Houseplants are seeing a big surge in popularity across the country. In fact, in 2019, American gardeners spent a record $52.3 billion on lawn and garden retail sales last year, according to the 2019 National Gardening Survey.
We all know that having a clean home improves your mental and physical health. But did you know that in addition to adding beauty to your space, houseplants have several health benefits?
It’s true. Keep reading to learn more about the biggest health benefits of houseplants. And then start researching which one you want to buy next.
They Help You Breathe Better
We all learned about photosynthesis in middle school. Today we’re going to apply it to your daily life.
When we inhale, we bring oxygen into our body, and when we exhale, we release carbon dioxide. Plants do the opposite. They take in carbon monoxide and then release oxygen.
Because they are consistently releasing oxygen into the air, this means that the air in your home contains increased oxygen. And our bodies love that.
The more oxygen to go around, the better you will breathe. It’s as simple as that.
They Improve Your Mood
Plants are also great for your mental health. In fact, they have been shown time and time again to help boost peoples’ moods.
For example, this study found that interacting with plants, even just smelling them, reduced the stress levels of participants. And we all know how nice it feels to have reduced stress in our lives.
Even just a view of nature can improve your emotional health. If you don’t have this luxury, houseplants can help bring the mental health benefits of foliage inside.
They Clean the Air
Not only do plants increase the oxygen levels in your home, but they also help purify your air. They can literally help get rid of pollutants. And who doesn’t want that, especially if you have kids or pets indoors as well?
NASA has actually done a lot of research about air quality and has found some interesting facts about indoor plants.
The summary? Plant leaves and roots can help remove toxic vapors like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide from tightly sealed buildings.
While many plants have these properties, some are better at removing toxins than others. These include:
- Gerber Daisy
- Spider Plant
- Golden Pothos
- Peace Lily
- Bamboo Palm
- Azalea
- Red-Edge Dracaena
The good news is that many of these plants are easy to care for, especially the spider plant and golden pothos. Even a houseplant rookie can benefit from this one.
They Boost Healing
What’s one of the most common gifts to send someone in the hospital? A plant.
While they are beautiful and add a pop of color to any drab recovery room, did you know houseplants can actually help boost healing?
One study from Kansas State University found incredible results. Viewing plants during recovery from surgery led to:
- Lower ratings of pain
- Lower ratings of fatigue
- Lower ratings of anxiety
- Lower systolic blood pressure
What does this tell us? Plants can literally help people heal.
Plants are also often used in horticulture therapy to help recovering patients. In this case, patients are given a plant to take care of, which can help reduce stress and shorten their recovery times.
They Increase Humidity Levels
Here’s one of the benefits of houseplants you may not have considered: they increase the level of humidity in any room. As they go through photosynthesis, they also release moisture vapor into the air.
You may be wondering why this matters.
Well, dry rooms are known to cause many respiratory issues. A room with adequate humidity, on the other hand, can help eliminate these problems. This is especially important during the colder months of fall and winter when health issues are exacerbated by cool temperatures.
For example, keeping plants indoors has been found to decrease colds, sore throats, and dry skin. And who wouldn’t want that?
They Increase Productivity
Last but not least, plants can help improve productivity. Whether in an office or your living room, being surrounded by plants as you work can take your productivity to the next level.
Houseplants have been shown to increase attention span. They also can help you have better memory and concentration. All of these things improve your productivity level.
One study from the University of Michigan found that being surrounded by houseplants can increase memory retention by up to 20 percent.
Another report from Texas A&M found similar results. In fact, they discovered that work performed under the influence of plants is done in higher quality and completed with a much higher accuracy rate.
Whether you work in corporate America, are a college student, or have kids working on homework after school, houseplants pose great mental benefits as well as physical. Bet you didn’t know that before reading this article!
Top Health Benefits of Houseplants
There you have it: the top health benefits of houseplants you should know about. Not only do plants add a great splash of color and livelihood to any room, but they can also greatly improve your physical, emotional, and mental health.
Not sure where to start? There are lots of plants out there that don’t require much work. Establish a regular weekly watering schedule, keep them in indirect light, and you’re good to go.
It really doesn’t have to be complicated, which is great news when you’re new to the houseplant game.
Want to learn more about improving and cleaning your home? Check out our blog today.
