The recent increase in houseplant’s popularity is evidence of the cyclical nature of patterns. But all that greenery isn’t only a feast for your eyes; you benefit from those living, breathing organisms. We’ve mentioned some of the health benefits of houseplants below.
1. They Help In Breathing
Plants do the opposite of our inhalation process during photosynthesis. They take in carbon dioxide and emit oxygen, making plants and humans perfect friends when it comes to living. Plants help increase oxygen levels, and that’s something our bodies love and need.
But here’s something to be mindful of: At night, photosynthesis stops, most plants start absorbing oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. But, some plants, such as orchids, epiphytic bromeliads, and succulents, reverse the script and start taking carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. In other words, keep these plants in your bedroom to keep oxygen flowing during nighttime.
2. Houseplants Help Clean The Air
An extensive study by the space organization NASA has discovered a new paradigm in the enhancement of indoor air quality in which plants play a pivotal role. Plant roots and leaves are used to extract toxic vapors from preserved buildings. Plant leaves can reduce the amount of carbon monoxide from indoor air.
According to NASA, these are the top 10 plants for helping remove indoor pollutants:
- Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’ (Mother-in-law’s tongue)
- Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
- Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)
- Golden pothos (Scindapsus aures)
- Azalea (Rhododendron simsii)
- English ivy (Hedera helix)
- Red-edge dracaena
- Chrysanthemum
- Gerbera daisy
- Peace lily
We wrote a post about air purifying plants already, so if you got interested, check out our post – 19 Air Purifying Houseplants Your Lungs Demand You To Get.
3. Good For Your Mental Health
When thinking about houseplants and mental health, this is usually the main thing people know. Having green plants around you helps reduce stress symptoms, and they can help lower blood pressure.
Plants bring a feeling of peace, calm and optimism, and can bring a bit of happiness to your day. Houseplants will lead to a sense of well-being, so you’re relaxed and hopeful. As mentioned earlier, plants are also known to lower blood pressure because of their stress-relieving nature.
4. Plants Aid In Healing
Taking flowers (or some other plants) while visiting a patient at the hospital may be a cliche. But, plants are useful to help a patient heal from surgery and a study recommends them as an affordable, and effective alternative treatment for patients who have undergone surgery – Plants are your “medicine.”
A research carried out at the University of Kansas State found that plant exposure during surgery recovery resulted in a significant change in physiological responses. Lower systolic blood pressure, less anxiety, pain, and fatigue scores relative to patients who did not have plants in their hospital rooms.
Now that you know the health benefits of houseplants, it’s time to incorporate them into your home! As a side note, I want to give you more advice about growing an indoor garden if you aren’t a good grower already. And even if you are, I hope you’ll be able to learn something new from our posts:
- 7 Best Indoor Gardening Tips For The Beginner.
- How To Plan And Grow A Healthy Indoor Garden?
- Successful Indoor Gardening: A Beginner’s Guide To The Basics.
Thank you for reading! (:
Featured image credit – © Tartila – stock.adobe.com