Maintaining an indoor garden not only brings the freshness of the outdoors into your home, but contributes directly to personal health and wellness. Keeping potted plants gives you a great opportunity to give back to the environment by improving air quality, while having the added benefit of beautifying your house with nature’s greenery.
So, when building your new home or remodeling your existing one, consider the following reasons to share your living space with a little bit of Mother Nature:
Houseplants clean the air within your home. According to a study NASA conducted, growing plants in the home removes common household pollutants from indoor air. Most modern homes are designed to be airtight for energy efficiency, but unfortunately this has the negative consequence of creating an environment of stale air. Pressed wood in new furniture as well as many personal grooming products release formaldehyde, a toxic gas that accumulates without proper air circulation. Houseplants provide natural and sustainable air filtering, removing such toxins. To receive the full, air-purifying effect, however, at least 14-16 medium-sized plants are needed.
Plants humidify home interiors. Heating and cooling tend to dry out the air within your home, causing chapped skin, itchy eyes and dry hair. Other problems such as shrinking of wood in furniture and static electricity are attributed to excessive dry air. Houseplants release microscopic water droplets as they breathe, providing some relief to these problems. They are particularly beneficial in dryer climates where humidity levels remain low year-around. Furthermore, the increased humidity that houseplants create cuts down on dust and nasal congestion. For this reason, plants have been proven to reduce colds by more than 30 percent.
Plants make you happy, less stressed and more creative. Surrounding yourself with green plants indoors will have a positive impact on mental well-being. They are a known natural stress reliever, which in turn decreases blood pressure. Because of their calming effect, plants also contribute to creative thinking. Moreover, houseplants absorb carbon-dioxide and release oxygen, which promotes better, more restful sleep.