"Finding Comfort in Every Corner: More 2030s Becoming 'Plant Butlers'"

As Indoor Life Increases Due to Prolonged COVID-19, Home Gardening Gains Popularity
Companion Plants Offer Ease of Care and Emotional Support
Experts: "Helping Plants Grow Restores Self-Esteem and Brings a Sense of Accomplishment"

The number of people in their 20s and 30s enjoying home gardening is increasing. Photo by Pixabay [Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy, Hyunju Park] Gardening, once considered a hobby for middle-aged adults, is now gaining popularity among people in their 20s and 30s. Some attribute this trend to the extended period of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led people to spend more time indoors and seek hobbies they can enjoy at home. Much like the term "companion animal," which refers to animals that people rely on emotionally and live with, these young hobbyists refer to themselves as "plant butlers" (a combination of "plant" and "butler") who nurture "companion plants." Experts analyze that modern individuals, who are often exhausted and lonely, choose to grow plants as a way to achieve psychological stability and comfort.

Home gardening, or growing plants at home, is considered easier and more manageable than raising companion animals. Growing and harvesting crops such as perilla leaves and tomatoes at home is called "home farming." Recently, as green onion prices have risen, the trend of cultivating green onions at home for financial benefit, known as "Patech" (a combination of "pa," meaning green onion, and "tech," meaning finance or investment), has also gained popularity. Using plants as a key element in interior design is also trending under the name "plant interior" or "planterior."

The popularity of these trends is also evident on social networking services (SNS). As of the morning of May 8, there were 167,000 posts with the hashtag "#plantbutler" and 893,000 posts with the hashtag "#companionplant" on Instagram. Through SNS, these individuals share their feelings about home gardening, as well as tips and know-how for cultivating plants.

People in their 20s and 30s who engage in home gardening cite "healing" as its greatest benefit. Park, a woman in her 20s who grows flowers, said, "When I went to a flower shop, I asked for something easy to care for and with long-lasting blooms. They recommended a succulent, which doesn't need to be watered often and just needs a moderate amount of sunlight, so I brought it home right away. Having flowers at home lifts my mood every time I see them."

Kim, age 28, who grows cherry tomatoes, shared, "The plant is small, so it doesn't bear a lot of fruit-just two or three, and they're small in size. Still, every time I pick a tomato, I realize this is the joy of harvesting. There were times when the plant wilted because I didn't manage it well, and once I accidentally cut off a healthy branch while pruning, but now it's growing strong and healthy."

Kalanchoe grown by Park (left) and cherry tomatoes harvested by Kim. Photo by Reader Provided

Some analysts believe that the growing preference for plants stems from spending more time indoors due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. According to a survey conducted by the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science under the Rural Development Administration on November 23 of last year, which polled 726 members of the agri-food consumer panel about their perceptions of companion plants and health management plants, 51.1% of respondents said their interest in companion plants increased after the onset of COVID-19. Among them, the proportion of people in their 20s and 30s (61.1%) was higher than those aged 60 and above (46.3%). In other words, six out of ten people in their 20s and 30s became interested in home gardening after the pandemic began.

Myungho Lim, a professor of psychology at Dankook University, commented on the growing number of young adults raising companion plants: "People in their 20s and 30s are highly conscious of the environment. Their interest in growing plants reflects their greater awareness of and consideration for life and the environment." Professor Lim added, "Plants are also easier to care for than animals, and helping plants grow allows people to regain self-esteem and experience a sense of accomplishment."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.