Indoor plants are all the cool kids talk about these days. Our social media (especially Pinterest) is flooded with aesthetic pictures of walls and desks donning plants. Plants in cute ceramic pots, plants hanging over walls that would be otherwise dull and plants cascading over desks and windows have made our eyes pop. However, indoor plants are more than just pretty decor and have multiple benefits. There are many benefits of having indoor plants. They’re easy to maintain, help us in various ways and truly are a must-have for everybody!
X Benefits Of Having Indoor Plants
1. They Make The Air Cleaner & Safer
According to a study conducted by American Chemical Society, indoor plants removed nearly 80% of volatile air compounds like benzene, acetone and formaldehyde, which have a harmful effect on our respiratory system. Additionally, they also take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen in return and more oxygen (especially in the polluted environment we live in) is always a plus.
2. They Reduce Stress, Anxiety & Depression
An article by the Journal of Physiological Anthropology says that there are proven effects indoor plants have on our mental well-being. While planting and taking care of indoor plans, you’re “in the here and now” and this makes you focus on the task at hand, rather than your stressors. Additionally, being surrounded by indoor plants makes us feel calm and composed. With work-from-home becoming the new normal, we are glued to our computers and phones which stresses us out and even increases our heart rate. Gardening can play a major role in reducing this stress and anxiety and ultimately prevent us from burning out (yikes)!
3. They Have Therapeutic Healing Powers
Being in the presence of plants, not only heals you mentally, but also physically. This is one of the major benefits of having indoor plants. Research done by the American Society for Horticultural Science found that post-surgery patients were able to recover faster when their rooms had plants in them. The research says,
Patients with plants in their rooms had significantly fewer intakes of pain medication, more positive physiological responses (lower blood pressure and heart rate), less pain, anxiety, and fatigue, and better overall positive and higher satisfaction with their recovery rooms than their counterparts in the control group without plants in their rooms.
Pretty amazing right? So, the next time you visit someone at the hospital, don’t get them flowers or balloons, opt for indoor plants instead!
4. They Uplift Moods
Indoor plants make you feel good. Human beings have always loved being surrounded by nature as we evolved from our primitive ancestors who thrived in natural settings. However, living in concrete jungles has cut our contact with the natural world. Having indoor plants solves this to a certain extent. When we see greenery around us (even if it’s on our desk or window pane), we feel happy and there is a rise in our dopamine levels. This automatically uplifts our mood! Club this with the stress-relieving and therapeutic benefits of having indoor plants, and we have a magical solution for our mood and well-being!
5. They Make You Feel Accomplished
Plants need care and attention. Growing them requires patience, tenderness and a significant amount of effort. But once they begin thriving in your care, you feel a massive sense of accomplishment. An article published by the American Society for Horticultural Science proves this. You feel pride and joy in seeing your plant growing. This makes you feel great about yourself and increases your self confidence and esteem! This is one of the best benefits of having indoor plants.
6. They Increase Your Productivity
There are multiple studies that prove this benefit of having indoor plants. This study by the University Of Exeter proved that the presence of plants in offices boosted the employees’ productivity by nearly 15% and also increased their job satisfaction. Studies have also shown that college students were able to grasp subjects faster and be more focused while completing assignments when they were surrounded by plants and greenery. Plants help you focus, be more attentive and achieve more whether you’re at home, school or work!
After reading all these benefits of indoor plants, I am personally convinced to invest in one. Aren’t you? Are you a plant-mom already? Share it with us in the comments below!
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