This blog discusses one of my favourite topics, houseplants 🙂
If there was anything good that came out of being stuck inside our homes during the pandemic, it was appreciating the benefits of house plants.
Houseplants have been a popular addition to homes for decades, but there was a noticeable increase in their popularity during the pandemic. They not only add to the aesthetic appeal of a room, but they also offer numerous health benefits.
Houseplants can also be a welcoming addition to an office, making a therapeutic room more comfortable and inviting, or adding a splash of green to the usual white and sterile looking clinical space….and they can actually help with productivity!
A couple of my ‘babies’ in the picture above. It was originally one big plant that was struggling, but I propagated and replanted them both, now they have lots of new growth and new babies for me to propagate next Spring 🙂
In this article, I will outline five benefits of having houseplants and mention a few of the top indoor houseplants that can be of benefit to our health.
Keeping in mind this article will be focusing on the green leafy plants, rather than flowers.
So, here are the top 5 reasons you should buy house plants for your home or office today –
- They improve air quality
- House plants can reduce stress
- They can increase productivity
- Enhance sleep quality
- Improve overall health
1. improve air quality
One of the most significant benefits of having houseplants is their ability to improve air quality. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and other toxins from the air and release oxygen, making the air in our home or office cleaner and healthier to breathe.
Studies have shown that certain plants, such as Chlorophytum Comosum (spider plant), Spathiphyllum (peace lilies), Epipremnum Aureum (pothos) and Sansevieria Trifesciata (snake plant) are particularly effective at removing harmful chemicals from the air.
Better Homes and Gardens list their top 20 plants that purify the air.
2. reduce stress
Another benefit of houseplants is their ability to boost mood and reduce stress.
Plants have a calming effect on us and can help to reduce anxiety and improve overall mental health. Studies have shown that being around plants can also help to lower blood pressure and heart rate, further reducing stress levels.
Some plants in particular are said to assist in relieving stress and anxiety. Hedera Helix (English Ivy), Aloe Vera, and others are house plants that can be added to your home with the purpose of stress reduction.
3. increase productivity
Houseplants can also help to increase productivity.
Research has shown that people who work in environments with plants are more productive and have higher job satisfaction.
In fact, studies have shown that when people look at the colour green, it boosts creativity.
Plants have been shown to improve concentration and memory retention, making them an excellent addition to any workspace.
I mean, if you need to convince your manager to have plants in your office, then this is the reason you use 😉
4. enhance sleep quality
Having houseplants in your bedroom can also improve the quality of your sleep.
Plants release oxygen at night, which can help to improve air quality and create a more restful sleeping environment.
The fragrance of a plant can also have a calming effect. Plants such as lavender and jasmine have been shown to have a calming effect, which can further improve sleep quality.
Some plants can emit water vapour which can help our nose and throat from drying out as we sleep.
5. improve overall health
Basically, houseplants can help to improve our overall health.
As listed above, they can help reduce stress, remove toxins from the air, enhance creativity and aid in productivity.
Research has shown that people who actively interact with houseplants can reduce physiological and psychological stress.
Having grown up with a ‘black thumb’, or whatever the opposite of ‘green thumb’ is, my first plants did not last very long. I always killed them (unwillingly, of course) but with time and patience and a new appreciation for their existence in my home, I now not only ensure my plants survive, but I know how to get help them THRIVE.
Tending to my plants is a very important part of my ‘routine’ in living a holistically well lifestyle.
So, where do you sit on on the plant spectrum? NFI or crazy plant lady like me?
