Bringing nature indoors is one of the best things you can do for your health and well-being. Between cold winters and brutally hot summers, getting outside to enjoy the beauty and health benefits of being around plants can sometimes seem downright impossible. By filling your home with plants, you bring nature to you 365 days a year.
From the earliest times, humans have interacted with nature, adapting to their surroundings, and finding ways to use nature throughout their lives. In our hectic urban lifestyles, we often need to remember the importance of nature. Studies have shown the many benefits of contact with nature, including restoring attention and improving health, behavior, and physiological functioning.
Sadly, many urban dwellers spend over 80% of their time indoors with little access to nature. with “green space” taken over my concrete jungles. Placing potted plants inside your home and office helps improve air quality and psychological well-being.
Here are some of the benefits of having plants indoors:
- Make you feel more natural, soothed, and comfortable
An interesting study focused on young adults doing two tasks – transplanting an indoor plant or working on a computer task. Half the group did one exercise while the other half performed the other. Then they switched.
Data analysis showed that individuals felt more natural, soothed, and comfortable while performing the transplanting task than with the computer task. Diastolic blood pressure was also significantly lower.
- It can help mental wellness
Access to nature helps reduce stress and fatigue, with a positive relationship between green space accessibility and mental health. Spending time in nature fosters mindfulness and emotional well-being.
Several studies have demonstrated mood and mental health benefits from observing nature or natural scene images.
- Increase productivity and creativity
Plants can help people boost creativity by 15% or more, according to research by Texas A&M University. At the office, indoor plants have been shown to increase performance and reduce absence due to illness.
When looking at the psychological benefits of various colors, green has long been associated with creativity and productivity. In a German study, researchers discovered that when people looked at the color green for two seconds, they had increased creative output compared to other colors, including red, white, blue, and grey.
- Help improve the quality of indoor air
Plants use a process called “phytoremediation” to clear the air from pollutants. They are natural air filters purifying the air through filtration, absorption, precipitation, and dilution methods. With photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen. Through respiration, the plants take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. Plants use these processes to restore the air’s ecological balance.
Indoor plants reduce indoor pollutant levels, purifying the air from nitrates, ammonia, ozone, calcium, carbonyl, volatile organic components (VOC), sulfates, organic compounds, and carbonate.
Researchers say good indoor air quality may promote hormone health, which is necessary for overall well-being. For example, human growth hormone deficiency in men can lead to impaired sleep quality, chronic fatigue, obesity, and additional health problems. Learning more about HGH for men can help with health issues you may not have realized are due to hormonal imbalance.
- May speed your recovery from an illness, injury, or surgery
One study examined the benefits of viewing trees and plants from post-operative wards. The research found that improved mood, decreased pain medication usage, reduced surgical complications, and a shorter length of stay existed when nature was available to view. Viewing nature scenes has also helped people undergoing dental treatments and combining it with the sounds of nature helps improve bronchoscopy experiences.
Another study looked at sculpture gardens without greenery and found that patients in an oncology ward reacted adversely to the lack of green space. The same was found in a Swedish psychiatric hospital that discovered that rooms with landscapes on the walls were never vandalized, but those with abstract images were.
The list of studies on indoor plants’ mental and physical health benefits or viewing natural scenes can fill many reports. These are but a few highlighting the importance and benefits of bringing nature indoors.
10 Best Indoor Plants for Beginners
There is more to filling your indoor spaces with plants than going to the nearest lawn and garden center or plant nursery. Ask yourself the following questions:
How busy is your life?
Do you have time to spend focusing on caring for plants?
Are you gone for weeks at a time?
If you are extremely busy and do not have time to spend caring for plants, or if you travel frequently, you will want to purchase plants that only require a little attention. Watering indoor plants is easier with spikes that you can insert into the pot with water bottles attached. The spikes gradually release water as needed by the plants.
Choosing the right plants for your home or office is crucial. Not only will you reap health and productivity benefits, but you will be able to enjoy the beauty of your surroundings for years to come.
Here are 10 indoor plant options for beginners:
- Spider plant
If you want an ideal plant that does not require much attention, this one is for you. Spider plants are excellent air purifiers, enjoying low to indirect bright light while removing harmful VOCs from the air. These plants thrive on tables, mantels, or hanging. They do not mind humidity, are non-toxic, and are safe for humans and pets.
If you hate to clean, a spider plant may be an excellent addition to your home as they help reduce dust levels. Its leaves are natural air filters, helping improve the air for those with allergies or respiratory issues.
- Peace Lily
Lilies are flowering plants, and the peace lily is a long-living plant with white flowers and is happy in shady spaces. Owners of peace lilies may also be happier, as these plants have positive impacts on overall well-being and mental health.
