The recent surge of people adopting houseplants during the pandemic led to a worldwide trend of caring for plants. With people isolated at home, they needed something to take care of and give them a sense of responsibility. Many people turned to plants, with North American greenhouses seeing a 71% increase in plant sales in 2020.
The restriction of enjoying nature outdoors during the pandemic brought many people to bring the outdoors in. Although lockdowns have subsided and people are free to go as they please, the benefits of houseplants remain.
Benefits of being around plants
The spike in houseplant interest is a healthy addiction and comes with multiple benefits for your health and well-being. The National Library of Medicine found that interacting with your houseplants (smelling or touching) can reduce stress levels by creating a natural and soothing environment.
Houseplants also improve the air quality of your home or office space. According to the American Lung Association, the air in your home can be more polluted than the air outdoors. Indoor plants can remove toxins in the air through their leaves and roots and convert the carbon dioxide we breathe out into fresh oxygen. Plants like Peace Lilies, Sansevierias (snake plants), Spider plants, and English Ivy are top-rated air-purifying plants and are relatively easy to care for.
The combination of improved air quality to your brain and reduced stress levels can result in greater concentration and productivity by up to 47% in workspaces. Houseplants also facilitate healing, with a Kansas State University study recommending plants as a “noninvasive, inexpensive, and effective complementary medicine for surgical patients.”
Which plants to choose
Choosing the right houseplant that fits your space’s lighting requirements, temperature, personal care availability, and is safe for the ones living in your space determines its success in the future. Different varieties of plants require certain care, so be sure to do a little research before choosing the right one for you.
Some varieties of plants can be harmful to children and pets and can cause irritation or nausea if ingested, so make sure to choose carefully. Some common houseplants that are toxic are Philodendrons, Pothos, English Ivy, Oleander, and Snake plants.
Check out this thorough guide on how to choose the right houseplant for you.
Wellzesta
Wellzesta’s environmental and emotional wellness dimensions welcome the use of plants and nature as forms of healing and offer community groups that allow interested residents to gather and share horticultural tips and ideas.
Wellzesta Life’s daily wellness content also includes different resources to further users’ interest and knowledge of the healing power of plants.
Click here to learn more about how Wellzesta can help your community.
