Home » Plants & Animals » Gardening Techniques » Coping With Major Surgery by Using Plants as Therapy

Coping With Major Surgery by Using Plants as Therapy

© Diana Pederson

I'd like to share a personal situation with you this week. Although I am just 51 years old, a lifetime of a deformity combined with the onset of rheumatoid arthritis has literally destroyed my right knee. March 27 will bring me a new knee joint and knee cap. I've been told to expect a recovery time (with no driving) of at least two months and maybe three or more. It all depends on how quickly my body recuperates.

When I talked with the doctor about my immediate future, he made it clear that I can no longer be on my feet for employment or participate in high impact activities. This meant giving up my job in a floral department where I took care of plants and helped customers determine which to buy for their situation. Although it was painful for me to be on my feet constantly, I loved helping the customers and selling plants. Once I am recovered, I'll find a "sit down" job. The other major blow for me is knowing that digging with a shovel is too high impact. This practically eliminates my outside gardening for this summer. That's a hard blow for an avid gardener to have tossed their way. I hope you enjoy reading about how I have applied horticulture therapy to my immediate circumstances.

The Enabling Indoor Garden

My immediate response to the doctor's information was to go out and purchase a large, 4 shelf garden cart with hanging lights. I now have 24 square feet of growing space in 6 square feet of floor space. It currently sits in my dining room. It can also be used as a room divider after I move to a smaller townehouse (in the next few years).

Next I made the determination that I will no longer grow houseplants that need constant moisture unless they can be grown in a covered terrarium. Since I had already begun the process of sorting out my plants, this was fairly easy to do. I'll be focusing all my efforts on succulents and a few cacti from now on. The plants will still need water -- but not every day! If I am in too much pain to worry about watering them one day, they will most likely thrive in spite of my neglect.

The light cart means I can achieve one of the many "enabling tips" useful for outdoors gardening to an indoor garden situation. Plants that need similar amounts of water are grouped together on a single shelf. This makes it easier to take care of them when you use a walker, crutches, or a cane for support when standing. My plants are now grouped like this:

The copyright of the article Coping With Major Surgery by Using Plants as Therapy in Gardening Techniques is owned by . Permission to republish Coping With Major Surgery by Using Plants as Therapy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.