Indoor Plant Life: Why Have It in Your Home or Office

Adding plants to a home or office makes the space feel more lively and alive. They can even help reduce the amount of noise in a room. End catered lunches and kombucha on tap; research indicates that having plants in the office can boost output. Plants in the workplace can reduce stress, increase creativity levels, and make employees healthier and happier.

Reduces Allergies

Indoor house plants San Jose CA help remove harmful toxins in the air that can cause headaches, mental confusion, nausea, and certain types of cancer. They also release oxygen, which improves your breathing and can make you feel more relaxed. Regarding allergies, having plants in your home or office can make a difference. But it’s essential to choose the right type of plant for your situation. For example, Ficus benjamina (weeping fig) produces latex and can trigger symptoms for those with latex allergies or asthma. And yucca may contain pollen and other allergens that can aggravate allergy or asthma symptoms in some people. When choosing a plant for allergies, wipe down the leaves and soil often to prevent dust buildup, which can trigger allergy or asthma symptoms. Also, only water the ground when dry, as over-watering can foster mold growth. Some great plants for allergy relief include the Boston fern, peace lily, and spider plant.

Reduces Stress

According to one study, people with plants in their homes or offices report lower stress and anxiety levels. It is likely because plants have many subliminal benefits that help elevate moods and reduce distress. Plants aren’t just helpful for reducing stress; they can also boost memory and concentration. Researchers found that students in classrooms with plants could better concentrate on tests and retain information than those without plants. Plants can absorb background noise, which is particularly beneficial in open-concept offices. Adding plants to an office space decreased noise levels by 25%. Place large plant pots around the room to maximize this benefit. The plants will absorb the unwanted sound and help you focus on tackling that tricky to-do list.

Improves Air Quality

While plants are well-known for removing air pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene, they also provide a steady stream of oxygen and help regulate humidity. Via photosynthesis, they release oxygen into the atmosphere while absorbing carbon dioxide. It is called evapotranspiration. Plants can also remove some gaseous pollutants by a process called phytoremediation. For example, English ivy can eliminate toxins such as benzene and formaldehyde from the air. Additionally, houseplants can reduce air pollution by reducing the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in paints, varnishes, urethanes, and various household cleaners.

According to studies, plants can improve productivity, elevate moods, and maintain humidity levels. However, it’s important to note that claims about plants scrubbing contaminants from the air are often overblown. While plants can reduce certain toxins, living rooms and offices are not tightly sealed chambers. As a result, the ability of plants to clean the air is significantly less than what would be achieved simply by opening a window.

Reduces Noise

Plants reduce noise by absorbing sound waves, breaking them up, and scattering them through diffraction and reflection. They are especially effective in acoustically live spaces with hard surfaces such as marble walls, exposed concrete, and stone floors. The morphology of plants, such as the thickness and texture of stems, branches, and leaves, make them natural sound barriers. They absorb incident noise and help to soften the roar of copy machines, traffic, or loud conversation. Having plants in the office can also boost productivity by improving focus and energy levels. They can even create a more inviting work environment by making sterile spaces feel more like home and reducing the time people spend feeling sick at work. As long as they’re placed correctly, the benefits of bringing in greenery in the workplace are significant and well worth the effort! The best part is that the plants can survive in low-light conditions to be introduced to any workspace.