Gardening for health has become increasingly popular amongst a whole new generation of budding gardeners. It doesn’t take long to notice the physical and mental health benefits of gardening—we aren’t exaggerating when we say it has incredible healing powers!
The time of day that you water your plants can significantly affect how much moisture they’ll receive! Ideally, you’d like to start gardening to support your overall health and wellness, or mind, body, and spirit, try these approaches to experience all the incredible therapeutic benefits of gardening.
Aromatherapy Plants
People have relied on plant-based essential oils for therapeutic purposes for millennia, but those little bottles from specialty health food stores can get expensive! Instead of splurging on the store-bought stuff, plant your own aromatherapy plants in the garden for a fresh and fragrant source of soothing botanicals.
Here are our favorite aromatherapy plants for Fort Lauderdale gardens:
- Lavender: Calms anxiety and improves sleep
- Peppermint: Relieves headaches and tension
- Sage: Stimulates the mind and memory
- Jasmine: Improves mood and relieves depression symptoms
- Lemon Balm: Eases the mind and prevents insomnia
- Rose: Calms the nervous system
- Fragrant Annuals: Many cool-season annuals like geraniums and dianthus have fabulous scents that promote overall wellness and mental health, and you can plant them now in November!
Medicinal Plants
The healing powers of plants and wellness gardening go way beyond aromatherapy—some have potent medicinal properties that treat a wide range of illnesses. Brew these medicinal plants into herbal teas, put them in a sachet and toss them into a warm bath, or use them topically for an effective, inexpensive supplement to help fight off illnesses and ease discomfort:
- Chamomile: For indigestion, nausea, inflammation, and anxiety
- Echinacea: For sore throats, coughs, colds, fevers, and flu
- Aloe Vera: Heals burns
- Calendula: Soothes rashes and eczema
- Holy Basil: Helps coughs, itchy skin, bacterial and fungal infections, and blood sugar regulation
- Oregano: For sore throats, infections, coughs, and colds
- Ginger: Reduces nausea, vomiting, and indigestion
- Turmeric: Calms inflammation, arthritis, and high blood pressure
- Moringa: Helps anemia, constipation, kidney stones, and great for healthier hair, bones, and skin.
Create a Soothing Atmosphere
A calming environment in which you can relax will provide so much peace of mind and a sense of tranquility. Here are some creative ways to bring the zen vibes to your gardening space:
- Swaying Ornamental Grasses: Watch colorful tall grasses dance in the wind to help facilitate meditation.
- Water Features: The sound of trickling water from fountains and ponds never fails to calm the mind and ease tension.
- Attract Pretty Wildlife: Planting pollinator-friendly plants and providing birdbaths and feeders will draw in all sorts of wonderful local wildlife—this has powerful mood-enhancing effects!
Start Growing Vegetables
The health benefits of growing your own food are seriously mind-blowing! Vegetables are more nutrient-dense when they’re freshly picked, and you won’t have to worry about any traces of harsh chemicals or pesticides like you would with imported produce. Plus, the practice of cultivating your edible garden is a meditative practice in itself. Food gardening is so rewarding, and that’s great for your mental health!
Here are our favorite vegetable seeds to plant in November:
- Cucumbers
- Beans
- Peas
- Corn
- Sweet potatoes
- Squash
- Radishes
To enjoy your garden vegetable harvest even sooner, plant these vegetable transplants in November:
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Lettuce
- Arugula
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Eggplant
- Kale
- Cauliflower
Want to start gardening as a means of supporting your overall health—mind, body, and spirit? Make Living Color Garden Center your first stop on your wellness gardening journey. We have so many aromatherapeutic and medicinal plants for Fort Lauderdale gardens, plus plenty of beautiful ornamental plants to make your outdoor space an even lovelier place to be.