The Amazing Benefits of Live Indoor Plants

This year, National Indoor Plant Week will be celebrated the week of September 18. And, although many individuals and homeowners do have a general sense of appreciation for the value of indoor live plants as decorative accents and aesthetic enhancers, their amazing beneficial qualities to mind, body and spirit extend far beyond just décor.

            As humans, we have been surrounded by plants over the course of our entire existence. They have played an indispensible role in our health and survival, serving as a food and oxygen source, shelter, protection, and even inspiration. An indoor plant brings that same power and beauty present in the natural world from outside to inside the home. It can add a bit of softness and calm to a room, providing the perfect backdrop for creative and purposeful thinking while “de-cluttering” the mind and spirit. Moreover, certain indoor plants, especially when planted in healthy organic soil, are not only visually stimulating but can also greatly improve indoor air quality by removing VOCs (volatile organic compounds). They do this by transporting the absorbed compounds through their root systems, where soil microorganisms can break them down. Plants remove up to 87 percent of VOC toxins from the air every 24 hours, according to NASA research. VOCs include substances like formaldehyde (present in rugs, vinyl, cigarette smoke and grocery bags) and benzene and trichloroethylene (found in man-made fibers, inks, solvents and paint).

            There are other health and wellness benefits. Indoor plants also promote easier breathing. When breathing, the body takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. This opposite pattern of gas usage makes plants and humans natural and mutually benefiting partners. Adding them to interior spaces increases oxygen levels. Plants, like orchids, succulents and epiphytic bromeliads, serve as great air enhancers.

            Plants also emit moisture vapor, releasing roughly 97 percent of the water they take in. By placing them together, one can increase the humidity of a room, which can help to reduce respiratory distress. Studies indicate that the use of indoor plants can also decrease incidences of dry skin, colds, sore throats and dry coughs. According to researchers from Kansas State University, recovery rates of surgical patients increase when adding plants to hospital rooms. Patients in rooms with plants request less pain medication, have lower heart rates and blood pressure, experience less fatigue and anxiety, and are released from the hospital sooner than patients in rooms without plants. Additional research has revealed that the presence of plants can lead to reduced stress and anxiety, increased feelings of calm, a marked improvement in mood and increased feelings of optimism.

            There is a perfect indoor plant for everyone. Picking one can be much like picking an indoor pet. Plants can grow in all kinds of environments, from soaking wet to arid and dry—depending on the type and personal preference. There is no doubt that a room filled with plants is a different room indeed—one not just appealing to the eye or the topic of good conversation, but one that gives life in more ways than most fully understand.

For more information about the beneficial qualities of indoor plants, call Randall Isherwood, owner of Gardener’s Outpost, at 803-252-0041 or visit GardenersOutpost.com.