The importance of plants in the home

Houseplants are a staple of home interiors all over the world. People decorate their living spaces with a wide variety of flowers, succulents, bushes, and cacti. But this greenery isn’t just for aesthetics—having plants in the home can actually benefit your health. Read on to learn about these benefits and explore which houseplants will help you achieve your desired result.

Mental health benefits of plants in the home

Spending time outdoors has proven health benefits like reducing stress and increasing relaxation. But when people spend most of their time working and living indoors, the next best thing—houseplants—can provide many of the same benefits. There is scientific research that shows how houseplants enhance people’s moods. One study found that indoor flowers elicit more positive emotions than do other stimuli like candles or bowls of fruit. So when filling that extra table space in your living room, you might find that a potted plant or vase of flowers will have the greatest impact.

In addition to helping with general mood, plants can also enhance productivity. Potted plants can be a big part of any home-office setup. Research shows that when plants are in a work environment, people do more quality work, are happier, and get sick less often. Especially if you work at the same desk every day, making that environment as habitable and pleasant as possible will improve your focus.

Do houseplants purify the air?

People have long believed houseplants can improve your health by purifying the indoor air. Plants are able to capture pollutants and convert them into energy, filtering the air in the process. The current science, however, is that this impact is so weak that air quality would not be impacted in a room with any normal level of airflow. Air purification is best left to air purifiers or ventilation like open windows.

That said, having houseplants will certainly not worsen the air quality in your home. If the pleasant scent of a plant or the reminder of nature allows you to breathe more comfortably, that is more than enough of a reason to use one.

Benefits of care-intensive plants

For some people, taking the time to care for a plant can be calming and even therapeutic. Horticultural Therapy is built around the idea that gardening can have this effect. Instead of outdoor gardening, which can be intensive and take up space, you can make a routine caring for certain types of indoor plants. Common care-intensive plants include:

• Potted bonsai trees: A great option for the more artistically-inclined, Bonsai trees are fun and relaxing to shape. With the right care, these plants can live for decades.
• Miniature herb gardens: In addition to its therapeutic benefit, the yield of a miniature herb garden can be used in fresh cooking. It just takes regular watering to see results.
• Desk-sized zen gardens: These miniature gardens are often associated with peace and meditation. It can be just as relaxing to rake the pebbles of these stylized landscapes as it is to maintain the living plants within them.

Low-maintenance plants and alternatives

If you want to benefit from owning houseplants but have limited time to care for them, there are a variety of low-maintenance options to choose from. Common houseplants that don’t require as much watering or upkeep include:

• Spider plants
• Peace lilies: This plant’s flowers are aesthetically pleasing but also toxic, so keep them out of reach of pets or small children.
• Rubber plants
• Elephant ear plants
• Ferns
• English ivy
• Succulents and cacti: These can come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors. Some succulents like aloe vera even have medicinal properties.

While these low-maintenance plants are easier to keep, their needs of soil and regular water need to be filled. If this is still too much upkeep, you could consider filling your home with fake plants or pictures of nature. These plant representations can have mood-enhancing effects similar to their living counterparts.

Takeaways

Potted plants can beautify a house, but they can also serve a greater function. They can elicit positive emotions and reduce overall stress and anxiety. They can even boost productivity in a work setting.

When choosing plants for your home, there is a wide range of options to consider. Some people might value the time they spend gardening and nourishing more care-intensive plants. Other people might be looking for something more low-maintenance. But whichever plants you choose, the added greenery is sure to make your home more vibrant and welcoming.

Ben Iboshi

25 Jul 2024, 4 min read