This Viral Trend Has People Putting Beads on Their Plants—Because Why Not?
Give your pathos a little friendship bracelet.
There’s a new trend (but classic DIY) you've probably seen all over the Internet or maybe even on your own wrist within the last few months: friendship bracelets.
Gaining popularity in 2023, it's possible this obsession stems from the Y2K nostalgia boost we've seen in fashion and homes or simply as a way to connect with our inner child (it was the year of girlhood, after all). It could have been because of the monumental impact of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour—or it could just be that we love colorful accessories, and friendship bracelets are cute.
No matter how the trend started, it exploded. People made friendship bracelets for themselves, loved ones, pets, and even Christmas trees. Now, it's moving onto its next wearer: house plants. And these "bracelets" truly last forever.
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An Instagram post from @pandagrogen shows how the creator beaded their plant, and it's gotten over 685,000 likes. Most of the comments give reason as to why you shouldn't participate in the trend—but they're the opposite of serious.
"nooo don’t do this!!! it’ll love looking so stylish and yearn for more! it starts with basic beads but next thing you know they’ll start wanting diamond beads next!!!" one said.
"Don’t do this!! It will make the other plants jealous 😢" another reads.
Others, however, offer real ideas: "Hear me out. Little disco ball/mirrored/sparkly ones that would reflect light 😍😍"
Try plant beading on vine plants, like pothos or creeping figs. Here's how it works: After a leaf grows off a vine, you’re left with an open vine ready to grow into another leaf. Add a bead (or a few). As the new leaf grows, it will keep the beads in place and stop them from slipping off. Repeat—add your beads after the leaf matures but before the next leaf grows. In the end, you’ve created one big friendship bracelet that’s literally part of your plant.
The only issue with the process is you can’t take the beads off without pruning your plant altogether, so make sure you’re choosing beads you want to see for years to come—or as long as your plant stays alive and healthy.
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If you want to decorate your plant but don’t want to jump into beading it, you can always spruce it up with adjustable rings or earrings. There are also plenty of adorable accessories you can put in your soil, and a little decoration added to a pot never hurt anyone.
It just so happens that vine plants are also some of the easiest plants to care for. They aren’t limited to any specific growth pattern, making them easy to have in smaller spaces. The pothos, for instance, is almost impossible to kill. All you have to do is water it about once a week, making it the perfect plant to keep around and try a new art project on.
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