There’s no denying that houseplants add style and vibrancy to your home decor, but if that’s not reason enough for you to venture into “plant parenthood,” there is a long list of other benefits that might surprise you! Science has shown that keeping houseplants indoors can improve your physical and mental health, and will even keep your house cleaner! That’s right; your plants will help you clean your house. They really don’t get enough credit for all they do for us!
There are so many fabulous benefits to owning houseplants here in North Carolina. Here are some of the most compelling cases for why you should add some plants into your home, your office, or anywhere else you hang out.
Plants Have Air-Purifying Properties
Houseplants are truly a scientific marvel. Back in the late 1980’s, NASA began looking into whether they could use common houseplants to clean the air in future space stations. Since then there have been numerous studies conducted to determine which common household VOCs can be affected by plants, which plants are best at removing VOCs from the environment, and just how it happens. One thing is clear, lab tests prove beyond a doubt that plants can remove harmful VOCs from the air.
Fewer Toxins In The Air: Many everyday household items, like printer ink, cleaning solutions, paints, and even your carpet can release airborne toxins known as Volatile Organic Compounds. You may remember from your last chemistry class that the “organic” part of that phrase means the material is composed of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon. High concentrations of VOCs can trigger asthma, irritate your skin and eyes, and make it harder to breathe deeply. In high enough concentrations, some VOCs are considered to be cancer-causing. Houseplants can take in these compounds and convert them into usable chemical components where they may be stored in the leaf, translocated to another part of the plant, or removed by the roots into the soil. Unlike us, it doesn’t hurt them at all. Thanks, houseplants!
More Humidity: When the air in our home is too dry, our skin, nails, and immune systems suffer. Having extra moisture in the air will help to avoid chapped, cracking skin while promoting faster healing. Plants release moisture into the air as they pump out all that clean oxygen, so you’ll feel a noticeable difference in your home if you fill it with some greenery.
What Is The Best Houseplant To Clean The Air?
Not all houseplants are equally gifted in their air filtering abilities, but there are a few in particular that are total powerhouses. If we had to crown a champion, we’d have to go with the ever-popular spider plant, which soaks up dust and impurities like a magnet. Who needs Febreze when you’ve got your trusty spider plant to keep things smelling fresh? Spider plants are also known for their rapid reproduction—a full-sized plant will develop tons of baby plants that can be plucked off and grown into a new plant to share with a friend!
Some other plants that are super effective at cleaning the air include:
- English Ivy
- Snake Plant
- Dracaena
- Chinese Evergreen
- Aloe Vera
- Boston Fern
- Philodendron
- Pothos
Do Houseplants Make You Happier?
As unbelievable as it may sound, many studies have shown a clear link between improved mental health and having lots of plants around, indoors and out. The effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder can bog some folks down during the more dreary winter months, but a living space full of vibrant, lush houseplants can have a positive effect. Herbs with soothing scents are especially calming and can help improve sleep and reduce anxiety.
Offices full of plants tend to have higher productivity and fewer employees calling in sick, and schools full of plants report more focused, well-behaved students. In essence, plants help our overall well-being.
The benefits of having plants at home are nothing to sneeze at—they really do have a major impact on our health, our mood, our productivity, and overall quality of life! If your living space is feeling a little lifeless, consider picking up some new houseplants. Even if you don’t have much sunlight streaming in, there are plenty of low-light-tolerant plants you can grow indoors! Visit us at Carolina Seasons, and we’ll help you find the perfect plant.