The Repurposing Life

The Benefits of Houseplants

The many benefits of houseplants. Houseplants have been popular ever since the early Greeks and Romans starting bringing plants in from the outdoors. The Victorians loved their potted palms and the 70s would not be as iconic without ferns and spider plants…everywhere.

The truth is this: Houseplants should transcend trends. Houseplant benefits should make us consider them a necessity rather than just décor, because honestly, good health should never be out of style.

Researchers have looked into the claims and found the truth. Here are the science-backed, proven benefits of having plants in your home.

1. They give an assist in breathing

Inhaling brings oxygen into the body, exhaling releases carbon dioxide. During photosynthesis, plants do the opposite: They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, making plants and people great partners when it comes to a symbiotic relationship. Plants help to increase environmental oxygen levels.

But here’s something to know: When photosynthesis stops at night, most plants switch things up and absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide. However, a few special plants – like orchids, succulents and epiphytic bromeliads – flip that script and take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Ideally, you’d use these plants in bedrooms to keep the oxygen flowing at night during sleep.

2. They help deter illness and Increase Comfort

In the great outdoors, plant roots tap the groundwater table for water which then evaporates through its leaves in a process known as transpiration. Studies show that this accounts for about 10% of the moisture in the atmosphere. As part of the photosynthetic and respiratory processes, plants release moisture vapor, which increases humidity of the air around them. Plants release roughly 97% of the water they take in.

While this may sound unappealing during hot moist months, it’s a gift during drier months or if you live in an arid climate. According to studies at the Agricultural University of Norway document that using plants in interior spaces decreases the incidence of dry skin, colds, sore throats and dry coughs. And other research reveals that higher absolute humidity is conducive to the decreased survival and transmission of the flu virus.

Not only do indoor plants add color and liveliness to your space, but they also change physical aspects of the environment in pleasant ways. Plants can be used to reduce noise, screen unattractive areas, and moderate room temperature by shading a bright, sunny window. Before filling a space with furniture and accessories, think about how people might feel in that room and how plants might help achieve such ends.

3. They clean the air

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has spent a lot of time researching air quality in sealed environments. Extensive research by the space agency discovered indoor air quality improvement, where plants play a pivotal role: Both plant leaves and roots are utilized in removing trace levels of toxic vapors from inside tightly sealed buildings. Low levels of chemicals such as carbon monoxide, benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde can be removed from indoor environments by plant leaves alone. When talking about the relationship between plants and space travelers, NASA notes that plants provide nourishment for the body when eaten as food, and they improve the quality of indoor air.

In fact, one study found that the bromeliad plant removed more than 80 percent of six volatile organic compounds VOCs (out of eight studied) in a 12-hour period, while the dracaena plant removed 94 percent of acetone (the compound in nail polish remover). The NASA researchers recommend one potted plant per 100 square feet of indoor space. To help plants perform their best, keep leaves clean and free of dust, and periodically take them outdoors to receive natural sunlight so that they can ‘recharge.’

Common Name	Latin Name	Benefits	Best use
Spider Plant	Chlorophytum comosum	Purifies air rapidly; removes formaldehyde	Living spaces
Dragon Tree1	Dracaena marginata	Purifies air; removes formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, and xylene	Living spaces
Gerbera Daisy2	Gerbera jamesonii	Releases oxygen at night; purifies air by removing benzene and trichloroethylene	Bedrooms to refresh nighttime air or living spaces
English Ivy	Hedera helix	Removes benzene from air	Dorm rooms or home office
Boston Fern	Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’	Humidifies air	Living spaces; note that dry winter rooms can quickly kill Boston ferns; mist plants daily for best results
Philodendron3	Philodendron	Purifies air; removes formaldehyde	Living spaces of new or renovated homes with new floors, walls, carpets, etc.
Snake Plant	Sansevieria trifasciata	Purifies air; removes formaldehyde and nitrogen oxide produced by fuel-burning appliances	Living spaces, kitchens, rooms with wood stoves
Peace Lily	Spathiphyllum	Removes mold from air	Bathrooms or damp areas of home

1 Other Dracaenas with similar properties: Janet Craig Dracaena (Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’) and corn plant (Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’).
2 Gerberas make temperamental houseplants; getting them to rebloom is very challenging. It’s best to treat them like cut flowers: When the color show is over, unless you love the leaves, compost them.
3 Plants with similar properties: Pothos, Bamboo Palm, Chinese Evergreen, And Weeping Fig

4. They boost healing

Bringing flowers or a plant while visiting a hospital patient is an effective way to help surgery patients recover. One study conducted at Kansas State University found that patients with plants in their rooms required less pain medication, had a lower blood pressure and heart rate, and felt less anxiety and fatigue when recovering from surgery than patients without greenery in their rooms.

