HOW ABOUT HOUSEPLANTS?

Last week I felt the urge to add to my collection of houseplants. The rain had been incessant here, although we are quite fortunate to have mild winter weather, and all I could think about was how much I missed being outside to enjoy the greenery.  Of course it may seem obvious that houseplants bring the garden inside to add delight and color to your decor, but did you know the benefits they have for your home?  I have read that researchers have found rooms with plants have less dust and mold than rooms without foliage.  Now I am all for less dust, aren’t you? Apparently, plants act as natural filters to catch allergens and other airborne particles. You may wish to avoid plants with pollen or spores but a nice Chinese evergreen or peace lily could be a great dust buster!

During winter months when humidity is sucked out of your indoor spaces by furnaces and heaters or in the summer by air conditioners, houseplants add moisture to the air as natural humidifiers.  One of the best houseplants that is also relatively easily to care for is a spider plant. If you add one to your nightstand not only will your skin be more dewey, but you will enjoy a lively awakening each morning from your bedside companion. Another idea for the bedside is a fragrant lavender plant. Some studies suggest this purple beauty may lower anxiety and promote peaceful rest. The oxygen that plants give off may also help you sleep more soundly so putting a few colorful pots in the bedroom will spice up your decor and enhance your snore.

When I lived in New York City I enjoyed my window- box herb garden.  Even now, living in a warmer climate, an indoor herb garden enhances the beauty of my kitchen and also provides easy access for cooking. There are many health benefits to herbs.  For instance, mint leaves are great in a mint julep but they also can be seeped in hot water to create a lovely tea that will calm your stomach and ease digestion. Did you know aloe from an aloe plant can help your food digestion process? Aloe gel is also great for soothing skin conditions. Houseplants are commonly known to ease stress, so if you want to better your blood pressure or reduce the stress hormone cortisol, a Boston fern for instance could do wonders for your health.

Whether you need a boost to your mental or physical health, houseplants are undeniably beneficial. Many people, and you may be one, are intimidated by the idea of owning a houseplant because they have been unsuccessful in the past maintaining them.  I am confident that there is a houseplant for every person so do not give up just yet.  My suggestion is to first decide what room or rooms you want to add a houseplant to enliven your creative home deco, then watch the light for several days in the space(s).  Once you have recorded or taken mental notes, next do a little research online or at your local garden center to see what houseplants are best suited.  You will also want to consider how much attention is required for your new foliage friend(s). Then you will be ready to make an appropriate selection.  One of the biggest mistakes people make is over-watering or under-watering their indoor greenery.  As a general rule, the soil should be dry to the touch and the color of hot cocoa before you water, usually that is about once per week.

Creativity boosting energy from houseplants along with health benefits and overall home improvement make their addition to your personal oasis a natural!

Linda Joy Walder