What Is Horticultural Therapy?

From experienced gardeners to houseplant lovers, there are many different ways people engage with plant life.

But did you know it can actually be therapeutic to spend time with our leafy friends?

Horticultural therapy is practiced in hospitals, care facilities, and botanical gardens across the world – and the benefits are powerful.

Check out our video below where Nancy Lee Colibaba, a horticultural therapy coordinator at the Royal Botanical Gardens, answers our questions about horticultural therapy.

There are all kinds of natural health services available to you today, many that you may not have ever heard of.

But first – what is horticultural therapy, and how does it work?

What Is Horticultural Therapy?

Horticultural therapy, also known as plant therapy, is the practice of using plants or plant related activities to improve your quality of life.

This includes gardening, spending time among plants, and learning more about horticulture.

Whatever your abilities may be, the focus of horticultural therapy is to improve or maintain your ability level.

What Are Some Examples Of How This Works?

Horticultural therapy is great for practicing fine and gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and keeping the mind active.

Because of these benefits, this kind of therapy is extremely positive for elderly individuals living in long term care facilities.

Many of these folks are former farmers and gardeners, so returning to activities that resonate with their past can be very beneficial.

A big part of horticultural therapy is education, and learning more about plants.

This stimulates the mind, improves memory, and provides a mood and energy boost.

Horticultural therapy can also be a great social tool, because there’s nothing more uplifting than spending time in nature and learning about plants with others.

Where Do Horticultural Therapists Practice?

In terms of training, there are various certifications related to horticultural therapy.

In fact, there are colleges in the US that offer horticultural therapy courses at the same level as occupational therapy and physiotherapy courses.

After gaining the knowledge and training necessary to be a horticultural therapist, there are various facilities that greatly benefit from this kind of treatment.

Mental health facilities all across the country use horticultural therapy as treatment, and also as vocational training.

In these instances, they use outdoor gardening programs to teach important skills needed to find a career in the field of horticulture.

Horticultural therapy is also practiced at children’s facilities and cancer hospitals, and is very beneficial for people with physical disabilities.

Not only is this kind of therapy educational and engaging, but it’s also incredibly relaxing and healing.

By providing a space that’s safe, calm, and filled with beautiful plants that are grateful for your time and care, horticultural therapy can be a powerful therapy tool.

Horticultural Therapy At The Royal Botanical Gardens

There are some great programs and services related to horticultural therapy at the Royal Botanical Gardens.

They have a strong focus on education, for both therapists in other fields who want to include horticulture in their practice and also for any person who has an interest in plants.

The Royal Botanical Gardens also offer a certificate program, so if you’re interested in plant therapy you should definitely visit their website.

Horticultural Therapy In Chile

Exciting news from across the ocean – horticultural therapists in Chile are starting their own association, to play an important role in the education and certification process.

The largest existing horticultural therapy associations are in North America and offer resources predominantly in English, so it is extremely good news for the future of plant therapy that it will be more accessible to Spanish-speaking folks.

Questions? Ask Dr. JJ!

Horticultural therapy can be extremely beneficial to everyone, whether you’re an experienced gardener or you’re interested in trying it out for the first time.

Spending time in nature can help relieve stress and greatly improve your quality of life.

I’m all about natural healing, and the potential benefits of plant therapy are immensely powerful.

If you want to know more about my natural health services, contact me, Dr. JJ.

I’m a licensed naturopathic doctor and I can’t wait to tell you all about the natural ways you can make your life even a little bit easier.

Reach out to me, Dr. JJ, and let’s talk about your health concerns and how naturopathic medicine may be able to help.