We have seen a rise in indoor gardens in recent years, and there’s a reason why everyone is so obsessed with houseplants – not only do they make rooms more inviting and beautiful, but they can also improve your mental and physical well-being, help you stay more productive and of course, help with the air quality in your house. There are many benefits of houseplants in your home.
If you are looking for even more reasons to grow your plant collection, here are just a few ways why house plants don’t just look good but are beneficial for both your home as well as your health.
They boost your mood and mental health
Modern life can be a lot of stress and emotional chaos. Therefore, sometimes we need to take a step back and get back in with nature. We all know that a walk in the woodlands, fields or a park can lift our mood, so bringing a little bit of nature into your home is good for the mind and the body. Houseplants can also do wonders for your mental health. People who spend at least a couple of hours a week surrounded by nature have higher levels of serotonin ‘the happy hormone’ and having an indoor garden can simulate the same results. Taking care of your plant babies is also a great way to focus on the little things to ground yourself. Such small actions can provide big help from the hectic energy of the daily grind.
They reduce stress
Owning houseplants doesn’t just make your home look nice and more inviting, it can have an amazing calming effect on you too. As we have already mentioned, spending time in nature can lower the levels of stress, reduce blood pressure, and have a relaxing effect on people. And as houseplants are the easiest way to get nature inside, you can get those effects without leaving your house. Watering, potting and generally maintaining your plans also provide an opportunity to forget about the stressful everyday things that may be going on in your life and focus on the here-and-now.
They give you cleaner air to breathe
When you breathe, your body takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. During photosynthesis, plants do the opposite. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Studies also suggest that in addition to carbon dioxide, houseplants also help eliminate harmful compounds in VOCs by absorbing them into their leaves and roots.
One thing to remember is that photosynthesis stops at night meaning houseplants absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide. There are, however, a few houseplants like orchids, succulents and epiphytic bromeliads which still absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, being the best plant choices for your bedroom. Another great benefit of houseplants in your home!
They can improve your skin and health
Some indoor plants can help prevent dry itching skin as they release moisture vapour, which increases the humidity of the air around them. This in turn helps replenish moisture levels lost with harsh heating or even air-con. Placing a few plants together can increase the humidity of a room, which can help with dry skin, colds, sore throats, dry coughs, and flu-like symptoms.
Houseplants can also increase the speed of people’s recovery, according to the researchers at Kansas State University. Patients who had plants in their rooms or a view of green space in their window required less pain medication, had lower heart rates and blood pressure and were released from the hospital sooner than the ones without.
They help you work more effectively
If you work from home, you might find another great benefit of houseplants in your home. Studies revealed that studying or working in the presence of plants can have a positive effect on people. As with simply being in nature, being around plants can help us concentrate easier, improve idea generation, creative problem-solving and get through work faster. It can also help you with an attention span as it has been reported that students who performed demanding tasks did better when they had plants around then to those that didn’t. According to studies, being around plants can increase memory retention by up to 20%!
Have a look at some of the best and easiest plants to grow here!