We can all appreciate a well decorated room, topped with a couple of ferns and succulents. Am I right? Well, indoor plants aren't just great for aesthetic purposes. They can actually help to keep us comfortable, happy, and healthy. Here are 5 ways that having houseplants can improve your home and your life.
Plants purify the air
Peace Lily
Many of us know that trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, for us to breath. However, other plants do this as well. Like trees, when absorbing carbon dioxide, the plants simultaneously absorb harmful toxins, and get rid of them, resulting in cleaner, fresher air. Bill Wolverton, an environmental scientist, was funded by NASA, in the 1960's, through the 1980's, to research how the environment is able to clean itself. Through his vast research, Wolverton was able to prove that indoor plants feed off of the toxins in the air, and, in turn, produce clean oxygen. Some of the many plant types that are best, for air purification, are the Peace Lily, the Spider Plant, and the Dracaena.
They promote positivity and calmness
More specifically, plants that bloom help to decrease our stress levels. Bill Wolverton, of NASA, also found that "plants play a psychological role in welfare, and that people actually recover from illness faster in the presence of plants." Foliage absolutely provides a healing aura, which completely makes sense, given that the earth can heal itself. Being cooped up in our clean and comfortable homes, we can easily stray from our roots, to mother nature. In a study, done at the University of Texas, research determined that individuals, who spend more time around plants, are more likely to be empathetic, and to help others. In particular, the Pothos is a wonderful plant for uplifting mood, with its full foliage, and bright green color.
Your environment might become quieter
Indoor plants are surprisingly effective at masking background noise, from both outside and inside buildings. Recent research has found that plant leaves can actually absorb and deflect sound, making the environment much more quiet and relaxing. Large plants, like the Cateracterum Palm, work best for this.
Plants help to regulate humidity
Find yourself frequently using a humidifier? Try adding more plants to your environment. Most indoor plants emit moisture into the air, as a result of their respiratory process. This results in a more humidified environment, depending on the amount of plants in the particular space. The humidifying effect of plants, can be incredibly comforting, during the winter, when space-heaters take over our homes, and our breathing abilities. The Dieffenbachia is a great example of a plant that helps regulate humidity.
Greenery boosts concentration, productivity, creativity and so much more
Uniquely colorful plants, such as the Croton, help to increase creativity levels, also helping us to be more productive. Because of this, plants serve an important purpose in offices. It is pretty incredible that, not only do indoor plants help to keep people calm, but they also improve efficiency, in the work place. Due to the bright color of some indoor plants, they can also help increase energy levels, which is great for an office space. Concentration can also be boosted by plants, like Lucky Bamboo and the Bromeliad, according to research done by the American Horticultural Therapy Association.
