A Gift From Mother Earth
Indoor plants have been receiving their spotlight on platforms from social media to editorials, and rightly so. They are aesthetically pleasing and bring beauty to any room they are in. But there is so much to indoor plants outside of their beauty. They are a gift from Mother Earth, one that, as humans, we have a natural connection to. Plants give us vitality and bring our human senses alive because our affinity to them is genetic.
This wonder from Mother Earth helps rejuvenate us from the inside out. Here are some of the top reasons why cultivating green spaces with indoor plants benefit humans:
Purifies our air: Plants are like the perfect partner - giving us what we require and taking what we don’t need. We breathe in oxygen and release carbon dioxide, and plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen during photosynthesis. This both freshens our air and eliminates toxins to purify our space. Adding plants indoors can increase the oxygen level of a room.
Research by NASA has shown that houseplants can remove over 80 percent of air toxins, called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in a day. VOCs are emitted by everyday household items like rugs, books, paint, and plastic grocery bags. With their modern climate-controlled settings, the average urban house or apartment tends to trap many VOCs. Indoor plants purify the air by pulling toxins into the soil, where microorganisms convert VOCs into food for the plant.
Research has also shown that house plants reduce dust and mold. The foliage of plants is a natural filter that provides allergy relief. They filter out allergens and other harmful particles in the air, making it healthier to breathe.
Increases humidity: As part of the breathing process of plants, they release moisture vapor. This moisture increases the humidity of the air in the space they are in. Plants are known to optimally use the resources they require, often making more than one use out of them. Plants use water to grow, but they also release over 90 percent of that water they take back into the air. Placing multiple plants together has the best effect, exponentially increasing the humidity of a space.
With the humidity level playing a significant role in air quality, indoor plants help improve indoor spaces' breathability. In this way, house plants help contain the conditions that can increase respiratory issues. Furthermore, studies show that plants and the humidity produced reduce conditions that cause dry skin, dry coughs, and more.
Improved overall wellness: Indoor plants are known to enhance lives. Increased happiness and positivity come from bringing this part of nature indoors - with seeing greenery evoking moods of relaxation and calm. Humans are strongly connected to nature, and bringing greenery indoors creates a living sanctuary. This creates a living space that is soothing to be in.
Potting and caring for plants also boost creativity, productivity, and an overall feeling of accomplishment. Caring for plants helps reduce stress, increases focus and is its own form of therapy. Tending to your plants and watching them grow and thrive can provide a sense of purpose and reward.
Devi Puspita Amartha Yahya on Unsplash
Indoor plants not only add life to spaces but also enhance lives. Cultivate your own green space and get closer to nature. These beautiful gifts from Mother Earth will complement your mind and body in powerful ways, just as nature designed them to.