House Plants for Everyone
As I’m sure we all remember from our middle school science class days that plants can purify the air through the process of photosynthesis. Houseplants can help to purify the air in your home creating a healthier environment. Another benefit of houseplants is the positive impact they can have on your mental and emotional health. With the recent quarantine period and so many transferring to a work from home lifestyle stress, depression, anxiety and loneliness have become more common. According to an article put out by Affinity Health houseplants can benefit your mental health by:
Reduce feelings of stress and anxiety - A bacterium in plant soil itself called Mycobacterium vaccae triggers the release of serotonin, which lifts mood and reduces anxiety.
Indoor plants can make you more productive and boost your creativity - Many research studies related to plants have shown increase in creativity level of subjects both in school and at workplace.You may find similar benefits of reduced stress levels, being able to think clearly and ignite creativity from plants at home as well.
Houseplants give you a taste of nature - The physical aspect of taking care of house plants reminds us of our connection to nature which can create feelings of peace and calmness.
Better concentration and memory - A research study from the University of Michigan concluded that spending time outside around plants can increase memory retention by up to 20 percent. Plants have a calming effect. They can help you focus on retaining a specific task related memory.
I know after adding in plants to my own home I found myself feeling happier and optimistic. I have to be responsible for caring for them if I want them to continue to grow. They also provide me with a sense of excitement every time I see new growth. I have attempted plants a few times throughout my life and could never seem to keep them alive and thriving like I hoped. This last time I decided to do the research to see what plants grew best in my climate and that would be the easiest to care. I started with a golden pothos and a snake plant and collected many others along the way.
I have created a list of the best houseplants for anyone looking to add some greenery into their home!
Snake Plant (Sansevieria): Snake plants are one of the easiest to care for. They require very little light and only require water every two weeks or so. These plants are also a great addition to your home as they are excellent at scrubbing the air of toxins.
2. Pothos Plant (Epipremnum aureum): Pothos are another low maintenance plants that requires very little light. These plants are another great air purifier and are a beautiful addition to your home.
3. Aloe Vera - This plant provides benefit to your physical health as you can apply it directly to your skin for skin ailments and surface wounds.
4. Ferns - Ferns can increase air humidity which is good for our skin. These plants prefer indirect sunlight and are require little attention.
5. Spider Plant - Spider plants require water on occasion and are great for removing formaldehyde from the air.
If you are still not sure what plants would be best or struggle to know what all you need to buy when starting out I recommend finding a local nursery or plant shop that can advise you on what would be best. These stores will provide you with quality advice and product. I have purchased plants from both nurseries and large box stores and have noticed an extreme difference in quality. Box store plants often don’t receive great care and can be damaged in the shipping process. If you are starting out with plants and want to be successful I would definitely encourage you to spend the money and get quality plants and products!
