How many of us have interior house plants in our homes? Reluctant to buy indoor plants because of space prioritising, cleaning issues and so on? Did you know that indoor air space is up to 10 times more poluted than outdoor? Wouldn’t you like that to change so that you and your family could live as healthily as possible within your homes?
I live in a 3 bed house that is currently dominated by my daughters toys and other ‘super important’ possessions..which inevitably accumulate a heap of dust and hidden muck..(ie:left over pieces of toast under the toy box and half a pot of spilt talc, which we never use anyway but somehow still exists tipped over tops and poured in shoes..evil talc) so now that summer is on it’s way it’s great to have the windows open more often and some fresh air circulating. I always clean with non toxic products and where I can make my own I will but, how clean can a house be, especially air wise? And considering how much time people do spend inside their homes (ie: people working from home, families with kids etc) keeping our air space clean is essential and detrimental for good health in SO many ways you’d be surprised than merely investing in a house plant could be the answer there!
Who knew they could be just SO beneficial? Check out some facts below that will make you head straight for the garden centre..amazing!
Humans have evolved over hundreds of thousands of years. We evolved surrounded with plants. Our environment and lifestyle has changed dramatically in relevantly recent years; however, genetically, we have not!
“The indoor environment is 5 to 10 times more polluted than the exterior“
Interior plants improve air quality and help us feel good
Plants have been proven to remove airborne harmful contaminants. Most people spend the majority of time indoors at home or work. Air conditioning, improved insulation, and energy-saving all reduce air exchange in buildings, so we breathe the same air again and again. Because the modern internal environment is virtually hermetically sealed and the construction materials used, modern synthetic furnishings, computers, electrical equipment, and everyday household products such as cleaning material, can produce harmful substances that are trapped inside the building. These all contribute to the well recognised ‘Sick building syndrome’ Polluted indoor air, contaminated by volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are a major cause of headaches, nausea, sore & itchy eyes, loss of concentration and other ‘Sick building symptoms’. The simple addition of interior plants is a natural way to help remove these pollutants significantly.
Humidity is another important and often underestimated factor in human health. When humidity levels are too low, individuals are more likely to develop viral infections; when humidity is too high, vulnerability to other disease increases. Plants tend to control humidity to within the optimum range for human health.
Plants absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen. This obviously reduces your carbon footprint but also the increased oxygen level refreshes the air -and you! – leading to increased concentration and productivity (in various studies between 10%-15% increase).
There is a wealth of scientific study into the beneficial effects of live plants in the interior environment including a large NASA programme. For more detail of this and other independent research refer to:
www.healthygreenatwork.org
www.plants-for-people.org
www.greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org
Other Benefits of Interior Plants
As well as purifying the air we breathe the presence of indoor plants have also been shown to have many other beneficial effects, details of this research can be found on the links above. These benefits include:
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Increased positive feelings and reduced feelings of anxiety, anger and sadness.
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Reduction of sound levels
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Reduction of stress levels
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Control of humidity to the within the optimum levels for human health
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Cooling effect
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Absorption of carbon dioxide and emission of oxygen refreshing the air
- Improved concentration levels leading to improved productivity particularly with those working with computers
- Reduction of absenteeism in the workplace
- Faster recovery from mental tiredness
- Interiors feel spacious, looked after and clean
- People prefer to occupy rooms that contain plants
- Improved image – interiors are perceived as “more expensive”
So, all the facts in proof, get yourself down to a garden centre (or another great place to find a bargain is a car boot sale..they always have loads) and invest in a house plant for your home and family today!
Here is a great selection of indoor house plants that you could chose from, ranging from small to large ones depending on available space..Hope it’s inspiring!
Indoor Yukka’s, Aloe vera plants, Agave geminiflora, Devil’s backbone, rubber plants, Olive balls, peace lily, Phoenix Roebellini palm, Song of India plant and SO MANY MORE..see images of these below x
Fortis Health 