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Benefits of Houseplants
Houseplants are more than just living decorations, they provide many surprising benefits in every room where they grow. By understanding the positive effects of houseplants, you can more easily choose the best plants to add a touch of nature to your home, office, classroom, or workspace.
The Many Benefits of Houseplants
Some of the physical benefits houseplants provide are well known, but others are less familiar. Once you start to realize all the benefits different plants can create in your home, however, you’ll be eager to create your own urban jungle.
Houseplants will…
- Remove odors from pets, cooking, sweat, laundry, and other sources, helping refresh the air.
- Remove airborne toxins such as ammonia, benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde.
- Increase the ambient humidity and moisture in the air.
- Act as a natural filter to remove dust, pollen, mold, and other airborne particles.
- Help control and dampen sound for greater peace and quiet.
Because houseplants perform these functions, they help to naturally ease allergies, respiratory distress, and dry skin. This can reduce the need for medications or other treatments, and can be a natural way to help manage common health conditions.
Mental Benefits You Get From Houseplants
In addition to the physical benefits of houseplants, they also provide a range of mental and psychological benefits, including…
- Improved focus and concentration for work and studying.
- Enhanced creativity and better mental flexibility.
- Beautification of space to create a soothing sense of peace.
- Lowering stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Creating a sense of accomplishment from caring for plants.
The improved mental state that comes from houseplants can raise job satisfaction and improve mood, helping ease mental stress and improve overall mental health. In turn, improved mental health can lead to greater productivity and overall satisfaction for a happier, more joyful life.
Best Houseplants for the Most Benefits
While any houseplants can yield multiple benefits, it is best to choose plants that are adapted to thrive in indoor conditions. Our homes typically have lower humidity and lower overall light levels than outdoor environments, and plants should be chosen to suit household conditions. Also take care to choose plants that will fit the space available and won’t overgrow their location. If pets or children are part of the family, it is important to choose houseplants that aren’t toxic or dangerous.
Some of the top houseplants for multiple benefits include…
- African violet
- Air plant
- Boston fern
- Bromeliad
- Cacti
- Cast iron plant
- Corn plant
- Dumb cane
- English ivy
- Ficus
- Golden pothos
- Lucky bamboo
- Parlor palm
- Peace lily
- Polka dot plant
- Prayer plant
- Rubber plant
- Snake plant
- Spider plant
- Succulents
- Weeping fig
In general, one medium-sized houseplant is recommended for every 100 square feet of home space to maximize the plants’ benefits. This is only a rough guideline, however, and even having just one or two houseplants in a room will provide some benefits. Take care not to overdo, however, or you may find yourself living in an urban jungle that takes more time to tend and care for than you’d anticipated, and you won’t enjoy the benefits of the houseplants as much because of the excess work to keep them at their best.
Caring for Houseplants
No matter which houseplants you choose or how many you have, they will need proper care to maximize their benefits. Choose plants that match your home’s environment and space, and keep plants away from drafty spaces or heating vents. Use good quality potting soil for your plants, and be sure their pots have suitable drainage to avoid root rot and fungus problems. Take care not to overwater plants, rotate plants regularly so they get even exposure to sunlight, and check regularly for signs of gnats, spider mites, or other pests.
With good care, houseplants can thrive for years, bringing many positive benefits to every living space, and bringing joy to everyone who sees them.
Agway® is a division of Southern States®
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