There’s no greater feeling than watching someone or something thrive that you care about, and houseplants certainly fit into this. Right from the first purchase or first planting of a seed, the nurturing process begins where you have to learn to care for your plant, from knowing all the conditions it needs, to how often it requires watering. And caring for indoor plants comes with a whole host of benefits as Tom Hilton, director of indoor garden hydroponic specialists, National Greenhouse, explains.
Pride in responsibility
There is a great sense of purpose that comes with owning indoor plants as you tend to them in the quiet of the early mornings to the relaxing evenings after coming home from a long day at work. Knowing there are living things waiting for you to pay them attention is a fantastic way to add more purpose to your life as you take on more responsibility. And the beautiful rewards of seeing your indoor plants grow and thrive in your care is one of life’s simple pleasures.
It’s also a great way to get into a new hobby. By acquiring some new indoor plants, you can push yourself to learn a new skill in plantcare. Buy plant books and make Pinterest boards - whatever works for you - to get into the hobby of indoor gardening. You can even get into the art and science of hydroponic if you’re really looking to upskill in plantcare.
Plants and ecotherapy
It’s been well established that ecotherapy is a form of healing and care to help with mental health due to all the amazing benefits it provides. Being surrounded by nature, taking in the sights and sounds of our planet Earth, and moving our bodies more, we in turn move ourselves, deep in our souls as we connect to our environments.
Digital detoxing is definitely something to not be shrugged off. When screens and smartphones can overtake our lives - causing headaches, eye strains, stress, depression and sleep problems - escapism and retreats into nature can act as a remedy. And the effects of ecotherapy don’t have to be limited to outdoor recreation, as houseplants can also provide satisfaction and connectedness. There’s also scientific literature on the impact of indoor nature integration on stress recovery. So on your next trip to the supermarket or into town, why not pick up some houseplants to improve your wellbeing at home. Just take the time to read the labels so you know which ones are right for you when it comes to caring needs.
Calming ambience
It’s no mystery as to why so many get addicted to houseplants and why in pretty much every city, you’ll find quirky plant shops that always seem to have customers in at any time of day. The impulse buy of a plant is now a thing. You can find city workers nipping in on lunch breaks or straight after clocking off to browse their next plant pal. And this is because they offer a calm and soothing ambience to a flat, apartment or house, especially one that’s in a bustling city or heavily urbanised area.
Mixed with the fact that you have to ensure the plants are well-cared-for, calmness washes over as you get into the relaxing and meditative state of focusing all your attention on the plants. Whether you’re misting, watering, rearranging for light, or reading up on more plantcare tips, that focus, care and attention helps people to unwind and be distracted from the noise and stress of life.
Air purifiers
The list of health benefits of indoor plants really is endless, as plants are natural air purifiers. Their photosynthesis works the reverse to our respiration as they take in carbon dioxide, water and energy to create glucose and oxygen. Through this photosynthesis, plants convert the carbon dioxide that builds up indoors into our life-giving oxygen, and in the process, toxins can also be removed.
In fact, in NASA’s famous experiment in 1989 to find ways to detoxify the air of space-station environments, it found that indoor plants can rid the air of cancer-causing organic compounds. This natural exchange between humans and plants provides a harmonious balance, with plants also improving indoor air quality significantly, which makes us feel better about our living conditions.
Of course, a plant that isn’t cared for properly won’t be able to clean the air for you, so make sure you get into a good watering routine that it needs. Mornings are best, especially during the warmer months, so that the soil is kept moist to hydrate the plants throughout the day.
Natural beauty
Just like with sunsets and breathtaking vistas, the close-up views of plants spark joy within us as we take in natural beauty. From tropical, exotic and vibrant plants to lustrous, leafy greens, having a room filled with beautiful houseplants is sure to bring smiles, impress visitors and make people stop in awe. If you want to bring more diversity into your plant collection, keep doing your houseplant homework and research all there is to know about tending to the different plant species you invite into your home. And that starts by making sure the plants that have caught your eye will be suited to your living quarters and lifestyle. For instance, some plants are tropical and need more humid conditions with many of them needing a lot of light throughout the day and evening to flourish - needing a helping hand from special grow lamps for indoor plants.