Peace lilies help reduce airborne mold spores for a healthier home while increasing humidity – highly beneficial in dryer, winter air. Their air-cleaning properties are beneficial to the home environment – just keep them away from children and pets, as they can lead to tongue swelling or vomiting.
- Parlor Palm
If you want a tropical touch yet beneficial plant, consider the parlor palm. It is a natural air humidifier, providing a more balanced indoor atmosphere. Parlor palms absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the air. They are great for stress reduction and mental health.
These plants handle bright, indirect light but can also work in lower light. Keep them away from direct sunlight and water only when the top of the soil feels dry. Do not overwater, as parlor palms are susceptible to root rot.
- Boston fern
A staple in many homes, the Boston fern is easy to grow and enjoys hanging in baskets or perched on plant stands. Because moist soil is necessary, this plant that enjoys medium bright light might be more time-consuming than other plants.
Bring a Boston fern into your home if you want a natural air humidifier to counteract dry skin and irritated nasal passages associated with dry air. Boston ferns help remove toxins and pollutants from the air while improving relaxation, decreasing stress, and promoting a sense of calmness.
- Rubber plants
Another easy-to-care-for plant, rubber plants, with their large, glossy leaves, require watering only once a week (or so). Rubber plants enjoy bright, indirect light but also work in lower light. Just keep them away from direct sunlight.
Rubber plants help remove formaldehyde and other pollutants from the air to decrease allergies and respiratory issues. Increasing oxygen production and reducing stress, these plants can help you relax. While they are excellent air purifiers, they are also toxic, so keep them away from children and pets.
- Snake plants
The tall, vertically growing sword-shaped leaves of snake plants are often referred to as “mother-in-law’s tongues.” They thrive on neglect and can grow in any type of light. Watering is only necessary when the soil becomes dry – do not overwater as they are susceptible to root rot and require drainage.
These plants can remove air-borne toxins, including benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and trichloroethylene, improving air quality for better health. Snake plants also release nocturnal oxygen to improve sleep air quality, making them great for the bedroom.
- Pothos
Another easy-to-care-for plant, golden pothos or devil’s ivy, features heart-shaped leaves of green or marbled yellow and green. Simply place the plant in indirect sunlight, water it occasionally, and allow the pothos to lower indoor ozone levels, remove VOCs from the air, and improve breathing capabilities.
The golden pothos does an excellent job of removing formaldehyde from the air, significantly benefiting lung health and respiratory issues. Absorbing carbon dioxide and increasing oxygen release provides better air quality. Ingestion is toxic, so keep this plant away from pets and children.
- Elephant ear plants
Slightly more time-consuming, elephant ear plants have big, heart-shaped leaves. They require moist soil and regular watering along with bright light. Elephant ear plants can grow quite large, so plan for extra space for these natural air filters.
These plants have medicinal properties often used to treat insect stings. The starchy tubers of some species are a food staple in some tropical areas, providing benefits such as controlling blood sugar, decreasing heart disease risk, providing anticancer properties, and helping with weight loss. The leaves of the plants are dangerous to animals and humans when raw. Do not eat elephant ear plants without doing proper research.
- Succulents and cacti
If you want a plant that requires hardly any care, turn to succulents and cacti. Think about it; these plants thrive in desert conditions. Only your imagination can hold you back when bringing succulents into your home. Their many varieties, sizes, shapes, and colors make great indoor terrariums. If you need to increase indoor humidity, consider a jade plant.
Aloe vera plants are excellent to have on hand, as their medicinal properties help soothe burns, especially from cooking. Aloe plants help heal cuts, skin irritations, and minor wounds. Keep succulents out of the bathroom as they do not like moisture.
- English Ivy
Often seen outdoors, English ivy also loves the indoors, growing in pots or hanging baskets. You can trail your ivy vines along a trellis, keeping them watered when the soil becomes dry. English ivy likes direct sunlight and responds by lowering formaldehyde, toxins, and carbon dioxide in the air.
Reducing airborne mold and other allergens helps English ivy improve air quality and overall health. English ivy also adds a soothing, calming serenity to your space, improving mood and productivity.
Do not forget about the many benefits of growing edible plants indoors, including herbs and vegetables. From small tabletop units to large floor models, indoor planters make gardening and growing your food in a small space easier than you can imagine. There is nothing like snipping off a few basil leaves to sprinkle on your dinner or salad.
Conclusion
From air purifying to improving mood, reducing stress, and increasing creativity, the benefits of indoor plants are considerable.
Plants have been shown to reduce headaches, add moisture to the air (great for dry skin), and aid healing.
Keeping plants in your bedroom can help you sleep and improve your respiration. Choose plants that take in carbon dioxide and increase oxygen. Snake plants, golden pothos, and aloe vera plants are excellent options for the bedroom.
Whatever you choose, remember that bringing nature indoors provides plenty of benefits aesthetically and health-wise.