There is a good chance that you have seen the plant industry boom over lockdown, and one of the specific sectors that did particularly well was house plants. The lucky ones who were just trying to find ways to occupy themselves with their newfound spare time might have taken up more than one hobby, one of which may have been taking an interest in plants. Buying them, growing them, propagating them – you name it.
If you are late to the party but want to know why you should get some (more) indoor house plants and what they can do for you, then read on to find out more.
They Can Help Reduce Stress
In recent years, the whole world has had enough stress to last us all a lifetime, so speaking for almost everyone, it is safe to say we could do with basically anything that can help us reduce this natural state. Indoor plants are a cheap and cheerful way to do this.
Our surroundings have a significant impact on our mood, which means if we can change up the environment, we can have some sort of control over how we feel. Plants offer a quick and easy way to do this, as they help a space feel more comfortable, natural, and peaceful. This can be particularly useful for the bedroom, so check out this collection of plants for the bedroom to find your favourites.
Also, if you partake in taking care of your indoor plants or engage with gardening, this also lowers the stress response.
They Can Improve Your Concentration
If you too feel like you have the concentration levels of a goldfish, it can be difficult to stick to a task or get work done. This can be particularly daunting if you are working from home, where you find that the bed is calling you for a daytime nap, or Netflix is only a press of a button away. Not to mention the very real distractions going on in real time such as the doorbell going, the dog or cat wanting your attention, or your mobile going off every few minutes.
In a small study involving 23 participants, researchers put students in a classroom with either a fake plant, a real one, a photograph of a plant, or no plant at all.
Brain scans of the participants showed that the students who studied with real, live plants in the classroom were more attentive and better able to concentrate than students in the other groups.
If you need help improving your concentration and you are not able to go for a walk in nature, then indoor plants can help substitute this.
They Can Remove Indoor Pollutants Naturally
Indoor pollutants such as dust, debris, gases, or dirt can all be an irritant to our bodies. These can be particularly difficult to remove, and poor indoor air circulation can contribute to the build-up of these particles, which can cause significant health problems.
Scientific support for phytoremediation (that’s the word for plants scrubbing contaminants from the air) often stems from a NASA study conducted in the 1980s on how plants may help improve indoor air quality.
However, since those early studies, researchers have both confirmed those findings and called them into question. Recent findings suggest that you would need to live amongst a rather large number of plants to rival the air purifying efficiency of the likes of modern biofilters.
There are some plants that work better than others when it comes to improving air quality. These include, but are not limited to, aloe vera, peace lily, dracaena, spider plant, and Boston fern. Invest in a few to reap maximum benefits.
