IKEA Bullies Plants to Demonstrate the Power of Negative Words

Keen gardeners already know the benefits of talking to their plants, but if a recent stunt by IKEA can be believed, it's what you say that really matters. 

As part of a campaign created by Ogilvy & Mather Dubai to raise awareness around bullying, IKEA teamed up with GEMS Wellington Academy in the UAE to conduct a quirky social experiment that proves just how harmful insults and criticism can be.

The live experiment involved recording students delivering both insults and compliments, with the results then played to two identical IKEA plants installed in viewing boxes at the school. Both plants received exactly the same amount of sunlight and water, but while one plants 'heard' words of encouragement, its unfortunate neighbour was verbally bullied.

The result? After 30 days, the positive plant was leafy, perky and healthy, while the one which had received the negative comments had visibly wilted, with drooping brown leaves. Check out the results for yourself in the case study video below:

Whatever you think about the science behind the experiment (it's certainly made us look at plants in a whole new light - if they can feel emotions, then maybe veganism is as villainous as eating meat?) it certainly sends a strong message about the consequences of verbal bullying on personal growth.

“This is an incredibly effective initiative that has encouraged people to make room for change," commented Vinod Jayan, managing director, IKEA UAE, Qatar, Egypt and Oman. "It has helped children and their families understand the impact that words can have."

As well as rolling out the experiment across schools in the UAE, IKEA has also translated the results in-store, by installing speakers in its garden section to nurture its plant stocks.

So, if you want to see your garden bloom, be sure you shower your succulents with praise and compliment your cacti.