It is often advised to have a baby before you grow a plant. The idea behind this statement is to get comfortable with the responsibility that comes with taking care of another living being. You will soon discover that your plant is pretty similar to a kid in many aspects.
A look at how growing plants is similar to raising a kid
When a fetus grows in a mother’s womb, it gets the required nutrition from what the mother eats. Thus, eating a healthy, balanced diet nurtures both: the mother and the baby. Similarly, till the germination of the seed, the baby plants (called seedlings or saplings) do not require fertilizers because the cotyledons (the halves of a seed) provide the initial nutrition. They also contain healthy polyunsaturated fats, monounsaturated fats, and significant vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for the initial growth of a plant. Hence, a nutrition-rich and quality seed is important for a healthy plant.
A newborn baby doesn’t require anything other than the mother’s milk for almost 6 months of their lives. Similarly, seedlings require a small amount of nutrients – mainly Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium – only after a week when they have 4-5 true leaves.
Just like genetics determines the baby’s characteristics like looks and health in the future, a plant’s characteristics are also determined by the quality of the seed we choose to grow the plant from.
When the plants are still young, they are just adorable and it is so much fun to find the ideal pots for them. This is fundamentally the same as dressing a baby in the cutest little outfit. As babies require constant nurturing to grow into children, when a seed is planted, it needs to be looked after constantly until it is a sapling.
There is no perfect fertilizer or nutrient solution for all plants. Plant nutrient needs depend on the plant species, stage of plant development, the season of the year, and environmental conditions. Every plant requires different photoperiods, water, etc. depending upon the above-mentioned factors. Some plants like the Snake Plant-like water once every two weeks whereas other plants would need to be watered every single day. Babies also have customized feeding schedules based on their energy requirements, age, eating habits, likes, and dislikes, etc.
Baby plants need lots of attention and pampering, with attention to whether or not their soil is dry or wet kind of like a baby’s diaper. A plant can be grown in normal soil or with good fertile soil and a fancy pot with the desired location.
As parents, we want our children to always eat the healthiest food possible. You would be surprised to know that too much compost or manure is harmful for plants too. Overeating can cause obesity in your kids; likewise, the use of excess fertilizer can result in several problems, such as nutrient loss, soil acidification or basification, surface water and groundwater contamination, reductions in beneficial microbial communities, and increased sensitivity to harmful insects.
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As parents, we want our children to always eat the healthiest food possible. You would be surprised to know that too much compost or manure is harmful for plants too. Overeating can cause obesity in your kids; likewise, the use of excess fertilizer can result in several problems, such as nutrient loss, soil acidification or basification, surface water and groundwater contamination, reductions in beneficial microbial communities, and increased sensitivity to harmful insects.
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Kids cry, remain quiet, or even get upset when they are distressed. Similarly, plants show signs like leaves turning brown, crumbling, wilting when they are distressed, under a pest attack, under-watered, or overwatered. Kids of all ages need lots of attention to detail when they appear to be going through a rough patch. Every good parent attempts various things to see how their kids can flourish again. With plants, it takes a lot of experimentation, trial and error to discover why they are not thriving. Sometimes they are getting too much sun while others may be just too cold and have to be placed in a new location. Kids -especially, teens-tend to talk less when you start asking them too many questions; right?
Sometimes plants simply don’t react well to endless attempts at revitalization and you just need to chill out and learn the mantra “less is more.” If you pay careful attention to your kids they will astonish you with little gifts. In the exact same way, sometimes your plants surprise you with a new flower and you see the fruits of your hard work when you were least expecting it. As a parent, it is tough to see your child unwell. You try all the possible ways to relieve them from their pain and discomfort. But you also avoid giving them antibiotics which can cause problems like allergic reactions, side effects, and antibiotic resistance. Similarly, we should avoid using too many chemicals for our beloved pants.
Just like humans, plants also can be poisoned by exposure to toxic chemicals. It can cause waterway pollution, chemical burns in crops, increased air pollution, and acidification and mineral depletion of the soil. A plant lover like a mother would stick to the organic ways for plant nutrition, diseases, and pest control. Mothers spend quality time with their children to create a secure bond with their children, allowing the child to grow with secure attachments and confidence. The time you invest in nurturing your bond with the child will show in his/her positive development and growth.
Similarly, plants do require nurturing and the time you spend taking care of them will strengthen your bond with them. The stronger your bond with your plant, the more you will take care of its well-being. We all turn to some people who have experience with kids when we are attempting to sort out the right thing to do. In a similar fashion, we also turn to friends or experienced people and plant books when a plant just won’t flourish. Sometimes we hear different and contradictory recommendations about a certain problem. But we have to find a suitable way out for ourselves by closely observing the plant. It’s the same as getting different tips on parenting. We delightfully love to see our babies growing with the proper discipline and responsibility. Similarly, it brings immense pleasure for a gardener to see plants growing from seeds. Every flower that blooms brings so much joy to the heart. How are you growing your plants? Are you taking enough care of them just like you do for your baby? Do share with us your experience of growing your favorite plant.
References:
https://aptparenting.com/raising-child-is-like-planting-caring-for-tree
https://www.theladybirdlanding.com/post/why-how-to-raise-babies-baby-plants-that-is
https://www.kveller.com/planting-a-vegetable-garden-is-a-lot-like-raising-children/ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/10-ways-raising-house-pla_b_5560540
https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/magazine-tricks-to-keep-indoor-plants-healthy-growing-and-blooming/
Plagiarism: https://smallseotools.com/view-report/d378ba4d2ef0f5e5749b4837dad7f08a/
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