Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic forced governments around the world to impose lockdowns, Home gardening has become a popular distraction among affected households, especially in the Philippines. People that got into this as a quarantine hobby have been dubbed as a “Plantita” or a “Plantito” which is a combination of the English word Plant and the Filipino word for Aunt, “Tita”, or the Filipino word for Uncle, “Tito”.
A quick Google trend analysis reveals a dramatic increase in interest in the search term “how to plant” that coincided with the beginning of quarantine.
Almost overnight, Filipinos who were not interested in home gardening before started growing herbs and leafy greens in their balconies and backyards. Social Media suddenly became awash with posts from home gardeners about their beloved plants, the fruits and the vegetables that they were harvesting, and their efforts to transform parts of their homes which they deem idle, vacant, or underutilized before into productive spaces of flourishing edible vegetation.
One of the most popular plants during Covid-19 quarantine is the Mayana plant due to its supposed powerful healing potential.
What is a Mayana Plant?
Mayana is an herb that is usually cultivated as an ornament. It has Acer rubrum leaves which are colored mostly purple. Some leaf colors are yellow, green, red, pink, and sometimes blue but the most common one is purple.
| Scientific Name | Coleus blumei Benth |
| Common Name | Mayana |
| English Name | Painted Nettle |
| Filipino Name | Mayana |
Mayana grows fast and healthy in humid places. Prolonged exposure to sunlight isn’t recommended as the leaves dry up easily. A little bit of sunlight exposure in the morning can make the color brighter and more vibrant and a sprinkling of water in the morning and in the evening is enough for them to grow nicely and beautifully.
Oasis of green during times of uncertainty
The Corona Virus-induced lockdown has presented people with a very unique opportunity. The stay-at-home orders have allowed most people to bring out their inner gardener. A Thriving green garden is an oasis during a time when uncertainty clouds everyone’s inner peace.
JJS Realty and Development remains committed to its mission to build communities that thrive, provide families with great homes, protection as well as the hope for a brighter future. To provide homes that truly embody all their hard work; homes that are not only beautifully designed but will stand the test of time.
As communities around the world manage the pandemic, one thing we’ve all learned is that we Filipinos are stronger than before. We may have many challenges, but we are always welcome to stay in the place we call home.
