9 Surprising Facts About Indoor Plants

While most of us love our indoor plants for their beauty – naturally of course –  you might be surprised by what you don’t know about your indoor plants.  We’ve compiled ‘9 Surprising Facts About Indoor Plants’ that will have you falling in love all over again with your ferny friends, for very different reasons!

1. Most common houseplants came from the tropics

Did you know that most house plants have their ‘roots’ in the tropics or subtropical regions? They are used to growing under the canopies of tall trees, which explains why they acclimatise to living under the shade of a roof in your office so well.

2. Growing plants indoors began in ancient times

The practice of indoor gardening dates back to ancient times.  Initially, in ancient Egyptian, Indian and Chinese civilizations pot plants were used in outdoor settings in courtyards.

The practice of growing houseplants gained momentum in the 17^th century when an English agricultural authority, Sir Hugh Platt, wrote about the possibility of cultivating plants indoors. Soon after, glasshouse and green houses were built in England and other areas to showcase exotic plants.

3. Indoor plants remove air pollution and allergens

When you think of indoor plants, you often think about plants dropping their leaves and creating a mess. While plants can’t clean up after themselves, they are proven to be incredible cleaners. Of air, that is! A study by NASA concluded that indoor plants help to purify the air by removing volatile compounds, including carbon dioxide. These compounds, commonly found in paints, furniture, printers, cleaning supplies and even dry-cleaned clothes can have dangerous effects on our health. Indoor plants are accustomed to living in areas of low light and are therefore efficient at capturing light.

This means that they are efficient in processing the gasses necessary for photosynthesis. As a result, they’re able to absorb other gases, including potentially harmful ones, helping to improve the quality of our air indoors. There are a number of plant species that can improve your office environment.  Even one medium plant in a medium-sized room will make a 25 per cent difference in absorbing toxins from the air.  Thanks indoor plants!

4. Office plants reduce stress

Indoor plants have an amazing ability to relieve stress. According to the ABC, urban dwellers spend 90 per cent of their time in indoor environments – resulting in a high level of exposure to indoor contaminant compounds.  This can result in increased stress levels.  Plants can reduce stress and improve our mental wellbeing.

A study investigating human responses to vegetation and landscapes revealed that viewing nature – as opposed to urban scenes –  has more positive influences on  our emotional and physiological states.

This means that the simple act of looking at plants can reduce stress levels. Stress is also known to be relieved by Nature therapy. Simply going for a mindful walk in the forest has proven to benefit our health by lowering blood pressure and improving mental health.

5. Indoor plants boost productivity

While there is no motivation quite like ‘Friday drinks’ for improved productivity among staff, one asset in the office comes close… indoor plants!  When you are in close proximity to plants, your brain is relaxed and you are able to think and communicate more clearly.  Indoor plants at work positively affect our brains by nurturing creativity and building memory retention by as much as 20 percent. With increases in creativity and memory power, it’s only natural that workers also show improved productivity.

6. Plants reduce noise pollution

From fax machines and printers to phone chatter and tea room clinks, offices can be noisy and distracting. According to CNN, if you work in an office and are frequently in front of computers or near printers, the peace lily plant can benefit your health. Peace lilies absorb electromagnetic radiation emitted by computers and printers and keep the air moisturised. Incorporating indoor plants is an effective way to buffer workplace noise, without making structural changes.

In particular, plants with thick stems and leaves, are proven to be effective in reducing noise through deflection, absorption, and refraction of sound waves.

7. Office plants balance humidity

While there is no motivation quite like ‘Friday drinks’ for improved productivity among staff, one asset in the office comes close… indoor plants! When you are in close proximity to plants, your brain is relaxed and you are able to think and communicate more clearly. Indoor plants at work positively affect our brains by nurturing creativity and building memory retention by as much as 20 percent. With increases in creativity and memory power, it’s only natural that workers also show improved productivity.

8. Indoor plants improve complexion

While there is no motivation quite like ‘Friday drinks’ for improved productivity among staff, one asset in the office comes close… indoor plants! When you are in close proximity to plants, your brain is relaxed and you are able to think and communicate more clearly. Indoor plants at work positively affect our brains by nurturing creativity and building memory retention by as much as 20 percent.

With increases in creativity and memory power, it’s only natural that workers also show improved productivity.

9. Indoor plants enjoy music

While there is no motivation quite like ‘Friday drinks’ for improved productivity among staff, one asset in the office comes close… indoor plants! When you are in close proximity to plants, your brain is relaxed and you are able to think and communicate more clearly. Indoor plants at work positively affect our brains by nurturing creativity and building memory retention by as much as 20 percent. With increases in creativity and memory power, it’s only natural that workers also show improved productivity.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Indoor plants have a surprising number of benefits for us, particularly when integrated into the workplace.  As most people spend a large portion of their lives within offices, there are growing trends towards improving the quality of office experiences by introducing or expanding indoor plantscapes.