SOPHIE OGBONDA-JARDINE
Research suggests a clear link between houseplants and mental health, with RHS UK noting that their greatest benefits include promoting human well-being and motivation.
Houseplants may positively influence indoor air quality, ensuring that your family is breathing fresh, clean air containing minimal toxins and contaminants. While there’s still an ongoing discussion around how many plants are needed for indoor plant air purifying, plants like Peace Lilies and Spider Plants have been shown to improve respiratory health. Incorporating greenery into your interior designs is also becoming a growing trend, especially in light of the benefits mentioned above.
Houseplants and Mental Health
According to RHS UK, houseplants have been proven to offer a range of mental and psychological benefits. These benefits include mood improvements, reduced stress levels, and an increase in productivity for remote workers. They also include increased reaction speeds during computer tasks, enhanced attention span, and even an increased tolerance for pain.
A 2015 study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology discovered that younger adults who interacted regularly with indoor plants experienced reduced physiological and physical stress, as the interaction successfully suppressed their autonomic nervous system activity. The researchers concluded that the results were accomplished through nervous system down-regulation and a lowering of diastolic blood pressure, along with the promotion of comfortable and soothing emotions.
Increased Focus
Bringing plants into your workspace may also help you to increase your concentration and focus over time. A study published in 2014 compared two different offices, only one of which contained indoor plants.
The researchers assessed employees’ subjective perceptions of workplace satisfaction, concentration, productivity, and air quality. It found that the offices containing indoor plants scored higher across all of the study areas mentioned. Employees in offices with plants concentrated more effectively, worked more productively, and felt more satisfied with their surroundings overall.
Indoor Plant Air Purifying Abilities
Certain species of indoor plants are particularly adept at purifying the air in confined spaces. In a 1989 study, NASA assessed plants’ abilities to remove toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene from the air.
They found that the plants not only added oxygen to indoor spaces but removed all the studied toxins as well, thereby improving air quality considerably.
What are the Best Indoor House Plants?
Here are some of the best indoor house plants to add to your home or workspace, according to their key abilities.
The Best Houseplants for Mental Health
The World Economic Forum suggests using the following indoor plants to boost your mental well-being:
- India Rubber Tree (Ficus elastic)
- Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum aureum)
- English Ivy (Hedera helix)
A recent review of 42 scientific studies found that simply being physically close to indoor plants like these can give your mental and physical health a boost. The India Rubber Tree and Devil’s Ivy are great for bright, airy indoor spaces with plenty of natural light, while English Ivy and Peace Lily can be used to increase the humidity of dry environments.
The Best Houseplants for Air Purification
A NASA study from 1989 found that plants like:
- Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum maunaloa)
- Janet Craig (Dracaena deremensis)
- Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
- Florist’s Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)
...were most effective at removing the aforementioned contaminants from indoor air bodies. Snake Plant is also capable of purifying air indoors and can survive in low-light and low water environments. Peace Lilies grow well in partial sunlight and humid climates such as bathrooms or kitchens, and chrysanthemums require little care – but will only survive inside for a couple of weeks.
Buy Houseplants in Canary Wharf
Just moved in and looking to boost your interior by bringing the outdoors in? Look no further than Flowers & Plants Co. A neighbourhood florist with nationwide delivery, Flower & Plants Co., is the perfect spot to browse for your next leafy friend.
Improve Your Mental and Physical Health with Indoor Plants
Whether you are interested in exploring the link between houseplants and mental health or you’re eager to see indoor plant air purifying processes in action, houseplants can increase focus and concentration, boost your mood, and keep your respiratory system healthy.
Add houseplants to your indoor spaces by identifying good areas for plants, researching which plants will do best in those spaces (consider light exposure, warmth, humidity, and dryness) and order a specific plant for each environment to keep them thriving.
Houseplants are growing rapidly in popularity, not only because of their visual charm, but because of the exceptional health benefits they offer. Bringing the outdoors in will give you access to the same uplifting experiences you can expect when exploring Canary Wharf’s many iconic green spaces, gardens and boardwalks as a Vertus resident. Contact us if living amongst mental-health boosting outdoor environments is a lifestyle option that appeals to you.