In early May 2016 ago, I had an interesting conversation with a fellow plant lover who runs a flower shop nearby. I had popped in to ask if he had a certain indoor favourite—the Pilea Peperomia—in stock. He did. While chatting, he mentioned something that completely surprised me:
Pregnant women are his biggest customers!
This intrigued me deeply, especially since I had a similar experience. In fact, Nanjala Blooms launched when I was pregnant with my first child. That got me curious—why exactly do pregnant women love plants so much? Here are some not-so-obvious reasons, many drawn from my own journey.
Plants Add Cheer and Calm to the Home
Pregnancy is a season filled with anticipation, and sometimes, anxiety. Adding greenery to your home or nursery brings instant warmth and liveliness. Plants naturally boost mood, reduce stress, and create a cheerful atmosphere, perfect for those emotional highs and lows that come with pregnancy.
Plants Provide Gentle Company Indoors
Indoor plants can feel almost like companions. Much like pets, they need water, care, and a little sunshine. During maternity leave, when days may feel long, tending to plants—or even chatting with your #plantgang—can be a soothing ritual.
Whether it’s for mood, beauty, or companionship, it’s no wonder so many expectant mothers gravitate towards plants. They nurture us, even as we prepare to nurture new life.
Nature is Beckoning
As a woman blooms into motherhood, her nurturing instincts intensify—and that often extends to plants. There’s a beautiful yin-yang balance in pregnancy: while preparing to care for new life, many women feel drawn to nurture greenery too.
Air-Cleaning the Nursery
Did you know a newborn can spend up to 16 hours a day in the nursery? That makes air quality incredibly important. Studies by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reveal that indoor air often contains toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with levels two to five times higher than outdoors. That’s significant indoor pollution.
Enter the magic of air-purifying plants. These natural cleaners absorb harmful pollutants such as toluene, xylene, benzene, and formaldehyde through their leaves and neutralise them in the soil.
Excellent plant choices for nurseries include:
- Mother-in-law’s Tongue (Snake Plant)
- Boston Fern
- Peace Lily
- Christmas Cactus
- Bamboo Palm
- Aloe Vera
- Jade Plant
Not only do these plants purify the air, but they also add beauty and serenity to a baby’s first environment.
So don’t be surprised if, just as you’re about to pop, you suddenly find yourself plant shopping. It’s instinctive—your way of adding colour, freshness, and comfort to your home before the baby arrives. Go ahead and embrace it; nurturing plants is simply part of nurturing life.