17 benefits of houseplants
Gardens bring so much joy. Even if you’re like me and hate gardening, just having a garden to sit out in is lovely in nice weather. But having indoor plants can also bring joy, and is something that everyone can have in their home. In fact there are plenty of benefits of houseplants.
Yes, they can take a bit of work. My success at growing the odd plant is at about a 10% success rate, and that’s from veg trimmings or flowering bulbs only. Despite my Grandfather being a gardener, he obviously didn’t pass the gardening gene on. I’m sure there are lots of other people much better at growing advice than me!
Having plants at home isn’t just about pleasure and enjoyment. There are lots of other reasons why you should have plants at home.
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Benefits of houseplants
Let’s see some of the benefits of houseplants.
1. They bring the outside in
Especially if you don’t have a garden and can’t get out much, indoor plants can bring nature into you.
2. They break up empty space
Many people are turning to a more minimal decor approach to their homes. Plants can add a bit of life and break up blank spaces on shelves, on tables or even hanging.
3. Adding colour to neutral areas.
Green is a calming colour, so plants can not only lift a neutral pale space, but can also add positive colours.
4. Plants help purify the air
Through photosynthesis, plants remove carbon dioxide and other toxins, and release oxygen. Research by NASA revealed that houseplants can remove up to 87 per cent of air toxins in 24 hours. Plants can capture indoor pollutants and convert them into stored energy moving the toxins to their roots where they use them as a food source. Then release naturally filtered air as a byproduct..
5. They can provide a hobby
Some people talk to their plants. Others prefer to have plants they need to do nothing with. If you’re the former, or even someone in the middle, they can provide an interest. Something to learn about. There’s a satisfaction in being able to successful grow something.
6. They can reduce stress and fatigue
Studies have proven that houseplants improve concentration and productivity (by up to 15%), reduce stress levels, and boost your mood. They’re also said that by reducing stress, they can therefore help to lower blood pressure and heart rate.
7. You may sleep better
By reducing anxiety, you should sleep better if you live in a house with plants.
8. They can fight colds
By reducing the toxins in the air, decreasing dust and dehumidifying air, there’s less irritants and purer air to fight colds.
9. They can be a food source
If you grow veg or fruit you can produce food for your family. Carrots, lemons, oranges, and tomatoes all grow well indoors. You can also grow salads from your vegetable scraps.
10. Natural scent providers
They can release a gentle scent that can act like an air freshener.
11. Spiritual well-being benefits
Plants can create a spiritual link. Flowers and plants are linked to so many occasions in life – weddings, funerals, birthdays, Christmas. They can create positive emotions and evoke happy memories.
12. Cheap decor
Indoor plants can be a cheap way to decorate. Just take a cutting from a friend’s plant or from your local plant shop, and propagate your plant from scratch. You can even upcycle your own plant pots or containers.
13. Increase and sharpen your attention
There may be benefits to sharpening attention if you study in a room with real plants/ There was a small study involving 23 participants where 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.
14. Theraputic benefits
Not only can working with plants in the room be therapeutic for those with depression or anxiety. But studies in hospitals suggest people can recover faster with plants around them.
15. Privacy
If you want to split off a room, or increase privacy to an area, plants can create a natural screen.
16. Reduce noise levels
Plants can reduce noise through deflection, absorption, and refraction. Either they bounce and break the sound into other forms of energy, absorb it, or eliminate the echoes. Find out more about noise reducing plants.
17. They make us happy
Houseplants* simply bring joy from being around them. Whether you love cacti or succulents, flowers or more bushy plants, there’s something for everyone. And if you’re like me, here’s the best unkillable plants to have in the home.
What plants do you have at home?
Linking up with Pocolo
I’m a keen gardener and I have to admit my indoor plant game is rubbish, I’m much better with outdoor plants and Nature taking her course! That said, I know a lot of indoor plants are great as air purifiers, so perhaps I need to brush up on my houseplant skills 🙂
We keep succulents and cacti in the bathroom, they like the humidity. We have herbs in the kitchen over winter and often use the conservatory for seedlings. I do love brining the indoors in. Thanks for linking with #pocolo
You’re obviously much better at keeping plants than I am. I’d quite like some succulents, but I can never tell in shops if they’re real or fake ones. I need to go to a nursery/garden centre and actually ask them
I had no idea that plants have so many benefits! Generally, due to the fact I would spent to many hours away from home I would choose not to have plants since I did not want to kill them. Since my status has changed and I spent lots of hours at home your post has convinced me to purchase some plants. Thank you for this informative post!
Glad it’s inspired you. I need to do the same myself and learn to properly take care of them!
I didn’t realise there were so many benefits to having plants in your home. We have a big peace plant and a couple of others. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren
We have real plants in our office at work, and they do make you feel like there’s proper air in the place, rather than just recycled air. I do need to get some plants in our house as by my age I really should learn how to look after them.