pune welcome to the world of plarents a term coined by millennials they are sensible plant parents taking the extra stride to take care of houseplants the latest edition of pets in cute customised potsmake no mistake duties of plarents are demanding the role requires time attention energy and commitment to plants health just like one would take care of petsnirupama yewale a corporate wellness coach said when i shifted to my new home three years ago i bought twothree plants i started loving them so much that now i have about 70 plants including various types of succulents kitchen plants flowering plants leafy plants and other indoor varieties i start my day by checking on them have my coffee near them and this instantly lifts my mood and fills me with positivity looking at diy do it yourself videos i have painted handis metal vessels to use as pots for some of my plantsshe said when i go out of town i leave a set of keys with my neighbour and request them to water the plants according to the schedule its a big responsibility to take care of living things and ensure they get the necessary caresome studies suggest that indoor plants can improve productivity while reducing stress and elevating ones mood during covid those who did not have the means or interest to adopt a pet found an alternative in houseplantsexperts say aloe vera peace lilies spider plants money plant and snake plants are great for air purification thrive well in semisunny and shady spots dont require much maintenance and remain green throughout the year some of these plants propagate rapidly bamboo plants can act as a natural humidifier apart from an air purifierganesh sawant an education professional whose journey of becoming a plantparent started when he received a succulent as a gift in 2021 said for a firsttimer the succulent was an easy start i used to google how to take care of it and learnt many things about plantcare like overwatering is severely harmful or mixing banana peels in soil adds nourishmentsawant said on occasions such as diwali and my birthday friends and family members gave me more plants as gifts currently i have 12 plants that are thriving i feel welcomed by them when i come home after work though i dont talk to the plants or play music for them like some influencers i touch their leaves before going out as a way of telling them that im leaving but ill be back soonkomal ghosh an it professional bought her first plant as a housewarming gift for herself two years ago she said i was inclined towards plants but i did not keep any at home because my work involved a lot of travel with the workfromhome routine i finally found time to buy a jade sapling and was thrilled to watch the leaves change from lighter to darker shades of green as the plant grewshe said i gradually bought more plants