5. Plants grow towards the Sun.
Plants have light sensitive proteins that help them turn towards the sun in an effort to absorb more energy. To the best of our knowledge, there is no conscious thought that goes into this movement, the plant simply “feels the sun” and effortlessly bends towards it.
Listening to Phantom Regret, the song that inspired this entire post, Jim Carey states, “Consider the flowers, they don’t try to look right, they just open their petals and turn to the light.” The biggest lesson I’ve learned from plants this year is that you must always, always, turn towards your Sun, regardless of what everyone else is doing. Follow YOUR goals and YOUR dreams, without letting the opinions and insecurities of others direct you.
Plants have light sensitive proteins that help them turn towards the sun in an effort to absorb more energy. To the best of our knowledge, there is no conscious thought that goes into this movement, the plant simply “feels the sun” and effortlessly bends towards it.
Listening to Phantom Regret, the song that inspired this entire post, Jim Carey states, “Consider the flowers, they don’t try to look right, they just open their petals and turn to the light.” The biggest lesson I’ve learned from plants this year is that you must always, always, turn towards your Sun, regardless of what everyone else is doing. Follow YOUR goals and YOUR dreams, without letting the opinions and insecurities of others direct you.
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