Top 10 Houseplants To Boost Your Health
The beneficial effects of gardening on our health and wellbeing have been well documented, but for those who weren’t born with greenfingers – or who do not have a garden – the options can be more limited.
Fortunately, research shows that houseplants can be every bit as beneficial as spending time in the garden, helping reduce stress and – of course – adding some colour and brightness to our homes.
The Royal Horticultural Society says that scientific studies show that indoor plants offer two potential benefits for us: improved psychological well-being and improved physical health.
Psychological benefits of indoor plants
- An improved mood
- Reduced stress levels
- Increased worker productivity (adding plants to office environments in particular)
- Increased speed of reaction in a computer task
- Improved attention span (in some scientific studies, but not all)
- Increased pain tolerance (for example, where plants were used in hospital settings)
Physical health benefits of indoor plants
- Reduced blood pressure
- Reduced fatigue and headaches by 20-25 percent in one study
- Patients in hospital rooms with plants reported decreased post-operative pain
Spider plant
Growing indoor plant can present a few challenges, of course. You may need to experiment with position of the plant, how much light or water it needs, or whether it prefers a warmer or cooler spot – or even a damper room, such as the bathroom.
Fortunately, some plants are virtually indestructible or – at least – easy for beginners to grow. Tyler Woodward, health and wellness expert at Eden’s Gate, said: “With plenty of species of plants that thrive on neglect, little sunlight and minimal watering, there’s no reason not to channel your enthusiasm for houseplants.
“We already know that plants can boost your mood and purify the air (especially as seasonal allergies are on the rise), but they also aesthetically complete your room.
“While we can’t definitively say houseplants are impossible to kill, there are certain varieties that are harder than others, making them the ideal urban addition to your home.”
Peace lily
Experts at Eden’s Gate compiled a list of plants the top 10 our homes can benefit from as we move into summer.
- Peace Lily
- Spider plant
- Money tree
- Aloe Vera
- Pothos
- Corn plant
- Common houseleek
- Panda plant
- Chinese evergreen
- Fern arum
To get the most benefit from your plants the RHS suggests placing in rooms with views of largely urban landscapes, making sure you include the plants with the most potential to boost health. Other suggestions include the dragon plant, rubber plant, common ivy, Boston fern, bamboo palm, jade plant and common aspidistra.
Pothos
Money tree
Aloe vera
