House plants have been around for years, but they may be more important now than ever. Everyday mental health struggles have compounded thanks to COVID-19 and the resulting backlash. If it seems like plant nurseries have been cropping up everywhere, there may be a reason for that. While stuck at home, many have discovered the surprising benefits that go along with keeping and caring for plants. Not only do they help relieve the pressure of indoor allergies,but plants have been found to combat depression, boost your mood, and fight the stress and anxiety increased by being stuck at home for almost an entire year.
Relieve Your Allergies
In 1989, NASA completed their two year long Clean Air Study, scientifically proving that plants continuously clean the air of toxins, chemicals, and organic pollutants – all of which are common sources of allergies. English Ivy and Snake Plants are two examples of common, low maintenance, easy to care for plants that can be put to work purifying any home, even those with low light.
While many plants excel at purifying the air, not all greenery is beneficial to allergy sufferers, including those that give off pollen and specific varieties that are prone to collect dust on their leaves. If dust is your arch nemesis, steer clear of any plants with fuzzy leaves! Latex allergy? That would be a no-go for fig trees, as their sap’s chemical makeup includes latex. One last word of caution – be careful not to over-water your houseplants, as damp soil invites mold.
NASA determined the top plants for closed-door environments and allergy sufferers include:
- Mums
- Peace lilies
- Snake plants
- English Ivy
- Areca palm
- Spider plants
- Dracaena
- Pothos
- Philodendron
Increase Your Mood and Combat Depression
It may seem counterintuitive at first, but caring for another living thing can boost your mood, fend off loneliness, and give you a sense of purpose. It’s rewarding, mentally and emotionally, to watch something living flourish under your care, and if you’re not ready for the long-term commitment of an animal, plants are the perfect place to start. A lot of plants are perfect for beginners, and depending on where you live, may only need to be watered once or twice a week – some even less.
If you struggle to get out of bed most mornings, and feel like the world will keep on turning whether you get up that day or not, you’d be surprised at the wonders a plant could do for you. Some days it’s hard to get up, and that’s okay. The world may continue to turn while you stay in bed, but that little plant won’t survive without you.
Low maintenance, easy to care for plants:
- Snake plants – durable, can tolerate low sun, and almost seem to thrive when you forget to water them.
- Spider plants – can tolerate low sun and prefer a regular watering schedule. They also produce babies constantly, so you can propagate them and fill in your space or share them with friends.
- Succulents and cacti – love the sun and prefer to be under-watered. If you’re prone to over-watering, steer clear!
- Hoyas (wax plants) – less hardy than succulents, but slower growing than spider plants if space is an issue.
- Pothos – tons of variety if you want a variation of colors and sizes, practically impossible to kill, and easy to propagate.
Identify and Fight Stress and Anxiety
Sometimes stress and anxiety can make you want to do everything at once and nothing at all – all while not leaving the house and feeling bad that you don’t want to do anything. It’s a toxic circle that has to be broken. One possible solution – plants. When scattered throughout a room, apartment or house, caring for them keeps you moving from one space to another – water them, rotate them, shuffle a few about. Being able to focus on caring for the living things around me, and the rush of joy I get when I see them thriving, helps keep my stress and anxiety at bay.
When different plants in different places throughout your home have different needs, you’re forced to focus on the task at hand, letting everything else, whether for a moment or an hour, slip away. At the end, you’re left with beautifully cared for plants and the sense of accomplishment that comes with a job well done. Not to mention the joy you get from helping life flourish around you. Plants are also a great signifier of your own mood condition. If the plants around you are drooping and drying out, it may mean that while you’ve been neglecting them, you’ve likely been struggling to care for yourself as well.
Aromatic plants to ease your stress and anxiety:
- Lavender – reduces anxiety by sending signals through your nose to the brain, extremely helpful when placed in the bedroom
- Eucalyptus – possesses anti-anxiety properties, clip a few leaves and place the bundle around the shower head for increased relaxation
- Peppermint – calming and lowers frustration
- Jasmine – calms nerves and facilitates rest
- Chamomile – can be dried and used in tea to help promote sleep and relaxation
- Aloe Vera – purifies the air
