Happy National Indoor Plant Week!!

We love indoor plants; they offer multiple benefits, both for your physical well-being and the environment. Here are some of the advantages of raising indoor plants:

• Improved Air Quality: Indoor plants remove harmful pollutants from the air, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene. They also mirror our respiratory process by “inhaling” carbon dioxide and “exhaling” oxygen during photosynthesis. Bringing plants indoors cultivates a harmonious air-quality synergy and is one of the building blocks of closed-loop systems.
• Stress Reduction: Research shows that the presence of plants can reduce stress and anxiety, promote relaxation, and improve mood.
• Improved Productivity & Focus: Indoor plants in workspaces or study areas can boost productivity and concentration while providing a calming and visually pleasing environment that can help reduce distractions.
• Mental Health Support: Indoor gardening and plant care can provide a sense of accomplishment and purpose, which can contribute to better mental health and well-being. Additionally, studies have shown that indoor plants can help reduce conflicts among occupants.
• Enhanced Creativity: Some research suggests that indoor plants can stimulate creativity and problem-solving abilities, making them a valuable addition to work and study spaces.
• Improved Sleep: Certain plants like Sansevieria do most of their respiration at night, meaning placing these plants in the bedroom boosts oxygen while you are sleeping. This leads to improved sleep and quicker recovery.
• Noise Reduction: Many plants have excellent acoustical dampening; dense leaves can absorb and muffle sound. Living walls take this one step further and can be used to attractively control indoor noise levels.
• Environmental Benefits: Indoor plants promote a sense of connection with the natural world and encourage stewardship– something desperately needed when most people spend 95% of their lives indoors.
• Improved Humidity: Indoor plants can release moisture into the air through a process called transpiration, which can help increase indoor humidity levels, benefiting respiratory health.
• Educational Value: Having indoor plants can be a great educational tool for both children and adults, teaching them about nature, biology, and ecology.

It’s important to note that every plant is an individual with unique needs; researching and designing with those needs in mind will pave the way for a thriving relationship between plants, people, and the built environment.

To learn more about how to incorporate plants and biophilic design in your next project, connect with Rushing’s Sustainability Studio!