The Stress Reducing Benefits of Indoor Plants
The third week of September is National Indoor Plant Week. Whether it’s your home, your office, or another indoor space, plants make it a whole lot better. Sure, you could get artificial plants, but fake plants are just not as good as the real thing. Real plants have many benefits that help you feel more calm, and they can even contribute to improving the air around you.
There’s something about nature that touches our souls. If you live in an urban area, or you just don’t spend much time outside, the lack of nature will have a negative effect on your emotions. Having plants in your home or office boosts your mood, giving you a break from being surrounded by human-made structures like walls, furniture, and electronics. Going outside to experience nature isn’t always a great option because sometimes, the weather is less than ideal. You can bring the outside indoors with indoor plants.
Also, indoor plants reduce your stress. When you take care of a plant and watch it slowly grow over time, you’ll get a sense of satisfaction from knowing that you helped a beautiful plant grow and stay alive. When you take the time to sit and observe plant leaves and flowers, you’ll feel a sense of being grounded and at peace. Plants’ lovely colors and shapes give your indoor space more charm and visual appeal. Having real plants literally adds more life to a room.
If you are looking to add houseplants to your home, there are so many health benefits. According to This Old House Reviews, 47% of millennials say they don't own indoor plants because they don't know how to care for them. For people who are beginners or aren’t natural green thumbs, selecting the appropriate plant and taking care of them can be challenging.
To help plant parents, This Old House Reviews created the ultimate houseplant guide, including expert advice on care and recommendations for low-light plants, small spaces, pet-friendly plants, and other scenarios.
In addition to all that, plants often give off pleasant scents, and some plants have practical uses beyond just being decorative. So if you want to uplift your mood and lower your stress, consider getting a new indoor plant. But there are many, many plants out there. How can you decide which ones to get?
Here are some ideas:
Phalaenopsis Orchid - The phalaenopsis orchid’s vivid colors and artistic, aesthetically pleasing shape is soothing to look at, making this plant a popular choice for indoor plant lovers. It’s a beautiful plant that’s easy to take care of. You only have to water it once a week, and it doesn’t need a ton of light. Get one of these low-maintenance plants for an easy way to brighten your mood.
Snake Plant - The mesmerizing tall, deep-green leaves of the snake plant fit well visually into just about any space. This plant is an excellent oxygen producer, and it has the ability to absorb things like carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, and benzene that make your air less healthy. Plus, it’s okay if you forget to water it for a while. It can last a month without water!
Chamomile - You can use chamomile leaves for tea, or just sit back and enjoy the adorable blooms and the sweet scent. It requires watering only once a week, and it should be placed next to a south-facing window. If you want to use the leaves to make chamomile tea, you’ll have to wait 60-90 days after planting it. But it’s worth the wait for sure.
Albuca Spiralis Frizzle Sizzle - This plant is perfect for you if you have a taste for fun, wild visual styles! Its leaves stick out in bold straight lines and then turn into funny spiral shapes, so this plant definitely stands out from others. Having one of these in your room can give you a feeling of energy and fun. This plant gets bonus points for having a gentle vanilla-like scent.
Aloe Vera - This is definitely a plant for people who want something practical. Grow this in your home and you’ll have a convenient way to soothe irritated and burned skin. Aloe vera gel can also be used as a moisturizer for your skin and hair. Nature has its ways of knowing how to heal us, and keeping aloe vera as one of your indoor plants is one of the best ways to take advantage of plants’ healing abilities.
Which one of these plants is your favorite? Or maybe you have another favorite indoor plant that’s not on this list. No matter which plant you like the most, it’s nice to have indoor plants around because they bring you closer to nature. Show your plants some love!
