It’s winter, and the skies are gray, and although it isn’t snowing, the grass is a dull brown making everything seem lifeless. During this time of year it’s nice to have a houseplant to brighten up your home on these dreary days but if just having the plant inside to add greenery to your home isn’t reason enough, here’s four more reasons that keeping a houseplant will improve your life for the better.
Adding plants to your home has so many benefits, making your home come alive, providing natural therapy, as well as providing a natural humidifier and purifier for your home.
Improving the Air
Research has shown that houseplants can remove 87 percent of the toxins in your home within 24 hours. [1] These toxins include substances like formaldehyde (found in rugs, vinyl, and even grocery bags), benzene, and trichloroethylene (both found in man-made fibers, inks, solvents, and paint). They also release oxygen, increasing the oxygen levels in your house, and freshening up your home.
Improve Concentration
Numerous studies show that having a houseplant around can improve concentration, memory, and productivity. A study at The Royal College of Agriculture in Cirencester, England [2] found that students were 70 percent more engaged when there was a plant in the room. Other studies have shown that keeping a houseplant nearby can increase your memory by up to 20 percent.
Reduce Your Stress
House plants can reduce your stress and anxiety, according to a study by the Journal of Physiological Anthropology. [3] Houseplants have been shown to create changes in the brain’s electrical activity and reduce muscle tension and heart activity- allowing your body to relax. Being outside in nature has also been shown to improve blood pressure and mental health; these benefits can also be taken advantage of by keeping a plant in your house.
Natural Humidifiers
Plants are natural humidifiers, increasing the humidity in the air in their photosynthesis process. Increased humidity has been shown to help with respiratory problems, reducing the frequency of you catching a cold, sore throat, or dry cough.
Notes:
- ^“Plants Clean Air and Water for Indoor Environments.” 19 Dec. 2019, spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2007/ps_3.html. (go back ↩)
- ^“5 Benefits of Houseplants | Bioadvanced.” 16 Dec. 2019, www.bioadvanced.com/articles/5-benefits-houseplants. (go back ↩)
- ^Lee, Min-sun, et al. “Interaction with indoor plants may reduce psychological and physiological stress by suppressing autonomic nervous system activity in young adults: a randomized crossover study.” J. Physiol. Anthropol., vol. 34, no. 1, 2015, doi:10.1186/s40101-015-0060-8. (go back ↩)
