Plants are prevalent throughout the film. Many characters move them, give them as gifts, look at them, etc. I'm guessing that it is supposed to be symbolic of something, but I certainly didn't pick up on it.
From Steven Soderbergh's journal on the filming of the movie:
"Then the question became how to reveal John. I wanted him naked, but obviously we couldn't have Little Elvis just laying there for all to see. Peter came up with the idea of having a plant on his genitals. It seemed consistent, since plants have been exchanged previously. A plant was procured, amidst the predictable jokes about itching powder and fire ants, and I gave Laura and Peter a couple of lines to say after she sits on the bed. Laura's creaky leather skirt was neat."
I'll have to look out for that next time, and also consider the comment above re John wearing one because they represent desire. Although I think Graham has sexual desires, but he is very, very afraid of intimacy.
Come on guys, what do plants mainly do? They grow.
The plants symbolise personal growth as in the psychiatrists office, Ann is supposed to grow past her neurosis. They also symbolise growth in relationships, Ann's gift of a plant to Cynthia in the end scene is a gesture of forgiveness and indicates that because of the events of the film their relationship may 'grow'. John wants his relationship with Cynthia to grow too. But he places the plant-gift on his genitals and this shows that his excessive focus on sex negates the chance for a meaningful relationship.
Anyway, I don't really understand how anyone could see a potted plant as a symbol of desire except rather indirectly from that one scene.
Anyway, I don't really understand how anyone could see a potted plant as a symbol of desire except rather indirectly from that one scene.
Surely John's placing the plant on his genitals, concurrent with your interpretation, suggests that he wanted them to grow? How much more personal can growth get?