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Which houseplants improve air quality?
Houseplants not only add a dash of color and greenery to your house; they also have benefits for your health. With many people spending more time at home, adding plants is an easy way to boost your health at home.
People spend about 90% of their time indoors, but indoor air may be up to 12 times more polluted than outdoor air. Indoor pollutants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are released into the air by furniture, paints, building materials, varnishes, and more.
Researchers found that some ornamental houseplants are able to effectively remove some of these air pollutants. These plants include:
- Asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus)
- English ivy (Hedera helix)
- Waffle plant (Hemigraphis alternata)
- Porcelain flower (Hoya carnosa)
- Purple heart (Tradescantia pallida)
Some other plants that are good at cleaning the air include:
- Areca palm {Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)
- Lady palm (Rhapis excelsa)
- Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea erumpens)
- Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)
Which houseplants increase humidity?
If dry air is the cause of your dry skin and irritated eyes, you may want to increase the humidity in your home. In some cold climates, the indoor relative humidity can be as low as 10%.
A comfortable interior humidity level is between 30% and 60%. Studies have shown that viruses like flu die more rapidly at higher relative humidity levels (40% to 60%).
Adding certain plants to a room may help improve its humidity. A study found that variegated spider plants and green jade plants can increase the humidity in a room.
How can houseplants enhance mental health?
Several studies have found that houseplants may have benefits for your mental health.
A study found that indoor plants can soothe you. Participants were given the task of repotting a houseplant and doing work on a computer. When working at the computer, participants’ blood pressure and heart rate went up, but when repotting the plant, their stress levels went down.
People recovering in hospitals may have more positive outcomes when staying in rooms with greenery. Researchers found that people in hospital rooms with plants and flowers had lower anxiety, fatigue, and pain ratings.
The COVID-19 pandemic has likely increased the time you spent indoors. Researchers found that university students who spent an average of 20 hours a day at home and who were exposed to greenery had better mental health and less anxiety symptoms. This included those who had houseplants and those who had a view of outdoor greenery.
When looking for indoor plants, find those that are small, green, and slightly scented. Researchers found that these types of plants make people feel most comfortable. Brightly colored plants, like poinsettia, may cause eye fatigue due to their strong colors.
Some easy indoor plants to consider growing include:
- ZZ plant
- Air plant
- Aloe vera
- Snake plant
- Succulents
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Edible plants to grow indoors
Healthy houseplants can also be edible ones. You can grow several herbs indoors. These include:
- Chives
- Winter savory
- Horehound
- Tarragon
Adding herbs to your foods and drinks may help prevent and manage various health conditions. For instance, chives and mint may help protect against cancer. Antioxidant-rich herbs like oregano and thyme may help reduce “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins).
Fresh herbs usually have higher antioxidant levels than dried or processed herbs. Growing herbs indoors means you'll have fresh herbs when you need it.
Microgreens are seedlings of vegetables that are harvested a few weeks after germination. They're a good source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. They can easily be grown on a window ledge or even a kitchen shelf.
Popular microgreens include:
- cauliflower
- cabbage
- broccoli
- radish
- arugula
- kale
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Things to be aware of when choosing houseplants
Allergies. Houseplants may have mold in the soil. The mold may trigger allergies. If you have watery eyes, a stuffy or runny nose when near a houseplant, you may have a mold allergy.
Toxic plants. If you have young children or pets, be aware that many houseplants may be toxic. Plants are considered poisonous or toxic when they cause reactions such as:
- Skin rash
- Stomachache
- Swelling or burning of mouth and throat
- Severe diarrhea and vomiting
Before you bring home a plant, check with your local poison control center. They may have a list of toxic plants that are common where you live.
Some popular houseplants that may be toxic to pets include:
- Aloe
- Kalanchoe
- Lily
- Oleander
- Peace lily
- Sago palm
If you’d like to have these plants indoors, keep them out of reach of young children and pets. Here are some ways to do so:
- Suspend your plant from the ceiling. Keep it far away from bookcases and areas that your cats can easily reach.
- Put your plant in a miniature greenhouse or terrarium.
