An indoor plant movement has truly begun, and they are more popular than ever before. Plants make any space that much more aesthetically pleasing, bringing nature and all of its health benefits into our homes, regardless of what kind of setting you live in. They are the next best thing to getting a pet, and they are 100% landlord approved. You can have them in pots, hanging, on the floor, in boxes, or in a garden-like setting. Depending on the type of plant, they smell fresh and great, like lemon trees, mint, rosemary, lavender and roses. Yes, you can grow all of these indoors. And for those who ‘think’ they do not have a green thumb, please consider low maintenance plants like snake plants, air plants and cacti that barely need attention. There are also dried plants, like eucalyptus, and fake plants that require no maintenance. But come on, I know you can do better than that.
Aside from beautifying your space, plants also have psychological and health benefits. Check out this list of reasons why you may want to consider a plant, or two, or just go full Jumanji.
1. Cleaner Air, and Better Health
Houseplants are the OG air purifiers. NASA studies have shown that indoor plants remove harmful indoor pollutants such as ammonia, pollen, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, mold, benzene (found in cigarettes, vinyl, paint and solvents) and more. These are all associated with various ailments, and negative physical symptoms. They also release water as moisture vapor, which raises the air’s humidity and protects us from respiratory concerns, as well as dry cough and sore throats.
Of course, not all plants are created equal. Some make better air purifiers than others, such as spider plants, aloe vera, snake plants, peace lilies, chrysanthemum, english ivy, certain ferns and bamboo palm. There are also studies that show a plant’s ability to humidify the air and decrease dust can help fight viruses, as well as prevent colds, sore throats, headaches and coughs. Air plants bring us cleaner air and health.
2. Fresh Produce, and Medicine!
Fruits and vegetables are likely the last thing that come to mind when you think about indoor plants. Well, whether you have a rooftop, balcony, light window area, or window garden, it is possible. It makes you more self-sustainable and you are provided literal fruits for your labor. We recommend growing edible plants such as tomatoes, carrots, avocados, lemons, mandarin oranges, dwarf oranges, and essentially any herb indoors because you can control the temperature allowing for year-long seasonal produce.
You can also grow aloe for sunburns, herbs or cooking, and citronella for mosquito repellent. And then there are plants like jasmine, lavender, aloe vera, and gardenia that help sleep quality when they are in the same room. They give off a gentle soothing effect that can lower stress levels, heart rate, and blood pressure. While plants like eucalyptus have the ability to clear congestion from one’s system. Who said the secret garden was outside?
3. Stress Reduction and Mental Wellbeing
There are studies conducted in hospitals that concluded patients who faced garden views had a greater chance of recovering than those facing a wall. There are also studies that have found hanging plants in offices helps with lessening fatigue, and lowering people’s blood pressure, and heart rates. And of course this leads to more productivity. They also just make people happier. It’s almost as if we are meant to live amongst nature…
4. Aesthetically Pleasing
There may not be any studies on it, but houseplants are 100% proven to beautify any space. They are welcoming, sweet, interesting, fresh, and generally, colorful and bright. They can be made even more interesting with a colorful pot. They make any house feel like a home. You can also use seasonal plans to decorate your home, like pumpkins, pine cones, and dahlias in the fall. Or, tropical leaves and peonies in the summer. Pine branches and poinsettias in the winter, and tulips and cherry blossoms in the spring.
Answers to some common questions:
These are a few common questions that people looking into indoor plants ask.
What are the best low light indoor plants?
All the indoor plants below can thrive in low light homes or offices.
- Nerve Plant
- ZZ Plant
- Lucky Bamboo
- Corn Plant
- Spider Plant
- Arrowhead Plant
- Pothos
- Monstera
- Snake Plants
- Maidenhair Fern
- Dieffenbachia
- Philodendron
- Calathea
- Anthurium
- Syngonium podophyllum
how to get rid of spider mites on indoor plants?
The combination of dish washing soap and botanical pyrethrin will kill spider mites. Use neem oil for prevention of future spider mites.
“A beautiful plant is like having a friend around the house” – Beth Ditto
