Discover a brief history of indoor plants in our latest blog post, and why our love of indoor plants is actually nothing new.
Indoor plants have been experiencing a steady rise in popularity since the early 2000’s, but the last 2 years of pandemic-related lockdowns has seen their popularly increase exponentially. Suddenly indoor plants were the next big pandemic trend, with many people filling the void in their social lives – and homes – with an influx of plants.
Perhaps it was because, confined to our homes, we were looking for ways to take back control. And a home full of plants that require nurture and care appealed to our desire to beautify our environment and connect with nature (biophilia is a subject we’ve discussed at length on this blog) and gave us a small measure of control in an uncertain time.
Nothing new under the sun
But our obsession with indoor plants is actually nothing new. Did you know that in the past, indoor plants were a status symbol, reserved for only those with lots of disposable income?
The history of indoor plants is thought to go back earlier than Christianity. Wealthy Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans are all documented to have kept houseplants in their sprawling estates. They were seen as a novelty and only the rich had the resources (slaves!) required for the careful tending that imported houseplants required.
The Romans preferred to keep their plants in marble pots (rather than the terracotta pots favoured by the Greeks) and went to great lengths to collect the largest and brightest flowers possible, importing plants from conquered territories such as Egypt and the European continent.
European expansion
The history of indoor plants took a big leap forward when Europeans started exploring the “New World” in the 1600’s and explorers transported precious cargoes of ‘exotic’ plants across the Atlantic, back to Europe.
On reaching Spain, Portugal, Italy, or France, the plants were presented as gifts to the royals who had sponsored the expedition, or to other wealthy citizens.
Plant patrons quickly discovered, however, that the climate in Europe was not remotely similar to that of the Americas – to the detriment of their imported exotics. The solution – the greenhouse – was a way to preserve these exotic plants in cooler climates, and the elite started building greenhouses, conservatories and orangeries to show off their new plant acquisitions … and of course their wealth.
The Victorian obsession with indoor plants
Fast forward once again to the Victorian age, when growing indoor plants turned from a hobby into a full-blown obsession as increasing numbers of tropical and sub-tropical plants were brought back from across the globe. The aspidistra, first introduced from China in 1823, soon earned its common name of ‘Cast-Iron Plant’, capable of surviving the darkest, most fume-polluted Victorian homes.
Ferns, palms, jasmine and fuchsia were hugely popular amongst the wealthy. Owning plants meant you were a person of means, so indoor plants became something to aspire to.
This coincided with the fact that for the first time, people were able to heat their homes. Warmer homes also meant higher ceilings, larger windows, and more sunlight indoors (and happier indoor plants). Books and magazines on gardening and houseplants also became more popular -alongside home decoration advice manuals – in which houseplants increasingly played a role in interior design.
The post-War era
The start of the 20th century saw a shift in attitudes towards houseplants. After the First World War plant-infested interiors suddenly seemed very old-fashioned. Cacti and succulents became the houseplants of choice as their more architectural shapes fitted the style of the day.
As more women entered the workplace after World War two, they brought with them hardy “work plants” to liven up their sterile, “masculine” workplaces.
“Work plants” were not just any plant. They were specifically tailored to office life, so most could survive a variety of temperature and humidity conditions, and also withstand weeks without water during holidays. Succulents were an obvious choice.
Which brings us to today
I’d argue that things haven’t actually changed that much, and that the current obsession with indoor plants has us all believing that the more plants you have, the happier you are, and the better your life is.
And at Ambius we certainly agree that plants make for happier, healthier interiors. No longer just for the wealthy, indoor plants have become a symbol of beauty, wellness, and clean living. We believe that any interior is better for the addition of indoor plants, but especially workplaces, where plants can enhance productivity, mood and wellness.
At Ambius we believe everyone should have access to the benefits that indoor and office plants can bring, and it’s our job to remove the hassle and stress of acquiring and caring for your indoor plants.
Contact us today and arrange for one of our experts to visit your workplace and create a proposal for you.
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