1/4 of Brits will fancy you more if you’re interested in houseplants

A ‘plant dating’ pop-up has appeared in London – to help Brits find their perfect ‘plantner’. The ‘Lonely Plants Club’ match-making service has been set up to marry the public with the perfect houseplants to suit their lifestyles and personalities.

It gives them the opportunity to get to know a new houseplant love interest before getting too involved and taking one home.

Taking place at The Lucky Club Mayfair, the event was created after a study[1] found 78 per cent of adults take their time researching their options before committing to a new ‘relationship’ with a houseplant.

It was set up by plant inspiration site, The Joy of Plants, with the help of TV’s Mr Plant Geek, and attendees at the launch of the pop-up last night were given the opportunity to find their perfect plant match and take it home with them.

The research also found the typical adult has owned a single plant for as many as five years, with just seven per cent claiming they have managed the same length of time in a human relationship.

Nearly eight in 10 (79 per cent) revealed they browse Google for plant-spiration, while 16 per cent turn their attention to Instagram when looking for ideas. And 21 per cent admitted to being green with envy at anyone who has a thriving houseplant collection.

A spokesman from TheJoyofPlants.co.uk said: “Finding a new plant love isn’t all that different to finding a new partner – it takes a lot of research, some trial and error and a sprinkle of chemistry to find ‘the one’.

“So, we’ve set up this plant dating pop up to help match plant singletons with their leafy love matches – as the winter nights are beginning to draw in and we’ll be spending more time inside, we are encouraging everyone to get ‘plant-nered’ up.”

The study also found the average person boast six potted pals in their home, and 61 per cent reckon they’re good at taking care of these botanical beauties.

Although 60 per cent of those polled admitted they had let a plant die by not taking good enough care of it.

When deciding which plants to commit to, the top three ‘vital statistics’ adults look for include how much water they need, what type of light suits them and where they might fit in within their home’s current aesthetic.

And nine per cent believe houseplants and flowers make a good companion in their life, with 34 per cent considering plants a great topic of conversation for a first date, and 83 per cent going as far as to say they’d be impressed if someone had an extensive knowledge of plants.

While 18 per cent would be more attracted to a love interest who has an enthusiasm for houseplants, as it shows they are caring (48 per cent), have shared interests (65 per cent) and are responsible (49 per cent).

The poll of 2,000 plant enthusiasts, carried out via OnePoll, found six in 10 have taken a keen interest because it’s a great way of bringing nature inside your home, while 51 per cent enjoy watching their beloved plants thrive and grow.

Mr Plant Geek, horticulturalist, TV presenter and host of the event added: “Houseplants are a great way to experience the mood-boosting feelings you get from caring for someone – or something – else and watching them thrive and grow as a result of the time, care and attention you put into them.”