I love my houseplants! Why, you might ask, would a person love houseplants?

I really believe that indoor plants may help reduce stress levels. There’s a therapeutic value for me when I repot a house plant or start indoor seeds. Working with plants could reduce both physiological and psychological stress. Real plants might sharpen your attention span and help you concentrate on your tasks, according to some studies. If you want better productivity, plants could become your friends and help you perform better and take fewer sick days.

Plants may also improve the quality of indoor air and boost the oxygen in the air we breathe. This is the benefit we’re going to focus on today in our blog.

Photomediation and Photosynthesis

What in the world is photomediation? Photomediation is the word for plants scrubbing contaminants from the air. The scientific research for photo mediation began with a NASA study in the 1980s.  Researchers were looking for ways to improve the air quality in a sealed spacecraft. They concluded that the soil and roots of house plants reduced airborne volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) significantly. Recent studies suggest that you must have many plants to equal the air purifying efficiency of modern biofilters and other air purifier technologies. But most plant lovers don’t mind that!

Photosynthesis is the process that plants use to make their food and product oxygen. Houseplants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, making the air fresher and more invigorating.

Effective Plant Species

According to an article published on Healthline.com, these plants where shown to be the most effective air purifiers:

• Aloe vera
• Areca, lady, dwarf date, and bamboo palms
• Boston fern
• Calathea flamestar
• Chinese evergreen
• Ficus tree
• Gerbera daisy
• Golden pathos
• Heartleaf philodendron
• Money tree
• Orchids
• Peace lily
• Rubber tree
• Snake plant
• Spider plant
• Tulsi, Holy basil
• Weeping fig

Cautions

Before you bring a new plant home to where kids or pets live, check a reliable source to be sure it’s safe for them to be around.

Be aware that houseplants can contain insects, other pests, or mold. Check the leaves for pest signs so you can eliminate infestations.

If you notice asthma symptoms when you bring a plant into your home, you might want to remove it until you talk to your health care professional about your symptoms.

Action Step

Indoor gardening helps relieve stress, boosts attention span, increases productivity, and may improve the air quality in the home. See if you can find the most effective air quality plants and purchase one to beautify your home and clean your air.

Resources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-home-guide/benefits-of-indoor-plants

May God bless you on your wellness journey!

Joni

P.S. Which of the above plants do you have in your house to clean the air?