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Top 10 Mood-Boosting Houseplants

According to NASA, indoor plants can remove up to 87% of toxins in the surrounding air and water, in just 24 hours of entering a home!

It’s also been found that houseplants can supress your sympathetic nervous system, which essentially means they can lower your blood pressure and help you to feel calmer.

Plus, with green, leafy plants found to help with fatigue, headaches, coughs and dry throats; there’s an overwhelming amount of evidence that suggests houseplants really can boost your mood and improve your wellbeing!

Search volume for houseplants has increased since the beginning of lockdown, with “house plants delivered” increasing by 400%, and “buy houseplants online” by 200%.

With winter approaching and further lockdown restrictions looming, we’ll likely be spending more time in our homes, which is why it’s so important we focus on staying positive. And the best thing is, these plants can help…

1. Aloe vera

The gel from aloe vera can help to soothe acne, burns and dry skin; helping you both physically and mentally.

To allow your aloe vera plant to thrive, place it in bright but indirect sunlight, and let it dry in between watering.

2. Lavender

Place your lavender plant in the bedroom, and the scent will help to reduce your stress levels, enabling you to sleep better. To let it grow, water it regularly and leave it in a place that gets a lot of light.

3. Snake plant

Had issues in the past with keeping plants alive? Try a snake plant – they need minimal care; but can really help to improve your wellbeing as they add moisture to the air and release oxygen. In fact, they’re particularly ideal for people who suffer with allergies – and interestingly, they were the most Googled plant in lockdown!

4. Peace lily

Peace lilies are great houseplants to have, as not only do they soak up mould spores in the air; they also absorb their own water before releasing it back into their environment – so place your peace lily in a room that’s dry.

If you want your peace lily to flower, simply place it out in the morning light, and remove it from the evening light. You should also make sure you keep its soil damp, and lightly mist its leaves regularly.

Just be aware that peace lilies are poisonous to pets, so be sure to keep them out of harm’s way.

5. Monstera plant

You’ve likely seen the Monstera (also referred to as a Swiss cheese plant) clogging up your Insta feed, but they can actually boost your mood. They purify the air, making your home healthier – plus, you can grow new plants from their cuttings.

Monstera plants are toxic to animals and children, so again, you need to be careful with where you place them. They thrive in humid environments, away from direct sunlight – making the bathroom the best option.

6. English ivy

Like peace lilies, English ivy absorbs mould in the air, helping to purify your home; and it also has properties that help you to stop being restless, meaning you can enjoy a better night’s sleep.

To keep your English ivy healthy, simply place it in sunlight, and make sure its soil stays slightly dry.

7. Venus fly trap

Whilst Venus fly traps don’t purify the air, they’re really effective at removing flies and spiders from your home (great news if you’re scared of those 8-legged creatures!). 

They prefer to be fed bottled or filtered water – so avoid pouring straight from the tap wherever possible! If you have a garden or balcony, leave your Venus fly trap out in the light on warm days, before bringing them back in, in the evening.

8. Peacock plant

Peacock plants boost your wellbeing by removing chemical vapour from your air – essentially purifying your home.

They do, however, require a fair bit of maintenance, as they prefer to live in temperatures of between 18-27 degrees Celsius. Place yours in a humid room to avoid spider mites, in indirect sunlight, and keep the soil moist.

9. Gerbera daisy

Gerbera daisies are more effective than any other plant at removing benzene from the air. Plus, as they produce oxygen during the night, they’re ideal for anyone who suffers from sleep apnoea – so place yours in the bedroom.

To grow your gerbera daisy indoors, leave it out in bright morning sunlight, but place it somewhere cooler in the afternoon – otherwise the sun could scorch its leaves. In the winter, place it under a lamp to help it continue to thrive.

10. Cactus

No list of houseplants would be complete without the humble cactus! Like many other plants on this list, if you place a cactus in one of your rooms, it will purify the air, and can even make you more productive – ideal if you’re working from home!

The even better news about cacti is they’re very low maintenance – and in winter, hardly needs watering at all.

There’s no better time to transform your home into a paradise of plants; as they’ll help you to destress, sleep better – and even be more productive! For more home inspiration, head on over to our blog.

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