Health Benefits of Houseplants

What are the Health Benefits of Houseplants?

Did you ever think about the health benefits of houseplants when buying them? You may react like this when you see a nice-looking plant baby, “Wow, what a gorgeous plant, I love it!” Most plant parents started this way. First is your impulsive instinct to buy a house plant. Then your rational thoughts come later. Indeed, houseplants enhance your home with their attractive foliage and lovely flowers. And, starting your collection now will help you gain the health benefits of houseplants right away.

1. One of the health benefits of houseplants is purifying indoor air

Based on the extensive study by NASA, houseplants remove indoor air pollutants such as carbon, benzene, and formaldehyde. Here is the top in the list:

• Aloe Vera

Aloe vera, a succulent houseplant, purifies the air by absorbing carbon dioxide. It uses carbon dioxide for its metabolic processes during photosynthesis. What is unique about aloe vera houseplant? In most plants, photosynthesis happens in the presence of light. But, aloe vera continues to absorb carbon and release oxygen as a by-product at night! Even while you are sleeping, it still purifies the air. So it is an ideal houseplant for bedroom, living room, and bathroom.

• Giant Pothos

Golden pothos is one of the most popular cascading houseplants.  It stands out because of its lush appearance with green and yellow foliage. You can plant it in a pot or put it in a hanging basket. It helps purify indoor air by removing traces of toxic substances, including toluene and xylene. Also, it removes odor from the air caused by carbon monoxide, benzene, and formaldehyde. All varieties of pothos have the potential to purify the air and provide health benefits.

• Sansevieria

Another on the list is Sansevieria, also known as the snake plant. It is an excellent indoor air purifier houseplant because it absorbs toxins from the air. How? The sansevieria captures toxins and releases pure oxygen through its sword-like leaves. It absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen throughout the day, including nighttime. So you have a 24/7 natural air purifier without adding a cent to your electric bill.

• Spider Plant

When you consider the health benefits of houseplants, the spider plant is one of the best to purify the air. It removes 95% of the toxic substances from the air in a controlled experiment. It has lush foliage, and many babies are trailing down from the mother plant. So it has more capacity to absorb indoor air pollutants and purify the air. Further, there are a lot of varieties to choose from, so you can get different types of variegation for your home and office areas.

Other houseplants exhibit the same property as the spider plant, including bamboo plants, peace lily, aglaonema modestum, dracaena, ficus, and Gerbera Daisy. Each of them has the ability clean indoor air. As a result, it prevents asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments. Further, it prevents headaches and lethargy due to exposure to toxic chemicals.

2. Another health benefit of houseplants is reducing fatigue and stress

Fatigue and stress can sap your happiness. You may feel you don’t have the energy to do other things. But, when you come home and see your lovely houseplants, you perk up immediately. And you can’t help the smile forming on your face. It is the power of plants. They give happiness and lower your level of anxiety. Taking care of them serves as tonics for the stress and fatigue caused by the outside world.

3. Indoor plants help relieve dry skin and sore throat

When you have several indoor plants, it increases the humidity inside your house. How? When plants process their food, they give off moisture as well. Have you noticed globules of water forming on the leaves of your plants? That moisture increases the humidity of your home, especially during the winter. The increased air humidity soothes dry skin and relieves sore throat. Best of all,  houseplants prevent you from having them.

If you are prone to dry skin or sore throat, try putting pothos, snake plants, or aloe vera inside your bedroom. O in a place you always frequent like the kitchen or living room. If you want some indoor plants with flowers, try peace lily and Gerbera Daisy. They are adept at purifying the air. At the same time, it increases indoor humidity resulting in a comfortable condition.

4. Houseplants have a calming effect and have the health benefit of improving mood

According to NASA, green space has a calming effect. Houseplants with their green foliage keep you calm and thus improve your mood. And they go beyond that because they help you sleep as well. Having a restful sleep at night keeps you in a good disposition throughout the day. As a result, you will develop good relationships with people around you. It may be in the workplace with your colleagues or in your home with your family members. You tend to be more tolerant and kind to others when you are happy.

So if you are restless and having trouble sleeping at night, put some indoor plants in your bedroom. A cluster of houseplants inside your room can improve your sleeping habits. You may put them all together like pothos, aloe vera, spider plants, and Sansevieria. They not only enhance your space, but they also provide health benefits. When you start collecting plants, you feel happy looking after them or simply looking at them!

5. Indoor plants enhance creativity and work performance

The health benefits of houseplants overlap each other. They help you cope with stress and fatigue. They also have a calming effect to improve mood and sleep quality.  Having a good night’s sleep keeps you focused and alert. This translates to your work. As a result, they enhance your creativity and work performance. So if you have trouble with your creative juices, or when you feel tired with work, get some houseplants. When your mind becomes tired from overthinking, look at your babies for a few minutes. They will give you some inspiration and motivation.

Having houseplants inside your work or home office helps you to concentrate. When you’re able to concentrate, you can complete your task with precision. With what result? Greater efficiency in your job.  You give your best performance with the help of your plant babies.  They are your secret weapons to achieve your career goals. So remember, whenever you are stuck up with work, look at your plant babies. Having indoor plants makes a lot of difference and everything will fall into place.

Final Thoughts on the Health Benefit of Houseplants

When you have indoor plants in your home or office, it mimics the natural environment. Being one with nature, you feel invigorated and refreshed. Nature offers clean air, a relaxing mood, and a stress-free feeling. The same is true with your houseplants, their health benefits are priceless. Why not have one or two (and more later), for sure, they will make your life better.  Don’t wait for tomorrow, buy your plant babies now and start enjoying several health benefits of houseplants.

 

 

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