A J.C. Hart Apartment Community in Indianapolis, IN
 

Studies Show Houseplants Improve Your Mental Health & Wellness

April 15, 2019

Houseplants near a couch

Plants are extremely important. It’s no secret plants are an essential part of our survival. Think about it: food, buildings, medicine, oh and the process of processing carbon dioxide and transforming it into co2. It's no surprise then, recent studies highlight that plants in our homes have a direct impact on our mental health.

There are numerous reasons why indoor plants might improve our mental health, and an unmistakable reason is they’re preferred to look at and smell. Wallpaper and carpet don’t really match living things and vibrant colors. A recent study supports this notion in its report that there is a direct correlation between the amount of care required to keep a plant from dying and the positive psychological effect it had in the caretaker. The researched showed, those who spend extended periods of time in the presence of houseplants tend to have better relationships with others and accordingly experience increased levels of happiness.

best houseplants in apartment homes 

Fact: Plants Help People

A separate study found that flowering plants provide elevated levels of happiness and therefore, placing flowering plants around the home and in the workplace is likely to significantly reduce stress levels. Science is science. Studies have shown that people who are around more houseplants are much more likely to try and help others, and tend to have more active social relationships. The logic computes, people who care for nature are more likely to care for others, reaching out to their peers and forming shared bonds out of their common interests.

Plants Help Reduce Stress 

Natural aesthetic beauty can have a relaxing effect, and keeping ornamental flowering plants around the home is an awesome way to lower high levels of stress and anxiety. As a result of the happiness derived from a home that has plants in it, the likelihood of suffering from stress-related depression is reduced as well. Study after study supports that by having plants in your house, you improve your mental health by producing peace and open spaces to your brain.

Plants Help You Remember Your To-Do List

Having ornamental houseplants in the office improves memory retention and concentration. How? The calming influence of natural environments increases a person’s ability to fixate on the task at hand. Being outside or being around plants inside can improve memory retention close to twenty percent, a recent University of Michigan study concluded (Sewach).

Convinced? Great. Here are two ideas for great houseplants to have in your apartment home:

best plants for your house

Spider Plant

Spider plants are one of the most popular indoor botanicals, and your family is going to like them because , spider plant. Best. name. ever. They’re super easy to care for, and spider plants are very good at absorbing allergens or mold from the air and will work wonders in parts of the house that are prone to dampness: laundry room and bathrooms. Spider plants are mainly low maintenance and easy to care for, too. Give them with bright, indirect light and they will flourish. Water the houseplant well but do not overwater, which can lead to root rot. Even better, spider plants don't mind drying out some between waterings.

Snake Plant

A study of CO2 conversion in plants by Harvard University discovered that the snake plant is one of the most oxygen-producing plants. Oh—by the way, ficus and pothos are the other plants on the list. One of the greatest snake plant health benefits is the plant can make ongoing contribution to get rid of toxic air pollutants. It can do more than absorb CO too, snake plant's can absorb benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene; all of which are cancer-causing pollutants. The snake plant is one of the easiest to care for plants out there as it can live-through weeks of neglect without losing neither shape nor healthy, vibrant look. Snake plants can thrive in environments with limited light and water. 

Notice anything with our two houseplants? If you have kid visitors, we’re trying to help it easier to get them excited! Who doesn't want plants named Spider and Snake?