House Plants

Like most things, house plants have fallen in and out of favour over the years, and it seems they are going through a bit of a resurgence right now, and why not? Aside from a touch of the exotic in your home, in our increasingly self-aware world, the benefits of plants in your home cannot be ignored, and what’s more, there’s scientific evidence to back it up. We know the impact plants and trees have on the environment, and you’d have to be living under several piles of rocks to be surprised by the effects they have on our indoor environments, but what exactly do they do for us? Well, researchers reporting the results of their investigations in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that a simple indoor gardening task – repotting a plant – lowered the stress response in participants of the study, whilst a more familiar computer task raised both their heart rates and blood pressure. Granted, tending to your plants is not going to get your tax return finished, but if done before, it may make the whole process a little less stressful, and further research suggests that these little miracle workers assist attention and concentration, making the task a little quicker too – what’s not to like?

Horticulture therapy is not a new concept and has been used to help those suffering from symptoms of depression, anxiety and dementia for many years, and whilst hospitals are not ‘home’ for the majority of us, patients in another study needed less pain-relief and recovered quicker when subjected to views of natural scenes whilst hospitalised. But the benefits of such are available to workplaces too… There’s no denying that we all enjoy a stunning view, but research has also found that indoor plants can have the same effect as a glorious outlook – lessening stress and anxiety – and are less disruptive – and significantly cheaper – than packing the office up and searching for a more rural location! Furthermore, we’ve already established that concentration improves in the company of plants, but experiments in 1996 found that work output increased by up to 12%, with those taking part less stressed with plants close-by; another study in 2004 found sharing a room with plants produced better performances with creative word associations, and in 2007, further investigations recorded fewer sick days and more productivity for those with plants in their workspace, and there’s more: most of us are aware that air quality in our homes and offices can be improved by the addition of a few green-leafed buddies, although it’s worth noting that whilst the initial studies were well-intended, subsequent reports concluded that unless you plant an indoor forest, the impact is considerably less than first thought, but any help is good, surely?

With mental health awareness at a peak and so much to be gained by the inclusion of a little of the outdoors indoors, what should we be looking for? Firstly, we need to be honest with ourselves: a room full of Monsteras and Fiddle-Leaf Figs would look stunning but not for long if they’re not cared for properly, and of course, children and pets need to be considered – along with any allergies that may be exacerbated – before indulging in a botanical spree, so your own research is a good idea, but here are a few basics:

The majority of house plants originate from the tropics or deserts so will require a little more humidity or far less than our weather can provide; none, however, will appreciate a position close to a radiator, an open fire or an air conditioning unit.

Bright light is generally preferred but not direct sunlight. Your research will inform you of the amount of water required – it’s easy to kill a house plant with too much water – and don’t forget to spritz your plant regularly if it’s used to humidity. The rooms that will house your plants are worth considering too: a bathroom would be ideal for those plants that need the moisture but not so much for your desert plants. With nature giving so much, we should clearly give something back, and far less maintenance than the average human being, the right environment, the correct amount of water and the appropriate feed are all that’s required for a house plant… and maybe a few complimentary words – who doesn’t welcome a little appreciation?

So, if you want to give your home a lift, pop in and ask our experts about the right plants for you; not only do we have many varieties to choose from, we have a stunning array of pots specifically for them, a selection of composts to plant them in, mysts and feed, and the knowledge to help you on your way.