House Plant Appreciation Day!

Hello my Zebras and Spoonies! Thanks for coming and hanging out with me today, I’m glad that you’re here.

Happy House Plant Appreciation Day! If you have house plants, today is a great day to be thoughtful about why you have them and the benefits that having them offers you. Research has demonstrated that we are relaxed by the presence of house plants. So, go thank your plant for helping to reduce your stress levels! Go on!

Having plants present in the work place increases job satisfaction. Having plants in your home reduces stress levels. Interaction with indoor plants can reduce both physical and psychological stress. This in turn reduces your risk for many illnesses and can improve your symptoms if you have chronic illness. The best part is that having a plant in your house is a pretty low risk intervention. It is possible to have an adverse outcome such as an allergic reaction or contact dermatitis, but generally speaking having a plant is pretty reasonable. It is definitely less risk than taking prescription medications.

Humans have been connected to a green, plant filled environment since we started stumbling around this planet. They provide us shelter and give us food. It’s no surprise that they also offer us emotional comfort. “Green time” is consider to be any time spent around plants or in a green, natural environment. This is also called “green exercise.” It is pretty clear that we benefit from being around plants. It also seems that we do better with more plants. One house plant is good but going to a forest is way better. But the truth is that we generally don’t have the time in our schedules to spend a lot of time in green places. House plants can be a way to get some of the benefits of green time without needing a lot of time to get it. All it takes is the time to tend your plants, the rest happens just from the plants being there.

Not all of us have a green thumb. Unfortunately, the plastic plants just don’t offer up the same benefits as real house plants. However, there are some plants that are easier to care for then others. Some good plants to try are: Monstera, Sansevieria, Spider plant, Philodendron, Hedgehog Aloe, Dracaene Giganta, Ponytail Palm and aglaonemas. You can also just go to a local plant shop and ask the people working there which ones are easiest to maintain. But the good part is that you don’t have to be at caring for plants to get the benefits. Our house plants give us their boost even if we let them die. Just being around them and caring for them is enough.

So, if you’re having a hard time right now; consider getting a plant. It’s likely to make things a little better without any side effects.