Indoor plant maintenance can be very close to caring for your own needs as a human. Once you notice that plants and humans can be very similar in their shared needs, caring for plants becomes much easier. Here are five basic needs that plants and humans have in common.

Light

Sunlight for plants is essential to survival. Plants use photosynthesis to convert light, oxygen, and water into energy which they need to grow. And while humans will not necessarily wither away due to lack of exposure to the sun, it is essential for producing vitamin D in the body which promotes bone health and regulates other functions such as the immune system and cell growth.

In winter, as the sun becomes weaker and nighttime begins earlier, sometimes both humans and plants may need a little bit of a supplement. Consider extra light sources for plants or a SAD lamp for yourself.

Air temperature and circulation

Just as humans require comfortable temperatures to live in, plants do as well. Air temperature helps to regulate systems in both humans and plants and drastic changes to temperature can lead to ailments in both organisms. The ideal temperature for plant growth is usually around 21-24 C. Air circulation is also necessary to both humans and plants as it provides both with fresh oxygen, can change the temperature, and prevents too much moisture from sticking around.

Water

Water is essential to keeping everything in our body running. From our hearts, to our lungs, our kidneys, to our brain; water is life. The next time you’re thinking of going away for a month and not watering your plants, think about what it would be like to go a few days without water. While we don’t share the same amount of need for water, in the end, it is necessary to keep both humans and plants alive.

Water needs also don’t come down to just direct watering into the soil or our mouths. It also means water in the air - humidity. Just as we find discomfort with too dry conditions or overly humid conditions, so do plants.

Nutrients

Vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates — plants need them as much as we do!

Just as humans need a good balance of nutrients to survive, so do plants. Plants absorb nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium through the soil they live in so it’s important that you choose the right soil and supplement their feeding during growing seasons with fertilizer.

Space

Have you ever left a plant to grow in a pot much too small for much too long? Doesn’t end well, does it? Plants use their roots to absorb nutrients, collect information, and communicate with the rest of the plant. When roots are neglected and left in spaces where they cannot grow, it can lead to root rot, the halting of growth, and simply a sick and suffering plant. Imagine if your head was too small for your brain. Or if you were forced to wear the same t-shirt all through childhood, puberty, and adulthood. Not very comfortable, right?