为什么要和你的植物说话

为什么要和你的植物说话

It's never been a better time to be a Plant Parent.

现在是做植物父母的最好时机。

Houseplants are hotter than ever — but should we be talking to them? (Photo: Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock)

There are Instagram handles devoted to houseplant trends, designer watering cans, custom plant delivery services, moisture sensing kits, and now — bedtime stories for plants.

Instagram上有专门介绍室内植物趋势、设计师浇水罐、定制植物递送服务、湿度感应工具，以及现在的睡前故事。

This new book for our leafy friends is a clever marketing idea from SpareRoom, a U.K. website dedicated to helping people finding roommates and lodging. "Bedtime Stories for Plants," written by children's author Alice Hemming and illustrated by Livi Gosling, includes a collection of three short stories titled "The Three Ferns," "Longing" and "What Goes Around."

这本为绿叶朋友准备的新书是来自英国网站SpareRoom的一个聪明的营销点子，该网站致力于帮助人们找到室友和住宿。《植物的睡前故事》由儿童作家爱丽丝·亨明撰写，利维·高斯林配图，包括三篇短篇小说集《三种蕨类植物》、《渴望》和《什么在周围》。

The stories are designed to be read aloud to plants and can be downloaded for free from SpareRoom as an eBook or audiobook.

这些故事被设计成朗读给植物听，并可以从SpareRoom免费下载为电子书或有声读物。

Matt Hutchinson, director of SpareRoom, says in a press release: "Owning a property seems like a distant dream for many young renters but living somewhere that feels like home shouldn't be. With so few tenancies allowing pets or letting tenants redecorate, we're seeing more and more people are turning to houseplants as the ideal way to personalise their space."

SpareRoom的主管马特·哈钦森在一次新闻发布会上说:“对许多年轻的租房者来说，拥有房产似乎是一个遥远的梦想，但住在一个感觉像家的地方却不应该是这样。随着越来越少的租户允许宠物或让租户重新装修，我们看到越来越多的人把室内植物作为个性化空间的理想方式。”

This savvy promotional tool is also grounded in truth. In an ever-shifting economy and topsy-turvy real estate world, younger people are struggling to afford their first house or are moving back in with their parents. So it makes sense that plants are an accessible and cozy way to make an otherwise generic space just a little more homey.

这个精明的促销工具也是基于事实的。在瞬息万变的经济和混乱的房地产世界中，年轻人很难买得起他们的第一套房子，或者搬回去与父母同住。所以说，植物是一种方便、舒适的方式，可以让原本平淡无奇的空间变得更有家的感觉。

The perks of being a Plant Parent

成为植物父母的好处

SpareRoom launched 'Bedtime Stories for Plants' book to punch up the cozy factor at your house. (Photo: SpareRoom)

"It makes perfect sense," adds Hutchinson. "Plants can totally change the feel of even the most functional space, plus they're relatively affordable and, unlike bulky furniture or colour schemes, you can take them with you when you move."

“这很有道理，”哈钦森补充道。“即使是最实用的空间，植物也能完全改变它的感觉，而且它们相对便宜，不像笨重的家具或配色方案，你可以在搬家时随身携带。”

Before you roll your eyes and blame millennials for yet another frivolous accessory, remember that plant-chatting isn't exactly new. Back in 1848, a German professor named Gustav Fechner published a book called "Nanna (Soul-life of Plants)," taking mainstream the idea that talking to plants promoted their health and growth.

在你翻白眼指责千禧一代又一个无聊的配件之前，请记住，植物聊天并不是什么新鲜事。早在1848年，一位名叫古斯塔夫·费切纳的德国教授就出版了一本名为《植物的灵魂——生命》的书，书中接受了一个主流观点:与植物交谈有助于它们的健康和生长。

One noted individual who took this to heart was a man by the name of Prince Charles. In a 2010 BBC documentary about his home, Highgrove House, he says, "I happily talk to the plants and trees, and listen to them. I think it's absolutely crucial. Everything I've done here, it's like almost with your children. Every tree has a meaning for me."

一个著名的人把这记在心里，他的名字叫查尔斯王子。在2010年英国广播公司(BBC)关于他的家乡海格罗夫庄园的纪录片中，他说:“我愉快地与植物和树木交谈，倾听它们的声音。我认为这是绝对重要的。我在这里所做的一切，几乎都是为了你的孩子。每棵树对我都有意义。”

Plant talk

与植物交谈

If you've run out of things to say, consider reading a bedtime story to your plants. (Photo: SpareRoom)

Rich Marini, head of Penn State's horticulture department, doesn't discount the idea of plant lullabies, either. "There isn't a lot of research in this area," he says. "But there is evidence that plants respond to sound."

宾夕法尼亚州立大学园艺系主任里奇·马里尼也不认为植物催眠曲的作用不重要。“这方面的研究不多，”他说。“但有证据表明植物对声音有反应。”

Researchers have been studying how plants communicate with one another for awhile, so it makes sense that adding a human element certainly couldn't hurt. "Wind or vibration will induce changes in plant growth," adds Marini. "Since sound is essentially vibration, my guess is that vibration is causing a response."

研究人员研究植物之间的交流已经有一段时间了，所以添加人类元素当然没有坏处。“风或振动会引起植物生长的变化，”Marini补充道。“既然声音本质上是振动，我猜振动会引起响应。”

Of course, all the reading in the world won't help your plant if you don't remember to water it. If you want to be a successful Plant Parent, just stick to the basics. "The best thing people can do to help their plants grow is provide them with light, water and mineral nutrition," says Marini.

当然，如果你不记得浇水，世界上所有的阅读都不会对你的植物有帮助。如果你想成为一个成功的植物父母，只要坚持基本的。“人们能做的最好的事情是帮助植物生长，为它们提供光、水和矿物质营养，”Marini说。

But if you find yourself crooning lullabies at night to your ferns or whispering sweet nothings to your succulents, don't be embarrassed. It certainly won't hinder your plant's growth, and who knows? It might just help your own inner growth.

但是，如果你发现自己晚上对着蕨类植物哼着摇篮曲，或者对着多肉植物低声说着甜言蜜语，不要感到尴尬。它肯定不会阻碍植物的生长，谁知道呢?它可能会帮助你的内心成长。