Indoor plants can purify air, enhance mental health

By JEAN McCLELLAND

For The Herald-Dispatch

What is green, thirsty, breathes and will make you feel better on a regular basis? Who would think a houseplant could do all of that? Again and again scientists have declared houseplants can make you physically feel better and enhance your mental health.

It seems houseplants can clean and filter the air from pollutants, plus they screen out waste products humans produce as they breathe. They are also affective in inhibiting airborne mold, spores and bacteria. This could all get a little technical, so just understand there is good research conducted by organizations such as NASA that prove these ideas.

One problem many of us have during the winter months is the dry air within the household, particularly our bedrooms. Have you been waking up with a dry throat and your sinuses aching due to the lack of humidity in the room? Studies by the Plants for Clean Air Council have shown a plant will help alleviate this situation because plants give off humidity in their regular breathing process. The key word here is "help" so don't pitch out the humidifier until you see how much assistance the plant furnishes.

OurHousePlants.com has an article that discusses how energy-efficient office buildings, schools and homes tend to shut out nature, depriving us of its attributes. Reports have shown that introducing a little flora and fauna into the environment can cause fewer sick days at work and at home. Companies that have integrated plants into their workspaces have experienced improvement in workers' concentration, memory and productivity.

Plants are attractive and add to the ambiance of any area they occupy. As mentioned they are also good for our psyche in that they help relieve stress as we putter about taking care of them. Anything that is living and breathing in our vicinity can make one feel better.

Prior to choosing an indoor plant, take stock of the space you hope to fill with greenery. Inventory such things as how much light is available or how close to heat ducts it will reside then choose a plant to fit the space.

Martha Stewart has a whole list of plants that are good at purifying the air on one of her websites. Another website that has a list of plants that will enhance your indoor space is https://www.ourhouseplants.com/guides/50-plants-that-clean-the-air. For the forgetful among you there is a listing on HGTV of plants that require little maintenance.