Feeling Gray This Winter? These Tiny Clay Houseplants Are an Instant Smile

Art and nature often beautifully intertwine, as nature in itself is a masterpiece on the world's canvas. I adore seeing creative ways people craft nature-inspired pieces, so I had to stop mid-scroll when I came across Hannah Lemon Art's amazing miniature houseplants on Instagram.

Crafted from air dry clay and sculpted by hand using a variety of precision tools, they really are perfect minis. And the best part according to Hannah? They won't require a single drop of water to keep alive!

Seeing these stunning pieces reminded me of just how beneficial being surrounded by greenery can be for the mind – even if it's faux and incredibly mini.

So I showed a couple of gardening pros Hannah's houseplant miniatures and we discussed the potential benefits of having them in your home. Here's where the conversation led us.

Why are teeny faux plants like this a great option?

Teeny fake plants like these are of course not attempting to exactly replicate the real deal, but including them in your space can still be beneficial for the mind and emotional state.

As noted by Steve Corcoran of Lawn Love who's spent years adoring greenery: "For a lot of people, artificial greenery of any scale may be the best or only way to have greenery in their home. Maybe their home has terrible natural light so nothing ever lives long, or they are away a lot for work so they’re unable to care for real plants, or their landlord doesn’t allow plants, or maybe they have plant allergies."

And above all else, if you adore plants, miniatures like these are bound to make you smile. Looking at their intricate leaves and collecting a bunch to sit together and create a display will feel fulfilling as well as in tune with the natural world. Though the plants may not be real what they're representing is – the outside world which you're appreciating the beauty of from within your home in a whole new way.

They fit into any sized home or area too, whether it's on your desk, by the bed, in a line on a windowsill – literally anywhere!

Why may someone choose these over larger faux plants?

Aside from the obvious suggestion of saving space, someone may love the idea of collecting plant miniatures. If it's your dream to have a million different plants but in reality you don't have the room or know deep down you'd struggle to maintain them, miniatures like these are a lovely way to fulfill it.

If you adore plants, miniatures like Hannah's would also serve as lovely little decor pieces to compliment the greenery already in your home. Imagine having miniatures of every plant you own – it would be so cute!

A person may also find the faux mini plants to be therapeutic to look at as well as to collect, somewhat similarly to how people feel about collecting little terrariums. Plants have proven calming qualities and although these ones aren't real, the possible placebo can still work wonders.

They're also a fab way to invite greenery into your home during dull winter months. These minis are bound to make a person smile and look forward to better weather ahead.

As Shane Pliska, CEO of Planterra Interior Landscaping, explained to me: "Faux plants cannot fully replace real plants, but they can successfully replicate the visual comfort people associate with greenery, especially in spaces where real plants simply can’t survive."

What do I need to start making plant miniatures for myself?

If you've never made miniatures from clay before don't be disheartened if you find it tricky. A lot of people would, myself included! Here is a list of what you'd need to get started, all from Amazon:

• Air dry clay – this is what the miniatures will be made from. You can find it on Amazon.
• Tiny paint brushes – perfect for adding details like leaf veins onto your miniatures. Also available on Amazon.
• Sculpting tool kit – for helping you to make clean lines and shapes, as well as to neaten edges. Get it on Amazon here.
• A cutting mat – great for precision work, making measurements and keeping your surfaces tidy. Get it on Amazon here.
• A point of reference – you can Google plants you wish to make online or reference a book like the Plantopedia to help guide your crafting.
• A flat surface – you can make your miniatures directly on top of your cutting mat but some people like to use another surface like these Acrylic Squares for detail work. This way it's really easy to see what you're doing as the surface is clear and you can pick it up to move it into good lighting while you work.
• Precision tweezers – these are very helpful if you're placing small pieces onto your design. You can find them here.
• Toothpicks – ideal for covering in clay and using to make trunks or branches. The toothpick will ensure they are sturdy and won't collapse. You probably have some already, but if not they're available here.