Finding Peace Among the Orchids
Life seems to be getting busier, louder, and more demanding every year. With work, family, technology, and constant information overload, many of us are searching for natural ways to reduce stress, restore balance, and reconnect with ourselves. One of the most powerful — and overlooked — solutions is to use gardening for stress relief.
For me, that escape comes from growing and breeding Cymbidium orchids.
My day job is considered to be one that sits firmly in the high stress column. And at times, situations occur that places my job in the exceptionally high stress category.
Add in twenty years of a rotating shift roster which includes night shifts and you might expect my profession is a contributor to heart attack, stroke, and a plethora of mood, sleep and mental health issues. Sometimes, with some people, it does. However, I’d like to think I have escaped relatively unscathed. I’m still healthy, balanced and sane! And I think that is thanks to several serious hobbies I have outside my career.
And science agrees.
Gardening for Stress Relief
One of those hobbies is obviously growing and breeding Cymbidium Orchids. And I do believe it is a fantastic de-stressor for a number of key reasons.
Research consistently shows that gardening and horticultural activities significantly improve psychological wellbeing. People who regularly garden report lower stress, reduced anxiety, improved mood, and better sleep.
Spending time among plants allows your mind to slow down, your breathing to deepen, and your nervous system to relax. Simply observing flowers, touching leaves, and inhaling natural fragrances can rapidly calm both mind and body.
For orchid growers, stepping into the shade house becomes a form of active meditation — a peaceful space where stress melts away.
Stress can manifest itself in emotional, physical and behavioural manners. Controlling, or better still, alleviating stress by pursuing activities that challenge and satisfy us has so many health benefits it’s hard to list them all. It is in performing these activities that the body soaks up and creates the things we need to feel less stressed and stay healthier for longer.
Gardening for stress relief and getting out into the shade house is something that everyone should do on a regular basis. There are many benefits to taking some time out. Many you probably wouldn’t realise or think of.
Research shows that gardening and horticultural activities have a significant positive effect on psychological well-being. This includes stress reduction. And people who spent more hours gardening or doing outdoor plant-related activity had lower reported stress, anxiety and depression. It’s a no brainer really, appreciating a beautiful flower and smelling the fragrance is always calming!
Physical Exercise
Obviously being out in the shade house it is only light exercise. But it gets you moving and things like re-potting, staking spikes, moving pots and pollenating flowers keeps the hands and fingers nimble. Exercise isn’t a magic bullet to alleviate stress, however, it can assist with clearing your thoughts and reducing any emotional intensity you may be experiencing. And how about the higher levels of oxygen out in the shade house? It wouldn’t be much, but every little bit helps doesn’t it?! And I’ll make any excuse to get out there!
Exercise the brain too!
Cymbidium orchids get the brain working too. How you ask? Knowledge is key to growing, flowering and breeding great Cymbidium Orchids successfully. And you will never stop learning in this game. Trust me. There is always something new to learn. And when you are out in the shade house every day you can use and expand on this knowledge.
By observing your plants every day and remembering how they looked, you will spot issues instantly. You will recognise how various issues manifest themselves….for example, lack of nutrition, symptoms of virus, watering issues and more. These observations will keep your collection healthier, and you happier by keeping your orchids thriving.
While you are out there, look at the names of your plants too. Learn them, and learn and remember what the parents of each of your plants are. You can find out at the International Orchid Register on the RHS website. Especially research and learn the species orchid influence of your plants. Knowing where they came from is important! This knowledge will impress everybody at the next club meeting! Remembering this information and exercising the memory is also a key factor in ageing well.
Gardening Increases Serotonin Naturally
A vital part of our lives, Serotonin is a natural mood booster and stabiliser. It’s the body’s ‘feel good’ chemical.
Serotonin is very important in the brain. It is one of the natural body chemicals that controls your mood. It works with melatonin to help control when you sleep and wake up, as well as how you feel pain, as well as your general wellbeing.
Serotonin positively affects a variety of functions and behaviours in the body, including (but not limited to): memory, stress, blood flow, digestion and sleep. Low levels of serotonin have been linked to depression, so I’d suggest we all get out into the shade house to keep those levels right up there!
The best ways to naturally increase serotonin levels in your body are through lifestyle measures. Things like increasing exposure to outdoor sunlight and getting plenty of exercise. Both of which will happen when you step outside and into the shade house!
Gardening Encourages Social Connection
Growing Cymbidium Orchids and being a member of my local Cymbidium Orchid club gives me the opportunity for socialising, relaxation and a challenge to grow and exhibit show bench plants. I even show plants I’m not entering in any judging competitions.
Talking to others about your hobby is also a great de-stressor, and the knowledge you’ve collected on the way will enable you to hold interesting conversations and even make you an authority on the subject.
Why Cymbidium Orchids Are Perfect for Stress Relief Gardening
Cymbidium orchids are especially powerful stress relievers.
Their long flowering spikes, vibrant colours, intricate patterns, and often intoxicating fragrance provide constant visual and sensory reward. By growing a range of varieties with different flowering seasons, it’s possible to enjoy orchid blooms all year round, creating ongoing joy and anticipation.
The daily ritual of tending orchids becomes something to look forward to — a peaceful pause in an otherwise busy life.
So, make the shade house your happy place. Fill it with a variety of Cymbidium orchids that will give you flowers all year round. Yes, different varieties of Cymbidium Orchids flower at different times of the year and it is possible to have a Cymbidium Orchid in flower in every season, just check out our article on how to do it here.
Alleviating stress isn’t an exact science, nor is there any one thing that will do it, however, using gardening for stress relief and focussing on a fantastic Cymbidium Orchid collection that gives you immense pleasure and pride alleviates stress faster than you can say, hang on, that plant needs a re-pot! And that can only be good for us as we get older!