Although there are countless reasons to keep indoor plants, below are
the top 12 reasons we love growing houseplants in our homes and offices.
1. Allergy Relief: Researchers found that rooms with
plants have less dust and mold than rooms without any
foliage. Leaves and other parts of the plants act as natural
filters to catch allergens and other airborne particles.
Common low-light houseplants like Chinese evergreen or the
peace lily can do the job. Violets and other plants with
textured leaves might be even better trappers. Avoid plants
with pollen or spores.
2. Happy Blooms: Plants not only can brighten up
your surroundings, but they can lift your mood. Employees
who work in offices with plants tend to feel better about
their jobs, worry less, and take fewer sick days. Flowers in
particular are a good pick-me-up. So liven up your room with
blooms, like a lipstick plant, or a fresh bouquet and see if
your outlook improves.
3. Spider Plants for Moisture: Furnaces and air
conditioners can sap humidity indoors, especially in the
winter. That can raise your chances for catching a cold or
the flu, or make your skin itch. Houseplants add moisture to
the air. One study found a collection of spider plants
boosted the relative humidity in a bedroom from 20% to a
more comfortable 30%.
4. Air Purifiers:
Carpets, paint, cleaners, printer toners and inks, and many
other indoor objects give off pollutants called volatile
organic compounds (VOCs). They can build up in the air and
irritate your eyes and skin, worsen your asthma, or make it
hard for you to breathe. Houseplants can soak up VOCs. Some
good air-scrubbers are English ivy, asparagus fern, and
dragon tree.
5. Herbs for Better Digestion:
Mint may help tamp down bloating, gas, and other problems
after you eat. Common varieties you can grow in containers
include peppermint and spearmint (essential in mint juleps).
Basil, another herb for cooking, also can help calm your
stomach. Try steeping the leaves in hot water.
6.
Relaxing Lavender: This fragrant purple plant has been
an important herbal medicine for centuries. You can inhale
lavender oil or massage it on your scalp for aromatherapy.
You can also boil the leaves for tea. Some studies suggest
it may help calm you and help lower any anxiety. But more
proof is needed.
7. Aloe for First Aid: Gel
from this plant is a popular home remedy. It can treat
sunburns and other minor burns. It can soothe your psoriasis
and other skin conditions. Juice from the aloe plant can
even help you poop if you’re constipated.
8.
Restful Sleep: Plants take in carbon dioxide and give
off oxygen. It’s how they turn sunlight into food, a process
called photosynthesis. Some, like gerbera daisies, keep
giving off oxygen even after the sun goes down. Put a few
cheerful pots in your bedroom and the extra oxygen may help
you sleep more soundly.
9. Stress Relief:
Feeling the weight of daily pressures? Try and add a
heart-leaf philodendron or a snake plant to your décor. It
may help you relax. Several studies have measured people’s
levels of blood pressure, heart rate, and the stress hormone
cortisol while they handled a tough task or were under
mental stress. Being around plants has a calming effect on
people.
10. Sharper Focus: Plants may help raise your test
scores, make it easier to concentrate on your tasks, and
strengthen your memory. Students in classrooms with three
potted plants performed better on math, spelling, reading,
and science tests than kids in classrooms without any
greens. Bring home a golden pothos or a bamboo palm and you
just might clear that to-do list.
11. Faster Healing: Taking a bouquet of flowers or
potted foliage to a loved one in the hospital can be more
than just a thoughtful gesture. It may actually help them
recover more quickly. Researchers found that people who had
surgery got better faster if they had plants in their room
or even a view of the nature from their window. They also
tolerated pain better and needed fewer medications when
surrounded by greenery. Try an orchid or a peace lily.
12. Better Mental and Emotional Health: Some
therapists use gardening to help treat depression,
schizophrenia, and other psychiatric conditions. Learning to
nurture a living plant may help lower anxiety, improve
attention, and lessen the severity of depression. Plants
also might help people recovering from trauma, as well as
those with dementia or who live in long-term care
facilities. A word of caution to pet owners - some plants
are toxic to pets, so check with your vet or the ASPCA toxic
plant list to be safe when choosing.