IN honour of Spring
In honour of the beginning of spring, next week I’d like to talk about one of life’s small pleasures that can actually provide quite a bit of satisfaction: houseplants. Have you ever noticed how houseplants make a décor warmer and more inviting? There’s something lively and comforting about a room with sunlight and green plants. That’s because they are alive and have a presence!
Feng Shui, the Chinese practice of creating harmony in the spaces we inhabit, recommends using houseplants to generate positive energy around us. If you haven’t noticed this already, start paying attention to the feelings you get when you encounter plants in places such as hospitals, schools, and other institutions.
There are actually many benefits to having plants around us. For starters, plants take in the air around them, clear it of some of the airborne toxins and then replenish the environment with oxygen. Peace lilies, bamboo, palms, aloe plants and spider plants are thought to be especially effective at cleansing and refreshing the air of unpleasant toxic chemicals and giving off more oxygen. Studies have also shown that plants have a positive physiological effect over us. They can provide relief from anxiety, lower blood pressure, and add a general sense of well-being to your life.
Plants in schools and work environments have been credited for boosting productivity, shortening reaction time, increasing spatial perceptions, and building concentration. Students who study with plants nearby are more likely to feel more comfortable, while people working in offices and areas surrounded by plants tend to enjoy their jobs more than those who work in more sterile environments.
Personally, I think the nicest thing about plants is the simple fact of having these living, green organisms growing in my home and office. I hope you too are enjoying the calming and pleasant benefits of your own houseplants. But if you haven’t been exercising your green thumb, maybe it’s time to get your hands a little dirty and put a few pots around your home. It’s a nice way to inaugurate the spring!