WHY PLANTS AT WORK AND HOME ARE GOOD FOR YOU

Plants aren’t only good for giving your offices, living rooms and bedrooms an aesthetic spruce of life, they’re also living organisms that interact with your body in ways that enhance your quality of life! Even though we don’t notice it, under our noses plants are helping to create the environment around you a better place psychologically, physically and mentally. Here are some key facts about why plants at work and home are good for you.

Plants purify the air

Plants have large surface areas and naturally absorb VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and air pollutants around us through their leaves and roots which in turn helps to improve the conditions around you such as.

• They help to reduce carbon dioxide
• They keep the air temperature down
• They reduce airborne dust levels

Some of the best plants for purifying indoor air are spider plants, English ivy, Japanese Royal Plants, aloe vera and peace lilies.

Plants have psychological value

It might sound strange, but plants have strong spiritual and psychological link to us. Looking after the plants and growing them can relieve everyday stress. Additionally, the process of growing a plant can build in a sense of responsibility. Some studies have found that growing plants is one of the ways to improve mental well-being at any age.

Plants increase productivity

Plenty of studies have demonstrated the direct ‘influence of plants’. How it boosts productivity, improves concentration and memory. According to a study of University of Michigan, plants can increase memory retention by 20 percent. Simultaneously, Norwegian studies shows that workers productivity elevate in the presence of plants. “Keeping ornamental plants in the home and in the workplace increases memory retention and concentration,” says Texas A&M. “Work performed under the natural influence of ornamental plants is normally of higher quality and completed with a much higher accuracy rate than work done in environments devoid of nature.”

Best plants for your desk

Choosing the right plant is not always an easy decision, especially when you’re not a plant guru and can only make a choice on looks alone. Here is a selection of the best plants to introduce to your work desk:

• Devil’s Ivy – easy to care for and adapts to a number of different office environments (e.g. low-light to bright lights)
• Bromeliads – low maintenance and a beautiful piece with vibrant red colours
• Cacti – this one is incredibly easy to look after with little-to-no water required, just make sure you give it a bit of light
• Dracaena – bursting with colourful leaves and can survive in some of the harshest conditions meaning it should last you a long time