Does the trend of shaking plants work? Maybe you’ve seen it, or maybe you haven’t, but several years back, a video circulated on social media claiming that shaking plants is helpful. This possible myth continues to persist. The short answer is yes, shaking plants does provide some benefits. Although, the complete answer is more nuanced. Find out why, when, and how to shake plants.

Recreate the Natural Habitat

Houseplants can adapt to living indoors but still need familiar aspects of their natural habitat to thrive. A great example of this is that Prayer Plants need increased humidity. These plants can live in most homes, but they need an extra boost of dampness to do so. Movement, like shaking, is not as important as humidity is for Prayer Plants, but it’s part of the experience of living in nature.

There is always movement of some kind outdoors, from wind to animals and insects moving around. Even rain landing on foliage causes movement. Plants living in nature are constantly stimulated by movement. Most homes are very still, at least as far as houseplants are concerned. It’s weird to consider that houseplants are very sedentary, but houseplants get significantly less movement compared to plants in nature. 

The Advantages of Movement

Movement helps plants build strong cellular walls. Evidence suggests it also helps them sense and absorb nutrients and assists with immune responses. This process of movement assisting plants is known as thigmomorphogenesis. 

Shaking your plants is helpful because it allows them to develop strong trunks or stems, which encourages new growth and enables them to better support the plant’s weight as it grows. Large plants, like Monstera deliciosa and Fiddle Leaf Fig, often benefit most from a mild shake, although regular movement can be part of a successful strategy to maintain a compact, dense Pothos.

Easy Does It

The proper technique for shaking your plants is gently grabbing the stem or trunk and giving it a slight shake or jiggle for a minute or two. If it is easier or if the plant is delicate, you can also grasp the container and shake it. 

Shaking plants is beneficial, but don’t overdo it. A gentle shake every now and again is all it takes to give your plants the benefit of movement. Aggressive shaking that snaps stems, or rustles leaves loose is too intense and will do more harm than good.

Cleaning houseplants justles the leaves and provides the same benefit as shaking, so you can do two chores at once when dusting or rinsing the foliage.

Outsource Movement

You can manually shake your plants routinely or outsource the work. To recreate a gentle breeze and give your plants the movement they need to bulk up, set a fan to a low setting and aim it at them. An hour or two every couple of weeks is all it takes to stimulate growth and allow your plant to experience the benefits of movement.

Harden Garden Plants

I try to focus on houseplants here, but occasionally, mentioning garden or outdoor plants makes sense. Seedlings started inside will immensely benefit from movement. Routine movement will prepare them to handle life outside. Setting up a fan on a low setting will gently rustle the seedlings and ease the transition when they move outdoors.

Shake Your Plants

Shaking your plants may seem silly, but it can be helpful. This practice is not mandatory but can promote new and strong growth, so why not try it? The key is to use your best judgment and understand that an established FLF may need more movement than a dainty fern.