Table of contents:
- 1. Having plants in the house helps us breathe
- 2. Plants can clean the air of the house
- 3. Reducing the risk of respiratory tract disorders
- 4. Plants can improve a person's psychological condition
Most of the houseplants are kept as decoration, without many knowing that keeping plants at home also has health benefits. Basically, plants are oxygen producers, as well as house plants which are relatively small in size. Several types of house plants also function to maintain air quality around the house.
1. Having plants in the house helps us breathe
Humans breathe in oxygen and emit carbon dioxide, but plants by photosynthesis do the opposite. This is a major advantage of growing plants around or indoors.
However, keep in mind that plants need lighting from sufficient sunlight to maximize the photosynthesis process. This photosynthetic process stops at night when almost all plants start to breathe oxygen and emit carbon dioxide. So it will be dangerous if we fall asleep around plants at night, except for some special plants such as orchids, cactus-like plants (succulent), and other epiphytic plants still absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen at night. Therefore, keeping these types of plants indoors will remain safe and can produce oxygen even at night.
2. Plants can clean the air of the house
Pollutants can be spread everywhere, especially in open spaces, and it is possible if air pollutants can enter the house. Apart from the presence of pollutants, the decrease in air quality in the house can also be caused by other chemicals from household appliances. Research by NASA shows that plants can clean indoor air by trapping various pollutant particles in the air. This is also supported by follow-up research which has found that plants can reduce the levels of ozone gas emitted by household and office electronics.
One of the things that reduce the air quality in the house is contaminants volatile organic compounds (VOC) released by household appliances such as plastic cleaning materials, building materials, and paints. VOCs do not cause symptoms of poisoning in the short term but can trigger asthma and cancer for a long time. One study showed that there were significant differences in VOC levels between rooms without plants and with plants, amounting to 933 and 249 μg / m. This shows that plants can improve indoor air quality.
Based on the research, the types of plants chosen as indoor air purifiers include Spider Plant, Betel Gading, and In-Law's Tongue. These plants were chosen because they are easy to care for in the house. To clean outdoor air, try plants such as Azaleas, Peace lilies, and English Ivy vines. NASA also recommends placing indoor air purifier plants every 30 square meters around homes.
3. Reducing the risk of respiratory tract disorders
Respiratory tract disorders are closely related to air quality, one of which is the number of dust particles in the air. The occurrence of respiratory tract disorders begins with the entry of germs along with dust particles that cause infection or trigger asthma. This happens easily in environments with low humidity. Plants kept indoors can also reduce dust particles by increasing air humidity, through evaporation of water from roots or soil stored in plant pots.
One study has shown that hanging plants can reduce indoor dust levels by up to 30% in about three months. Plants themselves, in general, contribute up to 10% moisture content in the air layer.
4. Plants can improve a person's psychological condition
Being in a garden or a room that has plants will calm the mind and can improve your mood. According to the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA), there are several benefits of growing plants at home for a person's psychological and cognitive conditions, including:
- Increase self-confidence
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Feel fitness
- Helps calm the mind and create optimism
- Improve concentration and focus
- Improve memory skills
This is supported by the results of a study that shows an effect of improving mood and work performance when someone works in a room decorated with plants, compared to individuals who work in a room that does not have plants. The benefits of gardening activities also improve social health by encouraging someone to cooperate and socialize with others.
