What is it about walking into a room full of house plants that makes you feel better? Whether you live in a house or an apartment, there’s nothing like the power of a simple house plant to completely change the vibe of an indoor environment.
You might have noticed that when plants are around, you feel more cheerful, more balanced, less stressed… is this just your imagination or is there really something to be said for the average house plant?
Health Benefits of Houseplants
Before you chock houseplants up to a simple decoration, think again. Houseplants pack powerful health benefits, from improving air quality to boosting mood, to even helping us breathe better. Below we list the best reasons to fill your home with houseplants.
Houseplants clean the air.
Ever wonder why the air is so fresh in the forest? Or why you just want to take a huge, fresh inhale when you walk into a greenhouse at Stockslagers? There’s no such thing as stuffy air when there are plants around. Houseplants suck up carbon dioxide and other toxins and spit out clean air. It’s like getting a high-tech air purifier without blowing tons of money. What’s more – according to NASA, houseplants can remove up to 87 percent of air toxins in 24 hours. This is significant, since indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air.
Indoor plants improve concentration and productivity by up to 15 percent.
Need a decoration for your office? Opt for a leafy green house plant. According to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, researchers measured a 15 percent increase in workplace satisfaction, productivity, and office air quality. So if you’re not feeling so great at work lately, try boosting your Monday blues with a houseplant. You might be surprised at how much happier you feel after a week!
Houseplants help reduce stress and boost mood.
Greenery and nature make humans feel calm and happy. Researchers say that all you need to reduce stress and to feel calmer is to walk through a forested area, breathe in the rich tannins, and allow the forest to fill your senses. But in the middle of a busy week, what if you don’t have time to commune with nature? Simple: bring nature inside!
Studies show that the presence of house plants help reduce stress levels and boost mood. And according to a study from the Department of Horticulture Sciences at Chungnam National University in China, indoor plants may be able to alleviate the stress and anxiety brought on my modern technology, and plants can help suppress nervous system activity, leading to greater feelings of ease and wellbeing.
Certain houseplants can help you breathe easier at night.
Most plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen during the day, and at night, their activity grinds to a halt. This is not the case with the Snake Plant, which absorbs carbon dioxide and improve air quality at night, when you’re sleeping. Keep these night-active plants in your bedroom so they can help you sleep easier. Other night-active plants include Aloe Vera, Areca Palm, Neem Tree, and the Gerbera Daisy.
Houseplants humidify the air.
Chapped lips and cracking hands are a sign of air that’s too dry. Dryness can be a huge issue in the winter, where most of us find ourselves slathering on more lotion than usual. When air is dry, houseplants release water into the air with a process called transpiration. During transpiration, water lifts up from the roots and soil, up through the leaves, where water evaporates through tiny pores in the leaves called stomata. This leads to more moisture in the air, which means fewer cracking hands!
Plants can help reduce background noise.
Some exciting studies show that plants can cut down on background noise, leaving a more calming, quiet, and comfortable environment. So if you live near a busy road or otherwise want to cut down on external noises, consider investing in some leafy houseplants to absorb and reflect some of that din.
Do you love how this sounds but you don’t know where to begin? It’s easy to create your own indoor houseplant garden. Houseplants are perfect for every room of the house, from the bathroom to the guest room to the kitchen.
Beginners should start with easier plants such as succulents and cacti, which can put up with neglect for years and still flourish. But otherwise, novice gardeners should pay attention to the variety of plants in their homes and how much water and sunlight each need. Typically, houseplants don’t like harsh afternoon sun or cold drafts from windows.
And of course, if you have any questions concerning houseplants (or any other plants for that matter!) do not hesitate to come into Stockslagers and ask our helpful staff. They can show you the best houseplants for beginners, and show you the care and keeping of whatever you decide to bring home.
