Houseplants: More Than Just Aesthetic Appeal

Houseplants are more than just a beautiful addition to your home decor. They offer numerous health benefits, including improving air quality, reducing stress, and increasing humidity. This blog post explores how houseplants can benefit your health and well-being. From improving air quality to providing a natural way to reduce stress, houseplants are a great way to enhance your living space and improve your overall sense of well-being. Whether you're a seasoned green thumb or just starting, plenty of options are available to suit your needs.

I have grown up watching my mother care for plants with utmost dedication and care. Her sunroom is still adorned with an array of beautiful plants that I love to surround myself with whenever I visit my family. It is my favorite room in my family house, offering a peaceful and relaxing ambiance.

Inspired by my mother's love for plants, I, too, desire to keep houseplants in my own home. They add to the beauty of my living space and help me de-stress after a long day at work. However, I must confess that I am not a good green thumb. Thus, I have settled for artificial plants that are cute and low maintenance. Even I have built a few plants made of Legos in my living room (see an image below).

But nothing beats the joy of having real houseplants. So, I decided to research their benefits and how to care for them. So, I am now looking for the best houseplants that suit my home and lifestyle.

Houseplants are an excellent addition to any home and a great way to purify the air and add moisture to the air, which can help reduce the risk of respiratory problems such as asthma and allergies. Having houseplants around can also help create a more peaceful and calming atmosphere, making your home more relaxing. Additionally, caring for houseplants can be a great way to connect with nature and develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world. It can also be a fun and rewarding hobby, allowing you to watch your plants grow and thrive as you provide them with the care and attention they need.

Incorporating houseplants into your daily routine can be a natural and effective way to reduce stress and promote relaxation. For example, taking a few minutes each day to water your plants and tend to their needs can provide a welcome break from the stresses of everyday life. This can be especially beneficial if you spend much time indoors or working on a computer. It can also help reduce eye strain and other physical symptoms associated with prolonged screen time.

By caring for your houseplants, you can also develop a sense of responsibility and accomplishment, improving your well-being. Watching your plants grow and thrive can provide joy and satisfaction and help you feel more connected to the natural world. With some care and attention, your houseplants can continue to bring you joy and improve your well-being for years.

Benefits of having indoor houseplants:

• Improve air quality

• Reduce stress

• Increase humidity

• Provide a natural and effective way to reduce stress and promote relaxation

• Can be a calming and meditative activity

• Add aesthetic appeal to any home

• Provide an overall improvement in the sense of well-being

Improve air quality: Houseplants can significantly improve indoor air quality by removing various pollutants. For example, according to a 1989 NASA study, they can help enhance air quality by eliminating cancer-causing, such as formaldehyde and benzene, from the air. They do so through photosynthesis, absorption, and desorption. Houseplants can also increase humidity levels in a room, which can help reduce allergens like dust mites. Plants like spider plants, peace lilies, and Boston ferns are some examples of air-purifying plants that can remove formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene from the air. To improve air quality in your home, it's best to place houseplants near windows or doors to allow fresh air to circulate.

Here are some of the ways houseplants improve air quality:

• Photosynthesis: Houseplants use photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. This process releases oxygen into the air, which can help enhance the air quality.

• Absorption: Houseplants can absorb pollutants from the air through their leaves. These pollutants can then be stored in the plants' tissues or metabolized.

• Desorption: Houseplants can also release pollutants back into the air through their leaves. However, this process is much slower than absorption.

• Increased humidity: Houseplants can increase the humidity in a room, which can help to reduce dust mites and other allergens.

Reduce Stress: Houseplants can also positively impact our mental health by reducing stress levels and providing a sense of well-being. Taking care of plants can be a calming and meditative activity that allows us to disconnect from the stresses of everyday life. In addition, being surrounded by greenery and nature has been shown to have a calming effect on our minds and bodies. Therefore, incorporating houseplants into our homes can provide a natural and effective way to reduce stress and promote relaxation.

Improve environmental wellness: Houseplants positively impact your health and environmental wellness. They can absorb toxins and pollutants from the air and release clean oxygen, thereby helping to improve the overall air quality in your home. This benefits you and the environment as a whole, as cleaner air helps to reduce the negative impact of air pollution on the planet. By incorporating houseplants into your living space, you are making a conscious effort to create a healthier and more sustainable environment for yourself and those around you while also contributing to the larger goal of reducing the negative impact of human activity on the environment.

Enhance interior design: Houseplants can add a touch of nature and color to any room, enhancing the overall interior design. They can create focal points, add texture and depth, and complement different décor styles. With a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors available, houseplants can be used to create a unique and personalized look in any living space.

If you're new to houseplants and need help figuring out where to start, there are many easy-to-care-for options available. Spider plants, pothos, and snake plants are great for beginners. These plants require minimal watering and can grow in various lighting conditions. For those with pets, it's important to note that some houseplants can be toxic to animals. Please see the tips on the toxicity of the plants below.

