Plants can give us so much pleasure in our lives. Why not enjoy tranquility, health, and fresh air with indoor plants in your home?
Life is busy and hectic, period. These days it seems like adults and children alike are over-scheduled; constantly running from one commitment to the next and by the end of the week, everyone is exhausted and seeking relaxation for what seems like seconds before the vicious cycle resets.
But did you know that you can achieve Zen-like restoration in the comfort of your own home? And it’s so very simple!
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Indoor Plants
Just adding a few therapeutic plants you will not only improve the decor of your home but also the air quality while adding a few health and mood-elevating benefits too. You don’t need to have a rare and unusual houseplant either, some very common plants can help you feel better.
You don’t even need to worry if you have a dark room with only a little sunlight. There are plenty of plants that thrive with little or no sunlight,
Houseplants actually do the opposite of what we do when we breathe; they release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, freshening the air and eliminating the harmful toxins.
Stress Relieving Houseplants
Here are some de-stressing plants noted to provide your home with peace and tranquility!
1. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a little miracle plant that is a hard to kill houseplant and perfect to keep in your home.
The gel found on this plant has amazing healing properties; it’s a skin soother as well as a body detoxifier. All you have to do is break open a leaf and squeeze out the gel!
This plant also maintains the air quality in your home, clearing the air of pollutants that are in your cleaning products, for example, and keeping your home beautiful and fresh. Aloe Vera plants love the sun and come in various sizes, blend into almost any décor.
- Light: Bright indirect light, a westerly windowsil is perfect.
- Watering: Water deeply once every 2 or 3 weeks. If you water it more often the plant might rot.
- Other Considerations: Aloe Vera is a member of the succulent family and can survive periods without water. Mature Aloe Vera plants will often produce baby ‘pups’ which can be planted to expand your plant collection!
2. Lavender
Lavender is one of the most smoothing plants available. Lavender oil is an excellent multi-purpose essential oil and aids with relaxation and sleep.
Lavender can easily be grown outside in a lot of places (as long as it’s not too hot or humid), but if you want to grow it inside then you will need to pay a little more attention to it.
- Light: Lavender needs a LOT of light. Ideally, it will receive at least 3 to 4 hours of direct sunlight a day.
- Watering: Allow the soil to dry out between watering. Stick your finger into the soil to feel for moisture. Lavender will rot if it is overwatered.
- Other Considerations: Ideal temperatures for Lavender are 50-55 degrees at night and 70-75 degrees during the day. However, different species can tolerate different temperatures.
Not sure what houseplant is ight for you?
Take my Houseplant Quiz to find your PERFECT plant!
3. Ferns
Ferns are well-loved and sought-after plants in the home because they are great at removing negative energy from a room. Their soft leaves and wonderful to look at and soothing to touch. I challenge anyone to feel stressed as they run their hand over a Maiden Hair Fern (which is great for low-light rooms).
Ferns come in all shapes and sizes, but most ferns can’t stand direct sunlight, so be careful about where they are placed. Don’t put them in direct sunlight, but maybe in the corner of a room where there is a bit of humidity.
- Light: Ferns do best with indirect light. Try placing them need a north-facing window.
- Watering: Most ferns prefer moist soil. So water them frequently but don’t allow the soil to get soggy.
- Other Considerations: Ferns like humid environments. You can either use a humidifier, mist your fern regularly or have a humidity tray (a tray of stones filled with water) under the pot.
4. Rubber plant
Rubber plants are popular houseplants because they are easy to care for and can grow to over six feet (in the wild they can grow to over 100 feet!).
Rubber plants clean the air in your home and many homes have them because they are so easy to grow. They love more dim light and cooler temperatures; these plants are excellent at removing toxins and purifying the air.
- Light: Indirect sunlight is best. If it’s too bright or hot the leaves can get scorched.
- Watering: Keep the soil moist (but not soggy) in the spring and summer. In the winter and fall, the soil can dry out a little more, but not too much!
- Other Considerations: Rubber plants are tropical plants and prefer a more constant temperature and humid. They are happiest at about 70-75 degrees.
5. Lemon Balm
Mmmmmm – who doesn’t love the smell of lemon! This gorgeous plant will enhance your indoor garden with its lovely aroma.
Lemon balm grows best outside, but it can also be grown inside if needed.
If you get bitten by insects while enjoying a balmy evening, rub some lemon balm over the bite and it will instantly soothe it. Lemon Balm has ferulic acid in it, protecting the skin from damage, so it’s not surprising that it can be made into an ointment for sunburn and sores.
- Light: Lemon Balm ideally needs a lot of sunlight, so a south-facing window where it can get 5 hours of direct light a day is perfect.
- Watering: Lemon Balm needs regular watering. If you do leave it too long between waterings, then it will recover quickly from wilt.
- Other Considerations: Make sure you use good draining soil, as Lemon Balm will rot if the soil stays too wet.
Your Health & Houseplants
A sense of wellbeing comes over you when you see such beauty. Studies show that indoor plants improve productivity and even concentration by up to 15% (so try putting a plant on your desk at work!).
They also reduce stress and boost mood. It’s no wonder that we give gifts of plants and flowers to people when they are sick in the hospital!
- Plants speed up the recovery rates of patients – this is according to researchers from Kansas State University. When they compared the records of patients who had plants in their rooms to that of patients who did not have any plans in their rooms they found that patients who had plants requested fewer pain medications, their heart rates, and blood pressure was lower, they were less anxious, they experienced less fatigue and their average recovery rates were higher.
- The Dutch Product Board for Horticulture reported that adding plants to office settings decreased fatigue, headaches, colds, coughs, flu-like symptoms and colds.
- According to the Agricultural University of Norway, instances of illness fell by more than 60% among employee offices that had plants!
Stop what you’re doing and head to your nearest nursery (or Amazon!), you’ve got some plant shopping to do!
‘Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity’ ~Lindley Karstens
Not sure what houseplant is ight for you?
Take my Houseplant Quiz to find your PERFECT plant!
