Mankind’s best friend used to be a dog. Now, it’s a spider plant, a weeping fig, some Angel’s wings or a Bolivian bromeliad.

As far as the Zeitgeist goes, yuccas and rubbers have had their day.

We can’t stop surrounding ourselves with dangling ceregia, staghorn ferns, fig fiddle leafs and fish tail palms.

Our mental well-being is affected by many things.  Notably, with whom and with what we share our private spaces.  Clearly, if you are in a bedroom  with a spitting cobra or a bathroom with a ravinish tiger, then you will severely stressed. But share it with a plan and you will have less headaches and fewer coughs, symptoms, recover faster colds, feel less stressed and be more productive. And have a longer life expectancy.

You don’t need to lie on a beach, go to the desert visit a forest to relax. Go to the bathroom instead.  And take an Ogress, some elephant’s ears and a String of Turtles with you.

Maybe Lizzie, Mandy, Chris and Gus too.

Chaz ‘n’ Dave are available as well.

The next time you go to the bathroom, feng shui it.  Get rid of those nasty negative energies. Take in with you a native of South Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

With the trailing foliage, according to adherents of  feng shui and Chinese geomancy, pothos plants  help optimize energy flow.  Place a pothos on top of cabinets or unused corners where negative energy (chi) congregates. Pothos (the money plant) also promote good luck and prosperity They absorb chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene from the surrounding air.

Lizzie (Marble Queen Pothos) and Pascal  (Neon Pothos) are available from www.patchplants.co.uk

Indoor plants are now big business. Patch Plants offers plants for all rooms. They all have Christian names which are far easier to remember and pronounce than the biological names. Gus is an asparagus fern. Daviana is blue star fern and Bertie a Boston fern.

Zahrinais an elephant ear plant and Jethro , an Aeschynanthus Japhrolepsis  or twisted lipstick plant, Chris a curly spider,  Chaz a Swiss cheeseplant, Walter a Drop Tongue , Walac a monster a  Dora a £60 Alocasia Portodora).

Rewild your bedroom too by sharing it with a Scotch attorney ( Alicia the £240 Clusia Rosea autograph tree ), Peggy ( the chain of hearts, coropegia woodii ), Leo the philodendron,  Ben the java fig, David the devil’s ivy Ceylon creeper,  or Val the sweetheart plant.

Whether hanging from the ceiling or tumbling from shelves or on their own showcase stand, in fractured, neutral or ceramic pots,  indoor plants  dispense biophilia ( love of life,  visually and subconsciously imparting mental health support and improving mood.

Thriving house plants can uplift your mood and improve your mental health, reducing stress and loneliness through their calming presence.

Plants are smart.

So share your office with Mick the dragon plant, Fidel the fiddle leaf, Theodora the variegated String of Nickels, or thruppence urn,   Cassie the ZZ  p;ant or  fern arum, more formally known as Zamioculcas zamifolia) or Ogress in the shape of a snake plant.

Live plants decrease theta waves to reduce drowsiness, heighten concentration quality and stimulate creativity. They increase atmospheric oxygen levels and promote feelings of serenity and healing. Looking after and even just looking at plants has a positive impact.

So get yourself a Felted Pepperface.

Every bathroom needs a Brazilian in it.

A pet tiger isn’t the only way to bring serious jungle vibes to your bathroom.

Pix:  www.patchplants.com