Psychic Reactions From House Plants?

What mind boggling information can a lie detector and interrogation expert tell you about caring for your house plants? A lot, it turns out. He found that plants can read your mind, for one thing: They know your intentions for them, both good and bad. And they react to you emotionally. They might even love you!

Learn more about your house plants from this unlikely source: a scientist whose job was to teach policemen how to use polygraph equipment.

Cleve Backster, the scientist working with the police, decided one day to attach the electrodes of a lie detector to the leaf of a dracaena plant to see if the device was sensitive enough to pick up reactions from a nonhuman subject. After the device was attached to the leaf he thought maybe the reaction would be stronger if he burned the leaf. As soon as he had this thought there was a dramatic peak in the polygraph chart, a trace signature that Backster recognized as fear.

Intrigued, Backster continued his research and the results were always the same: The plants always reacted to his intention before any action was taken. Backster concluded that not only are plants as sensitive as human beings, but they are able to read emotions and intentions, because there is a form of psychic connection, or affinity, between plants and people.

Backster’s other results show that plants have memory, emotions, and very humanlike reactions, as well as psychic abilities. In other experiments, Backster demonstrated the love or empathy between a plant and its owner. One day he accidentally cut his finger and noticed that a plant being monitored was demonstrating a stress reaction of its own, as if it was experiencing Backster’s pain and shock at the sight of his blood.

Using this perceived affinity for the basis for his experiment, Backster walked to a different building some blocks away and directed loving thoughts toward the plant. The polygraph recording showed a heightened trace as the plant picked up his intentions.

Adapted from Plant Spirit Shamanism by Ross Heaven and Howard G. Charing (Inner Traditions, 2006). Copyright (c) 2006 by Heaven and Charing. Reprinted by permission of Inner Traditions.
Adapted from Plant Spirit Shamanism by Ross Heaven and Howard G. Charing (Inner Traditions, 2006).

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Sheryl D.

11:03PM PST on Nov 13, 2010

I remember reading The Secret Life of Plants years ago, & about Backster's experiments. I have always been a plant nut since I was a little girl, & I truly believe my green thumb comes from the way I love & talk to my plants! A simple way to test this for a non-believer is to get two identical plants, grow them side by side w/ the exact same water, light,fertilizer,etc., but talk lovingly to one, & either ignore the other or even be "mean" to it, verbal abuse,etc. See the results for yourself!

send a green star

Patricia B.

1:26PM PST on Nov 8, 2010

Buena historia

Buen artículo.

Cynthia U.

6:15PM PDT on Jul 6, 2010

This is the coolest thing I have read about houseplants!

Monica D.

3:06PM PST on Feb 9, 2010

How fascinating! I wonder whether other scientists have confirmed his findings.

Julia P.

9:19AM PST on Feb 9, 2010

Plants add beauty, grace, & clean air to our homes. It is great to know they are adding even more to our lives. I have indoor plants that go out during summer because they seem to love it, but I always enjoy bringing them back in afterward. I'll be sending them some loving vibes, and just see what happens. I've always talked to my roses - who cares what the neighbors think? They obviously thrive, so it has to work!

Teresa W.

2:54AM PST on Jan 19, 2010

Interesting!

Amy S.

6:45PM PDT on Jul 2, 2008

This is so amazing! I am so happy that I have read this article! I have always shown my plants love and talked to them-now I will do it even more...I always knew that they had great energy but never imagined it was on this level! Thank you to the author!

Carol J.

11:09PM PST on Jan 22, 2008

I agree with all of you and your experiences with your plants!! If one has a positive, healthy, happy,environment, I have found all of my plants will perform to the best of their ability, often with very little care!!

Fiona S.

5:51PM PST on Jan 22, 2008

I first read about this many years ago, and since then I've always thought positive things towards plants!!
However, I hate weeding!!!! I feel so mean!!!