There’s something so appealing about a tiny plant, and I must not be the only person who thinks so; every nursery or florist shop seems to be selling these adorable little greens in all their minimalist glory. Maybe it’s a reaction to the post-holiday excess of material goods, maybe it’s because they’re inexpensive, or maybe it’s because it’s an innocent indulgence to enjoy for ourselves. You can put a little plant on your desk or bedside table, near the kitchen sink, on a bookshelf at eye level – anyplace that you’re sure to see it and feel better when you do. They can also be gathered into one container and covered with a cloche for easy maintenance – no watering needed. (Ferns and plants needing lots of moisture do best in cloches.)

I’m not very good with indoor plants; I’m like the helicopter parent hovering overhead, adding too much water, pushing it into the sunshine, and building a three-foot trellis for a plant that grows a couple of inches a year. But I have hope – and I only need to keep them alive until mid-March, when I can move them outside and let Mother Nature resume their proper upbringing. In the meantime, I intend to appreciate the little lush greens and happy tiny flowers wherever I can.

Flowers include: kalanchoe, African violet, orchids, begonias, and assorted green houseplants.