It’s a sad fact of modern life that we spend too much time indoors, but having a plant display in a room – whether it’s a leafy tropical giant, a flowering pot plant, a trailing climber or a prickly cactus – can bring all the health benefits of greenery inside.
Indoor plant displays can eliminate many of the toxins in our homes caused by the likes of televisions, computers, paints, carpets and furnishings. They act just like a filter, removing harmful compounds and improving air quality. Airborne dust particles, which can cause allergies and discomfort, will collect on plants’ leaves, stems and flowers, so the air circulating in a room becomes cleaner and less dusty.
Plants also release moisture into the air, increasing humidity levels. This puts an air-conditioned or heated room, which often has too low humidity, back at a natural level, which feels more comfortable for the body and reduces symptoms such as dry throats, asthma, eczema and stuffy heads and noses.
And you don’t need to create a lush indoor forest to feel the benefit of plants in a room. Scientific studies have shown that having a few plants dotted around a room is enough to notice a difference in air quality.
Myth Buster: Don’t put houseplants in the bedroom as they use up all the air!
False: Plants naturally refresh the air by absorbing harmful CO2 and emitting oxygen. Tip: the best air-purifying houseplants are orchids, bromeliads and succulents. These houseplants conserve their energy during the day and refresh the air predominantly during the night, which means they will purify the air in your bedroom while you sleep.
FACT: Plants can reduce dust in a room by a fifth.
Washington State University