In 2018, it was estimated that more than 55% of the world population lived in urban settings. The UN has projected that by 2050, 68% of the world would live in cities. 
 
Urbanization and the cropland and pastures needed to sustain urban populations have had adverse effects on the earth’s climate and biodiversity. There is increasing awareness of ecological housing and cities, so caring for a house plant in our home is a tiny way of connecting us with the wider natural world on which we depend for our survival. 
 
Our houses or apartments are necessarily non-living structures that give us safe shelter and privacy. We own various “things” too. Embracing one or more living things in our homes, like a house plant or a pet where appropriate, would beautify and invigorate our home, an important daily space in our lives.