It’s no secret: adding plants to your home is a great way to brighten up a room. They’re like ever-changing bright colored sculptures - it’s enough to bring joy to the drabbest of rooms. But they’re not just a pretty face. What is it about plants that make us drawn to them? It turns out there might be more benefits of house plants than you’d think…
1. The mental health benefits of house plants
It turns out that there’s more to house plants than just looks. They can actually have a big effect on our mental health! Humans are supposed to live among nature - there’s something instinctive about having life around us that affects even the least outdoorsy person.
House plants can:
- Reduce stress
- Sharpen your attention
- Improve mental well-being in people with mental health disorders
- Boost productivity
2. House plants can improve air quality
We all know that plants change carbon dioxide into oxygen - even if some of us were half asleep in science class! So of course this is important for the whole planet, but it works on a smaller scale too. House plants can actually improve the air quality in your home! The best species for improving air quality:
Rubber tree
Bamboo palms
Ficus tree
Spider plant
Boston fern
3. The healing benefits of house plants
So we know that one of the benefits of house plants is improving our mental well-being.
But it turns out they can also have an effect on our physical well-being too! There have been studies showing that patients recovering from various surgeries actually recovered faster if they were around plants. So keeping house plants is actually a great medicine!
How to choose the best plants for you
There are a few things to consider when buying plants for your house:
Maintenance - If you travel frequently or are a generally busy person, low-maintenance plants would probably be the best plants for you! Here are some examples:
Peace lily
Snake plant
Cast iron plant
Pothos
Philodendron
Air plants - this plant is a particularly exciting choice since it’s actually evolved to survive without soil. It’s a great gift that can make any space more special.
