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Indoor plants bring natural beauty into interior spaces, presenting the surroundings with a completely different atmosphere and soul. While plants serve as little accessories in some areas, they can dominate entire inner places too! People who grow plants as a hobby take care of them as if they are caring for a baby and meet all their needs with great pleasure. Besides all this, are they aware of the benefits of indoor plants?
Since people spend time around plants throughout the day, they probably feel their advantages, but the power of plants often goes unrecognised. Let us tell you how, in fact, plants are beneficial to our daily lives:
Better Air Quality
The necessity of plants for the health of our Earth has drawn attention to the importance of preserving green areas and plants. Planting outdoors has always been encouraged. Nevertheless, the advantage of having indoor plants for higher air quality is somewhat controversial. Although the purifying effects of plants in closed areas have been demonstrated by the NASA clean study in 1989, there are not many studies that replicated this result. There are still uncertainties about the type of plants, numbers, and in which positions they are effective to clean air.
In principle, it is true that houseplants can have an air-purifying effect. However, the effect is much smaller than one might think. Nonetheless, simply considering the oxygen produced and the carbon dioxide absorbed by plants as a result of photosynthesis means having plants must be better than not having them. And yes, although the area of indoor plant air purification still requires more research, their psychological impacts have been well documented.
Indoor Plants Boost Well-being
While various life events or circumstances can negatively affect one’s well-being, some factors can enhance it as well. For example, connecting with nature has a positive impact on well-being. Techniques, such as ecotherapy, are often highlighted in this sense. We don’t always have to be in large forest areas to benefit from nature’s positive effects. A study from China showed that individuals who describe themselves as home plant growers reported higher levels of psychological well-being than non-growers. Spending more time caring for plants, keeping them at home for longer periods, and owning a greater number of plants were found to be characterised by better well-being.
During the pandemic, when access to nature and even general outdoor life was very limited, indoor plants became more meaningful for many people. It was a challenging period when we were far from our ordinary life with almost no socialisation, leading to a complete life transition. Living in fear and following negative news in the media were additional distress resources.
However, spending time with plants at home, caring, watching, and maybe even talking turned out to be a purposeful activity within the scarce options. Indoor plants possibly helped people to manage the stress that the pandemics brought into their lives. Moreover, elements from the outside world were also remedies to escape home uniformity.
Indoor Plants Support Patients
Plants make the environment more appealing with their effects on decoration, bringing colour and life into the closed areas. To emphasise the issue, scholars conducted research, recruited participants, and gave a scenario in which they imagined their hospitalisation due to an infection. Study results revealed that participants’ stress perception was less imagining themselves in a hospital room with plants than without. Hospital stays can bring negative feelings and stress naturally; therefore, room decorations become really important for patients.
Also, it is very common for most people to bring flowers or different types of plants when they visit a patient staying in a hospital. If you are one of them, please give them potted plants next time.
Have you ever thought those plants would go beyond just momentary happiness and underpin the patient’s recovery? Believe me, they can!
Surgery patients with thyroidectomy, appendectomy, and hemorrhoidectomy who stayed in a hospital room with indoor plants showed less pain and better physiological and psychological state than control groups based on the studies. Yet, there are no studies for every type of patient and health issue; hence, it is necessary to get a doctor’s approval for some specific conditions.
Indoor Plants for Students
Schoolchildren may experience various problems, whether due to school or other reasons, that may seriously affect their well-being. They are growing and experiencing life from their unique perspectives.
We know how effective nature and natural elements are in many areas of children development. Schools and classrooms are places where children spend a long time during the day. Therefore, the presence of natural elements in these areas is also important and can undoubtedly provide many gains.
According to a study of London-based schools, natural components, including indoor plants, may reduce student’s anxiety and stress right after exposure, while experiencing their impact on mood and well-being may take a relatively longer time, 2-5 weeks. There are also empirical studies that emphasise the cognitive benefits of having plants inside classrooms, such as improved attention.
School administrations or teachers can prepare a corner with indoor plants or place them in different parts of the classroom for students. As a collective ownership, all students can be responsible for taking care of these plants. In addition to all the benefits, indoor plants can contribute to the maturation of nature awareness and empathy among students.
Indoor Plants’ Efficacy at Work
Unfortunately, stress in work life is a reality that should be prevented and well-managed to protect the well-being of employees. A study in Japan utilised indoor plants and analysed their impact on stress reduction in the real work environment. Participants took a 3-minute break at their desks when they experienced fatigue during the day. Their psychological and physiological stress levels were measured separately with and without the plant placed on their desks at different periods. Before the period with the plant, employees were also taught how to care for it.
Results displayed that employees experienced significantly higher stress reductions in resting time when they had a plant on their desks, compared to when their workspace consisted solely of a computer and phone. The study shows how even a single plant can make a serious difference. Another study found that green workspaces may enhance employees’ concentration and productivity.
Bring Plants into Your Indoor Life
No matter how big or small, any area can be diversified with plants.
You can make small arrangements for plants at home, in the office, or in another environment. If you have pets or children at home, additional arrangements and issues may require attention. Before everything, it is good to evaluate the condition of your inner space, members of the environment, your needs, etc.
Start with a few easy-grown plants and learn what the ideal requirements are for them. Calatheas can be a good starting option since they demand minimal care. Not all plants need the same amount of water or light; depending on the type, your care routine can change. When you learn more about plant caring and become confident about owning more plants, you can increase the number of your plants and prepare a plant corner or wall. Here is the plant shelf for you.
Remember! Having indoor plants not only beautifies our indoor area but also makes us healthier.
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