Welcome to the latest edition of Wellness To-Go! This week, we are going to dig into… houseplants! Fleshy succulents, monsteras with big speckled leaves, prickly cacti, and orchids bursting with blooms, there’s just something innately calming and inviting about plants. So much so, that simply looking at greenery is shown to boost our mood and reduce anxiety.?
Given these therapeutic effects, it’s no surprise that buying indoor plants burgeoned into a popular pandemic hobby. According to the National Gardening Association, Americans shelled out over $2 billion on indoor plants and accessories in 2021, up from $1.3 billion in 2019.
Besides breathing new life into a space, here’s how spending a little green on greens can do wonders for your health and well-being:
Five Science-Backed Benefits of Houseplants
- They may reduce stress levels: Although walking in the park would be more effective due to increased exposure to greenery, being around potted plants can also be beneficial. A study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that active interaction with indoor plants (like touching and smelling) can reduce psychological and physiological stress by calming the body’s fight-or-flight response and promoting relaxation.
- They may boost productivity: According to a study by the University of Exeter, employees who work in a “green” workspace with lots of plants are more focused, productive, and happier than those working in offices with minimalist designs stripped of greenery. Meanwhile, research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health assessed how different visual stimuli affected elementary school students. Researchers compared students’ performance in four classroom setups: one with an artificial plant, a real plant, a photo of a plant, and no plant, respectively. Brain scans revealed that only students who had real foliage in their classroom showed improvement in attention and concentration.
- They act as a natural humidifier: Plants release water vapor in the air from their leaves through a process called transpiration. Keeping potted plants with big, broad leaves in your house, like philodendron, alocasia, or fiddle leaf fig, may help humidify dry indoor air. However, if you have kids or pets at home, do your research before bringing any plants into your home.?
- They may help you think outside the box: In an eight-month study, researchers at Texas A&M University found that keeping indoor plants and flowers around your workspace can significantly improve your creative performance and problem-solving skills.?
- They may improve indoor air quality: According to the American Lung Association, indoor air can be even more polluted than the air outside. A study published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health suggests that potted plants are likely to reduce particulate matter (e.g., dust, smoke, soot, etc.) in indoor air by about 30%. Another research conducted by the Pennsylvania State University’s Department of Horticulture found that plants like spider plant and snake plant may offer a small benefit to indoor air quality.
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Stay tuned for more wellness nuggets next week. Until then, take it easy!?
