5 Amazing Health Benefits of Houseplants

Because plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, houseplants increase oxygen levels and freshen the air inside your home. Research by NASA found that one of the amazing benefits of houseplants is that they can remove up to 87% of toxins in the air within 24 hours. Some of these toxins include substances like formaldehyde (found in rugs, vinyl, and even grocery bags), benzene and trichloroethylene (both found in man-made fibers, inks, solvents, and paint). 

Since most modern buildings are climate-controlled, they trap these toxins inside where we are constantly breathing them in. The NASA research discovered that plants purify that trapped air by pulling the toxins into the soil, where organisms convert them into plant food. 

Spider plants are a great choice for improving air quality because they create oxygen while purifying the air in your home. Snake plants are another good choice for improved air quality because they purify air quicker than many other plants. 

A number of studies show that included in the benefits of houseplants are an increase in concentration, memory, and productivity. One study at The Royal College of Agriculture in Cirencester, England found that students were 70% more attentive when taught in rooms containing plants. A University of Michigan study shows that houseplants can increase memory retention by up to 20%. Many of these studies also show that the work being done in a space with plants is higher quality and more accurate than work done in a space without plants. 

A fun addition for a desk, home office, or other space where work needs to get done is lucky bamboo. It is easy to care for (it can be left in water like cut flowers), takes up little space, and is neat to watch it grow. 

According to a study in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, houseplants can reduce stress and anxiety. Houseplants have been shown to create positive changes in the brain’s electrical activity, muscle tension, and heart activity – all signs of lower stress and anxiety. It is not just the plants themselves that help you feel calmer. Even the potting soil contributes to lower stress levels. Soil contains microbes that act as natural antidepressants. Just by being around soil, these microbes, or “outdoorphins,” lead your brain to produce serotonin, which boosts your mood. 

Established in Japan, nature therapy (being outside in nature) has shown to both lower blood pressure and boost mental health. The good news is that you can get similar benefits just by adding a few houseplants to your space. 

Due to the added aromatherapy benefits, add a lavender plant to your bedroom to help reduce stress and allow for better sleep. Another good choice for reducing stress is a flowering houseplant like anthurium. They’re beautiful and easy to maintain. 

It is a pretty common practice to bring flowers or a plant to someone in the hospital. This may have more scientific benefits than you know. One of the little known benefits of houseplants is that they are effective in helping surgery patients recover. A Kansas State University study found that when patients viewed plants while recovering from surgery, they had lower blood pressure and reported lower ratings of pain, anxiety, and fatigue as compared to patients without plants in their rooms.

Taking care of plants has also been shown to help patient recovery. Patients who were asked to take care of plants where they physically interacted with them experienced significantly less recovery time after medical procedures.

Another one of the benefits of houseplants is that they increase the humidity in the air by releasing moisture vapor during photosynthesis. Increasing the humidity inside your home helps reduce respiratory problems. Studies at the Agricultural University of Norway show that having houseplants can decrease the frequency of colds, sore throats, and dry coughs. 

Boston Ferns are a great choice for adding moisture to dry indoor air during winter (just be sure to mist them daily to keep them happy and healthy).