7 Science-Supported Advantages of Indoor Plants

Indoor gardening continues to grow in popularity, driven by Instagram’s interior designs filled with greenery, plant-focused podcasts, and online plant subscription services such as Lazy Flora and Grounded.

While social media trends are known for quickly rising and fading, indoor gardening might last longer than most because of the numerous ways houseplants enhance health and well-being.

Here’s what research reveals about the benefits of living and working alongside indoor plants.

7 benefits of indoor plants

Many people enjoy being in cultivated green spaces, whether at home or work, and most appreciate having beautiful plants around. But is there more to it than just aesthetics? Here are seven benefits that science suggests indoor plants can offer.

1.Indoor plants may help lower stress levels

A study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that having plants in your home or office can make you feel more at ease, calm, and connected to nature.

In the study, participants were given two different tasks: repotting a houseplant or completing a short computer-based task. After each task, researchers measured biological markers of stress, including heart rate and blood pressure.

They discovered that the indoor gardening task reduced the participants’ stress response. In contrast, the computer task caused an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, even though the participants were young men who were familiar with computer work.

Researchers concluded that engaging with plants could decrease both physical and mental stress.

2.Real plants may enhance your focus

Unfortunately, plastic plants won’t help you ace your exams. In a small study with 23 participants, researchers placed students in a classroom with either a fake plant, a real plant, a photograph of a plant, or no plant at all.

Brain scans of the participants showed that students who studied in a classroom with real, live plants were more focused and better able to concentrate than those in the other groups.

3.Working with plants can have therapeutic effects

For individuals dealing with symptoms of mental illness, indoor gardening can be beneficial.

Researchers have used horticultural therapy to boost feelings of well-being in people with depression, anxiety, dementia, and other conditions.

Although horticultural therapy has been around for centuries, it has taken on a modern form: Medical clinics in Manchester, England, now “prescribe” potted plants to patients experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety.

4.may aid in faster recovery from illness

Being able to look at plants and flowers may speed up recovery from an illness, injury, or surgery.

A 2002 review of research found that people recovering from various types of surgery required less pain medication and had shorter hospital stays than those who didn’t have access to greenery during their recovery.

It’s important to note that most of this research focuses on plants and natural scenery in hospital settings rather than at home.

5.Plants may increase your productivity

A bromeliad might just be the best cubicle companion you’ve ever had.

Multiple studies have shown that having plants in the workspace boosts both productivity and creativity. One frequently referenced study from 1996 found that students in a campus computer lab worked 12 percent faster and felt less stressed when plants were nearby.

In a 2004 study, researchers gave participants a task involving creative word associations. Those who had a plant in the room performed better.

And a 2007 study indicated that people with more plants in their workspace took fewer sick days and were more productive on the job.

6.Plants may improve your overall attitude toward work

A view of a city park might improve anyone’s job satisfaction, but it might surprise you to learn that a potted plant could have a similar effect.

Researchers interviewed over 440 Amazon employees in India and the United States. They found that those whose office environments included natural elements like indoor plants reported greater job satisfaction and a stronger commitment to the organization than those who worked in spaces without such natural elements.

Researchers stated that these natural elements helped to reduce the impact of job-related stress and anxiety.

7.Plants may enhance indoor air quality

Scientific support for phytoremediation – the process by which plants remove contaminants from the air – often traces back to a NASA study conducted in the 1980s.

At the time, researchers were looking for ways to improve air quality in sealed spacecraft, and they concluded that the roots and soil of houseplants significantly reduced airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Since those early studies, researchers have both confirmed and questioned these findings.

Recent research suggests that you would need a large number of plants to match the air-purifying efficiency of modern biofilters and other technologies.

If you decide to purchase houseplants to naturally freshen the air, here are some of the most effective species:

Boston fern

rubber tree

spider plant

Ficus tree

Choose indoor plant varieties that are safe for pets and children

It’s almost impossible to find a complete list of toxic plants because some plants have parts that are poisonous while other parts are perfectly safe.

Before bringing a new plant into a home with kids or pets, check a reliable source to ensure it’s safe. Your state extension service and poison control office may publish lists of toxic plants in your area.

Health considerations to keep in mind

Having plants in your home, office, or home office offers many benefits, but there are also some risks involved. Keep these in mind when deciding whether to start an indoor garden.

Be wary of pest infestations

Houseplants can act like a Trojan horse for insects, molds, and other pests.

If you’re repotting a plant, it’s not a good idea to use soil from your garden.

When selecting plants, pay attention to the watering needs of each species, as overwatering can create ideal conditions for mold growth and fungus gnats.

Be sure to check leaves for signs of pests (eggs, webbing, holes) so you can stop an infestation early.

Can houseplants trigger allergies or asthma?

There’s some debate on this topic. If your allergies or asthma symptoms are worsened by pollen, you might be relieved to know that most common houseplants don’t produce much pollen.

Although some cut flowers, such as daffodils, can produce pollen, asthma researchers haven’t found any evidence that indoor plants themselves cause asthma attacks.

If your symptoms are triggered by dampness, mold, or fungi, you may need to monitor the soil moisture in your plant pots carefully.

Researchers note that indoor exposure to mold, dampness, and fungi can worsen asthma symptoms, especially in children.

If you notice asthma symptoms after bringing plants into your home, it’s a good idea to remove them until you can consult a healthcare provider about your symptoms.

The bottom line

Having plants in your home or office can be a source of joy. Indoor gardening reduces stress, boosts creativity, productivity, and focus, and promotes recovery. There’s also some evidence that houseplants may have a positive impact on indoor air quality.

It’s important to know which plants are toxic if you have children or pets at home. If you have asthma or allergies, be aware of species that might worsen your symptoms.

Sharing your living or working space with living, “breathing” plants can make your environment a happier and healthier place to be.