Some plants even provide physical healing benefits. For instance, aloe vera can be used to heal sunburn and other skin irritations.

Another technique to decrease recovery time, as noted by Texas A&M University, is horticulture therapy in which patients are tasked with taking care of plants. The patients who physically interact with plants experience a significantly reduced recovery time after medical procedures.

5. They help you work better

A number of studies with both students and workers reveals that studying or working in the presence of plants can have a dramatic effect: being around plants improves concentration, memory and productivity. Being “under the influence of plants” can increase memory retention up to 20 percent, according to a University of Michigan study.

Meanwhile, two Norwegian studies found that worker productivity is greatly enhanced by the presence of plants in the office. Keeping ornamental plants in the home and in the workplace increases memory retention and concentration. Work performed under the natural influence of ornamental plants is normally of higher quality and completed with a much higher accuracy rate than work done in environments devoid of nature.

Employee productivity increased by 15 percent after plants were introduced to a previously bare office, in a study by the University of Exeter. Plants have always been, and still are, essential to human survival. Today, this innate connection to them can be observed by an overall reduction of stress and improvement of calmness and well-being, which in turn has effects on an individual’s ability to be creative and focus on tasks.

Case in point: A study at The Royal College of Agriculture in Circencester, England, found that college students demonstrated 70% greater attentiveness when they’re taught in rooms containing plants than those who were in an office without plants, according to a study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology. In the same study, attendance was also higher for lectures given in classrooms with plants.

6. They boost your mental well-being

And there’s a reason why everyone is so obsessed with greenery: Indoor plants improve your mental and physical well-being in ways you probably didn’t even realize.

Houseplants can do wonders for your mental health. For instance, when 28 new plants were placed in common areas of a heart and lung rehab center in Norway, patients reported a greater increase in well-being four weeks later compared to patients who didn’t have greenery added, one study found. Homo Sapiens evolved on earth among the grasslands surrounded by trees and plants. It is no wonder they make us feel at home.

7. You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment

In another study, when residents in an assisted-living facility potted plants and learned how to care for them at home, their quality of life improved. Researchers say it could be due to a feeling of accomplishment or the companionship people felt with their plants (some said they talked and even sang to them).

Any time someone takes ownership in something by doing it themselves, it brings them a sense of pride in accomplishment. Anyone who plants something will then take better care of it and nurture it—being able to nurture is part of the human experience.

8. They’ll help you forget about stress

Potting plants and actively maintaining them provide an opportunity to shift attention from troublesome, stressful things that may be going on in one’s life, and focus on the here-and-now. This is helpful to us and our psychological well-being, as well as the health of the plant.

If you’re new to gardening, start with succulents if you have a room with a window that gets a lot of light, or philodendrons for the average room with moderate light. If you haven’t been successful with a plant and it dies, that’s ok—just try again.

9. Plants can even enhance therapeutic care

Along those same lines, growing and caring for plants can play a role in a person’s formal recovery process for the person receiving care. According to the American Horticultural Therapy Association, the modality can be used for psychological problems (such as PTSD), physical issues (like regaining lost skills), or even vocational struggles (problem solving, for instance).

10. They Improve Learning Abilities

Both adults and children will gain benefits by having plants in the home. Adults will have more focus on their work and college tasks, while children find it easier to learn the basics. Children who suffer from mental disabilities or conditions can also gain benefits with the plants. The phytonutrients help to settle the mind, creating a safer space and environment for them to learn. They are more open to the tasks at hand.

11. Plants and house pets

Plants are excellent to have if you have pets. While they won’t get rid of the pet hair malting on your floor, they will help to take in the pollutants your pets bring in from the outside. The plants will also help to improve the life of your pet.

How Many Plants varies based on individual goals

To improve health and reduce fatigue and stress, place one large plant (8-inch diameter pot or larger) every 129 square feet. In office or classroom settings, position plants so each person has greenery in view.
To purify air, use 15-18 plants in 6-8-inch diameter pots for an 1,800-square-foot house. That’s roughly one large plant every 100 square feet. Achieve similar results with two smaller plants (4-5-inch pots).

Sources:
5 health benefits of houseplants
https://www.treehugger.com/health/5-health-benefits-houseplants.html
Melissa Breyer, February 13, 2015
8 Benefits of Indoor Plants – How Houseplants Improve Your
https://www.prevention.com/health/g27586276/benefits-of-indoor-plants/
By Kaitlyn Pirie, Jul 18, 2019
5 Benefits of Houseplants – Bioadvanced
https://www.bioadvanced.com/articles/5-benefits-houseplants
7 Science-Backed Health Benefits of Having Plants at Home
https://www.ecowatch.com/health-benefits-of-having-plants-at-home-2608386260.html
By Karen Reed, Sep. 27, 2018