An Alternative to Pets in Dental School: Houseplants!

Life in dental school can get pretty busy. At the end of a long day of classes and clinic, what could be better than coming home and relaxing with a snuggly pet? After spending hours every day in Zoom classes, I know that there are few distractions more welcome on a Zoom call than when someone’s cat or dog hops onto their lap and makes an appearance on screen. But what if I told you your pets could feature prominently in all your Zoom calls as a part of your carefully crafted background? That’s right – I have plants instead of pets.

If you’ve ever seen me on Zoom, chances are you’ve seen the bright green tendrils of a vine cascading down on one side of my background and a few leafy green plants posing on the shelf behind me. If you’ve ever wanted a chance to work on your green thumb, this time of social distance and unending Zoom calls is the perfect time to pick up a plant from your local plant store. Not only do plants help freshen the air in your home, they also make a great ice breaker during those first few moments of Zoom small talk when you visit your professor’s office hours.

For budding houseplant enthusiasts, I recommend first determining the amount of sunlight your plant will receive and then making a realistic decision about how much attention you need to give your plant. A common mistake can be watering your plant too often. Sure, we need to drink water every day, but many plants prefer to let their roots dry completely between waterings. Similarly, while some plants thrive only in bright, direct sunlight, other plants will get fried easily as they prefer shade.

One of the easiest plants to add to your collection is the Snake Plant. If it gives you any indication of its ability to thrive, mine survived being abandoned for months in my New York City apartment while I returned home to quarantine with family this year. If you need proof that it’s possible to thrive even in isolation, look no further than the Snake Plant! As an added bonus, the Snake Plant is one of the best plants for purifying air in your home. A shining example of both purifying air and thriving while socially distancing – this plant is a quarantine winner.

If you’re looking to show off a bit more, try a Pothos plant! With weekly water and indirect sunlight, your Pothos will develop beautiful vines. When your friends start asking where they can get such a lovely vine, you can cut off a healthy 6-inch vine of your Pothos, put it into some water, and propagate a whole new plant for them. In no time at all, they’ll have a thriving vine in the back of their Zoom calls, too. If you gave up on your newfound quarantine hobby of sourdough baking after forgetting to feed your starter a few too many days in a row, a Pothos is a perfect low-maintenance replacement. Even though you can’t eat your Pothos, you can admire it daily and even share it with friends.

I hope this blog has inspired you to pick up some plants and try out a new hobby aside from drilling. Now, next time your dental classmate asks if you have any pets, you can say you have the next best thing: plants.

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This post was contributed by Elena McCormick, Alumni Director at ADEA COSRF District 2 and student at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine ('23).