Power to the Plants, Let’s be GREEN!

Plants! I have never really considered myself much of a gardener but I have managed to keep a few plants alive during my day. As I look around my living room, I realize that I have at least 20 potted plants in my living room. One of these plants was gifted to me from my husband’s grandmother when she died, before we were married, that was over 20 years ago! That plant has survived me! So, why am I talking about plants? Especially indoor plants?

As we head toward fall, our time outdoors decreases and our indoor time dramtically increases. Research has shown that we can improve our lives with plants. A look at Healthline and WebMD both speak to the benefits of plants in your home. Both articles site research on reducing stress levels, having a sharper focus, and helping you to recover from illness faster. Covid anyone?? Having a plant in your workspace can increase your job satisfaction, and one study showed that it increased performance by 12%. At my work office, when I moved in, I moved my plants in! I share my office with Mandy, my co-conspirator FNP, and I’m sure she thought I was taking over when I moved in! I brought a Pencil Cactus with me and sat it in the window and it has grown like crazy since moving it there, believe it or not, seeing it thrive has brought us both joy!!! I had it a year before moving it there and it had not grown at all, so seeing it happy has made us happy! Simply caring for plants, can decrease your stress and give people some meaning in their life. Especially, if they have a no pet policy at their residence.

Besides the mental benefits of plants, they have been shown to be “air cleaners’. Did you know that the air in your home can be more polluted than the air in a city! I’m sure most of you are asking why? In short, the THINGS we have in our home are made with chemicals and produce what we call volitile organic compound or VOC’s. Think you haven’t even “smelled” a VOC before?? Love that “new car smell”, well that is a VOC. These compounds disperse from carpets, dry cleaning, aersols, cleaning supplies, paints, craft supplies, pressed wood furniture (it contains formadehyde), and mold. Plus a million other things! These compounds can cause childhood leukemia, cancer, and even birth defects. And, our bodies try defend us against these everyday!

Have I convinced you that you need plants in youe life yet??? Hopefully! So what are “good” air cleaning plants to have in your home?? The easiet way is to include a visual picture–cause I know that you plant clueless people are NOT gonna know there names! A lot of these plants require MINIMAL care-especially the snake plant! I literally water my snake plant once a month and sit it in the window! Current recommendation is one plant per 100 sq ft.

So hopefully, I have convienced you to buy at least one plant for you home! Be bright, stay green, by a plant they are healthy for you! Stay healthy and plant wise!

sources: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/publications/books/housing/cha05.htm https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/slideshow-health-benefits-houseplantshttps://plantcaretoday.com/indoor-plants-clean-air.htmlhttps://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-home-guide/benefits-of-indoor-plants#7-benefits