How House Plants Benefit your Health and Home
We live in a world full of hustle and bustle and constant digital preoccupation. Being outside and soaking up fresh air has become more of an occasional allowance than a regularity. As humans, we have an innate desire to be connected with nature, otherwise known as biophilia. According to Terrapin Bright Green Consulting, “empirical studies have reported that experiences of natural environments provide greater emotional restoration, with lower instances of tension, anxiety, anger, fatigue, confusion and total mood disturbance than urban environments with limited characteristics of nature.” Even adding a few houseplants in your living room or bedroom can make all the difference in how you feel and think while also enhancing the beauty of your home.
Houseplants provide not only aesthetic benefits but also physiological ones. Studies from NASA explain that most plants can help purify the air up to 87 percent by absorbing carbon dioxide and other harsh toxins or chemicals. Indoor houseplants can also help boost your immunity and concentration levels too, which is great to consider for your work environment.
So, maybe you’re thinking you’re scared of taking care of plants because you don’t have the notorious green thumb. Well, a large number of houseplants are quite easy to manage for any lifestyle and are inexpensive with purchase. It really depends on how much you’d like to tend to them. After having a plant for a few weeks you start to get a rhythm going and those worries shed once you see the rewards of growth.
Easy plants to start with:
Cactus and succulents are a great place to start. They can handle not being watered for long periods of time and grow in beautiful shapes. A type of succulent worth trying is an Echeveria or Sempervivum, they prefer direct sunlight and only need to be drenched with water every few weeks.
If you’re looking for something that’s not as thick and fleshy, a good option is Devil’s ivy. This plant has almond shaped leaves and grows like a vine. They do really well with indirect sunlight if your home or workspace has little natural light and only need to be watered once a week.
Another great plant that is easy to manage is lucky bamboo. Lucky bamboo is very simple to care for. All you have to do is plant them in a bed of rocks in a non draining pot and keep water levels up to the rim. They require indirect sunlight and just need the water to be changed out every other week to prevent mold and algae growth.
Spider plants are amazing air purifiers and have slender leaves that only grow longer and fuller. You can water them every 4-5 days and they require indirect sunlight. At night they continue to emit oxygen, so keeping these in your bedroom will help aid your sleep.
Nature has an amazing effect on us. Houseplants merely give us the ability to fulfill our inherent need for natural elements when we are lacking time to be outside because of our busy schedules. No matter what type of style you’re trying to accomplish or what pace of your life is at, having plants in your routine environment helps strengthen your mental, physical and emotional well being.
Want More Tips for Managing Your Home?
Willow is our sister company offering home concierge and proactive home maintenance. Check out our new brand and explore recent articles:
▶ Home maintenance service plans are a growing trend in homeownership. What are they, and what do they offer? We break down the pros and cons here.
▶ Are you a new homeowner? Check out our New Homeowner Checklist and explore essential tips on living in your new home.
▶ Just how much should you invest in home maintenance? Read top recommendations from industry experts here.
▶ Want to avoid financial pain and unwanted surprises? Who doesn’t? Learn about the Most Expensive Home Repairs and how to avoid them.
▶ Are you a Colorado resident? Explore our Seasonal Home Care Tips for Colorado to help keep your home in great shape year-round.
Ready for someone to care for your home like no one else will?
Explore Willow’s monthly subscription home maintenance plan and home concierge service.