Wellness = People + Plants

by Danny Summers

Our industry devotes a tremendous amount of effort to Plant Health (or Plant Wellness). Offering a healthy plant is at the core of what we do. If it is not healthy, it just doesn't sell.

What we don't spend much time on is the Wellness of People. Obviously, each of us is very concerned about our overall health and the health of everyone around us. But, there is a growing movement on a connection between the two, hence the subject today... Wellness = People + Plants.

Seventeen months ago, at The Fall Event 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sid Raisch made a statement during his presentation. He said, "One of the biggest opportunities our Garden Centers have to connect and serve our audiences is the Wellness Message."

Obviously, Group Centers have experienced a growing base of knowledge over the past years on how important Plants, Gardening, and Nature are to our Well-Being.

Sid's point was you have an opportunity to connect Wellness messaging to a growing audience that sees it as an important issue for them. And, of course, your messaging would be at a very organic level (I realize the word choice of "organic" in this sentence seems like a pun, but when you think about it... it is very true).

Last week, as I was writing this message, I saw several things in my inbox to support this theme. Monrovia's Katie Tamony shared the following message in their weekly email and included a different twist to the term "color drenching"... as Green Drenching:

Green Drenching
"Are you craving a sense of Calm from your garden? 53% of homeowners we surveyed tell us they strongly agree that gardening is good for their mental health and well-being. That is why we've been seeing a growing demand for Monrovia plants that help you bathe your backyard in layers of calming green." See Katie's full message HERE.

In the same hour, I saw Joey and Kim Bokor at Kerby's Nursery share with their audience the following mini-seminar as part of their Spring Fling event on Saturday...

"More reasons to love your plants! Dawn Addison, a dual-certified nurse practitioner specializing in both adult/geriatric and psychiatric care, is joining us to share the benefits of Plant Therapy. Dawn uses innovative, outside-the-box approaches in her work - she will delight you by bringing a royal flair to her seminar." See Kerby's full message HERE.

Dirt Needed for a Healthy International Space Station?
And to add even more healthy messaging to this theme, I saw an article from The Guardian (a United Kingdom publication), titled "Space station’s lack of dirt may damage astronauts’ health, says study". Here's just a small portion of the story:

"Excessive cleanliness is not generally regarded as a downside when it comes to travel accommodation. However, scientists have concluded that the International Space Station is so sterile that it could be having a negative impact on astronauts’ health and have suggested making it “dirtier.”

The study found that the ISS is largely devoid of environmental microbes found in soil and water that are thought to be beneficial to the immune system. The lack of microbial diversity could help to explain why astronauts often experience immune-related health problems such as rashes, cold sores, fungal infections, and shingles.

In the future, putting these microbes in space stations could improve astronaut health without sacrificing hygiene, the researchers advised."

Another similar theme message I heard as I was listening to our favorite Sirius XM Radio channel... an ad (I know... they don't usually have ads) ran for this new SXM Channel...

Music for Plants
The Music for Plants channel on SiriusXM plays music specifically selected to promote growth and well-being for plants. Instrumental music, nature sounds, and ambient pieces evoke a peaceful atmosphere to keep your plants company and provide relaxing vibrations for their health. Plant lovers may also appreciate these comforting sounds for mood and a calming environment.

I also found the following web article offers a little more explanation behind why music may be helpful for plants. You can read "Music for Plants – What Helps Plants Grow and What Doesn’t" HERE.

I know this message is becoming pretty long, but I can't help it. It seems like we are seeing the Wellness = People + Plants themed messages around every corner.

My question is, are you leveraging these trends in your messaging to your audience?

It seems like a "natural" opportunity for you!

Danny Summers
[email protected]
Tel: 678-909-7770
Cell: 678-761-7145

REMEMBER: Your interaction (by phone and email) with Group Service Providers such as Tim Quebedeaux, Sid Raisch, John Kennedy, Jean Seawright, and of course Danny Summers are included in your retainer!