It's also worth noting that some houseplants are more effective at improving air quality than others. According to a NASA study, the top air-purifying plants include the spider plant, peace lily, and Boston fern. These plants effectively remove formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene from the air. So to improve air quality specifically, consider adding these plants to your home.

Suppose you are not a good green thumb like myself but want to add more greenery to your living space and don't have the time or energy to maintain high-maintenance plants. In that case, plenty of low-maintenance options are still available that can help improve air quality. Many plants are aesthetically pleasing and great for purifying the air in your home.

One such option is the ZZ plant, native to eastern Africa and known for its shiny, waxy leaves. This plant is incredibly easy to care for and can tolerate a wide range of lighting conditions, making it an excellent choice for those who don't have a lot of natural light in their home. Another great option is the Chinese evergreen, which comes in various colors and patterns and is known for its hardiness and ability to adapt to different environments. Finally, philodendrons are another great low-maintenance option that comes in various shapes and sizes and are known for their air-purifying abilities.

The frequency with which you should water your houseplants depends on several factors, including the type of plant, the soil, the size of the pot, and the amount of light and humidity in your home. Generally, it's best to water your plants when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Overwatering can lead to root rot and other problems, while underwatering can cause the plant to wilt and suffer. Finding the right balance for your specific plants and environment is important. For example, some plants, such as succulents and cacti, require less frequent watering, while others, such as ferns and tropical plants, may require more frequent watering.

• Spider Plants: Water them about once a week to care for spider plants. Before watering, check the soil to see if it's dry. If it's still moist, wait another day or two and check again. The plant likes to dry out occasionally, so don't water it too frequently, even if it seems thirsty.

• Boston ferns: To successfully grow a Boston fern, it's important to keep the soil lightly moist but not soggy during the spring and summer months when it's actively growing. This typically requires weekly waterings for indoor plants and more frequent waterings for those grown outside in warm environments.

• Chinese evergreen plants: To care for a Chinese evergreen plant, water it thoroughly when about 50% of the surrounding soil is dry. If it's outdoors in the hot sun, this may mean watering it every one to two days. During cooler months, you can water it slightly less frequently.

• ZZ plants: ZZ plants should be allowed to dry out completely between waterings. These plants have an extremely efficient water retention mechanism, so don't water them until the soil is dry throughout the pot. In low-light environments or during winter, this can mean watering as infrequently as once a month.

Lastly, remember it's important to research the toxicity of any plant before bringing it into your home, especially if you have pets. Additionally, houseplants will not significantly improve air quality in large rooms or high pollution levels. For best results, place houseplants near windows or doors to allow fresh air to circulate.

When researching the toxicity of a plant, consider the following tips:

• Start with a reputable source: Find information from government agencies, universities, or reputable gardening organizations.

• Check multiple sources: Don't rely on a single source of information. Instead, check several sources to ensure accuracy.

• Look for scientific names: Common names for plants can vary, so it's important to look for the scientific name of the plant you're researching.

• Check for specific toxins: Some plants may be toxic only if certain parts are ingested. So make sure you know of any particular toxins associated with the plant.

• Be aware of symptoms: Research the symptoms of poisoning associated with the plant. This can help you recognize potential toxicity in both humans and pets.

Following these tips ensures that the houseplants you bring home are safe for you and your family.

Houseplants are aesthetically pleasing and provide numerous health benefits. They can improve air quality, reduce stress, and increase humidity, among other things. Whether you're a seasoned green thumb or just starting, plenty of options are available to suit your needs. Remember to research any plant before bringing it home, especially if you have pets. With some care and attention, your houseplants can thrive and bring joy to your home for years.

Those questions have often been asked.

How many plants should you have in your home?

According to a study, having five or more foliage plants can increase positive emotions, although no magic number exists. In one experiment, participants in a room with bamboo palms, Chinese evergreens, and heart-leaf philodendrons (five in total) felt more carefree and friendly than those in rooms without plants. Alternatively, a tall potted plant (about five feet) or three or more small floral displays (like sweet peas, larkspurs, or woodland sage) can also elicit similarly positive responses. (Sources: 1, 2, 3)

What colors should you choose for your plants in your home?

Is greener always better? An English ivy study found that green-yellow and bright-green leaves increased feelings of cheerfulness and relaxation, whereas whitish-green leaves mainly stimulated negative emotions. As for flowering plants, a study found that purple, green, red, pink, and white ones could lower people's blood pressure and heart rate. However, purple and green flowers were more effective in relaxing the body, reducing anxiety, and improving mood. Another study found that red and yellow roses elicited a more calming response than white ones.

Which one is better, natural or artificial?

In an indoor space, having any greens — including photographs of plants — is better than having none. However, natural plants have a more significant impact on mood, attention, and relaxation than fake plants. The same applies to real vs. fake flowers. For example, in a study of high school students, participants who looked at real pansies for three minutes felt more relaxed and comfortable than those looking at artificial ones.