Since the ancient Greeks and Romans began bringing plants in from the outdoors, the popularity of houseplants has fluctuated. The Victorians adored their potted palms, and the 1970s were incomplete without ferns and spider plants… everywhere. The present trend calls for a lighter touch with greenery — sculptural branches and succulents reign supreme – but the truth is that house plants should transcend fashion. The benefits they provide should compel us to view them as a necessity rather than an ornament because excellent health should never go out of style. And if sustainable, all-natural plants can promote health, all the better.
How bringing plants indoors helps us
Can Help Reduce Stress Symptoms
Most people are aware that engaging with nature is an excellent stress reliever. Working with the natural world can help us refocus, be more attentive to the present, and better manage stress in a variety of ways, including park walks, “forest bathing” excursions, and gardening. However, being outdoors is not the only way to alleviate stress. Indoor gardening with houseplants can also be beneficial.
Working with houseplants can significantly reduce stress indicators such as cortisol levels, blood pressure, and heart rate. A simple job such as watering or repotting houseplants can help calm the mind and reduce respiratory rates.
They Help Prevent Illness
In the great outdoors, plant roots tap the groundwater table for water, which then evaporates through its leaves in a process known as transpiration.3 According to studies, this accounts for about 10 percent of the moisture in the atmosphere.4 The same thing happens at home (minus the groundwater table part), which increases the humidity indoors.5 While this may be undesirable during hot, humid months, it’s a boon during drier months or if you live in arid climates.
According to research conducted at the Agricultural University of Norway, indoor flora in plant pots reduces the prevalence of dry skin, colds, sore throats, and coughs.
Improved Sleep
In addition to enhancing the aesthetic appeal and warmth of a bedroom, the oxygen-producing properties of plants can aid in encouraging deep sleep. During photosynthesis, plants collect carbon dioxide and convert it to oxygen, which is then released into the environment. According to a recent study, exposure to high amounts of oxygen at night can encourage deeper, more restful sleep, so it’s no surprise that many scientists and physicians recommend incorporating houseplants into your bedroom.
Assist you in living more optimistically in the present
The benefits of indoor plants are extensive. For example, they increase optimism and happiness, and a bacterium in the soil of houseplants is believed to improve mood and reduce stress.
Additionally, caring for plants provides psychological benefits. Humans prefer to form relationships with other living things, so caring for plants can provide a sense of purpose and joy.
Moreover, houseplants stimulate many of our senses, allowing us to live in the present. This form of mindfulness has numerous therapeutic benefits.
Having plants at home stimulates your imagination
It should not come as a surprise that negative psychological consequences, such as bad moods and stress, can also inhibit creativity. In addition to these benefits of houseplants, including houseplants and other natural components in your home also stimulates your imagination.
A 2015 study examined the impact of biophilic design, which incorporates natural elements such as indoor plants set in plant pots and vistas of outdoor vegetation, on the workplace. This move led to a 15 per cent rise in inventiveness, according to the study.
Plants provide a much-needed boost to the immune system, especially during flu season.
This is in part due to the mental benefits. When you sleep more and feel more relaxed, your immune system is able to function more effectively. You will have a much simpler time combating the prevalent bugs and viruses. However, this is not the only way to acquire.
