January 10th. Did you miss it? I nearly did. But not to worry. You can mark your calendar for next year and plan a proper day of celebration for your houseplants. And, besides, it’s always the right time to appreciate your houseplants.

National Today has a very short timeline for houseplants that mentions “terrariums” (actually Wardian boxes) in the banner year of 1836 for transporting those plants across the oceans and around the world for the plant collectors. The plant hunters themselves apparently had a very hard life, were paid poorly, and often died violent deaths. They didn’t do it so you could have houseplants, but that certainly has been one result. So, look on your houseplants with awe for the men who gave their lives so these plants could enter our non-tropical lives.