House plants aren’t just for looks – the right house plant can help de-stress your home.
Studies show that having a house plant is a known mood booster, plus they provide you with cleaner air and can create a sanctuary of peace and tranquillity.
House plants can scrub the air of toxins and help improve our overall well-being. They clean the air by removing harmful pollutants from the air and replacing them with fresh oxygen. And they have the added benefit of helping boost our immune systems and moods as well.
ALERT: BEFORE YOU ADD A PLANT TO YOUR HOME, DO AN INTERNET CHECK TO MAKE SURE IT’S SAFE FOR YOUR PET!
Good moods are associated with higher levels of dopamine, the hormone that controls the flow of information throughout the brain. It is also suggested that evolution wired humans to know that plants are essential to survival. So perhaps seeing one makes us calm and settled.
HERE’S A LOOK AT FIVE OF OUR FAVORITE IMMUNE-BOOSTING HOUSE PLANTS
Aloe Vera is said to be among the most powerful air purifiers and has been used as an herbal remedy for soothing scars and sunburned skin. It’s a low maintenance plant that requires minimum water and attention. My mother always had Aloe Vera in the kitchen and would break off a sprig to treat a burn from cooking.
Sansevieria trifasciata commonly called Snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue is one of the best indoor plants for low light. It is easy to care for, hard to kill and low maintenance
Pothos, (Epipremnum aureum), also called golden pothos, money plant, or devil’s ivy, (we just called it ivy in my house – and it refused to die) is another powerful tool for tackling poor air quality and stress affecting factors. It is a fast-growing vine that is easy to clip and place in water as a start for new plants. Great for home and office, it can handle low light and easy care. Careful not to over-water.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? HERE’S A LIST COMPILED BY A NASA CLEAN AIR STUDY
Chlorophytum comosum, also known as spider plant, airplane plant or hens and chickens, is easy to grow, especially in hanging baskets where the new growth has room to sprouts.
Spathiphyllum, commonly known as peace lily has large leaves and produces a flower; it is a very popular house plant and does not need large amounts of light or water to survive.
There’s no shortage of information for selecting and growing plants on the internet and at your local plant store – just get started and enjoy the process. You don’t have to have a green thumb to have wonderful, happy house plants! – Norma Wall, Broker (no green thumb here!)