Uproot Your Bad Thoughts and Plant Good Ones
Have you ever felt stuck? Or have you ever felt like there are no good days anymore? A home remodelling is what you might need.
Before you say a plant can’t fix me, it actually can. Research has shown (Hall & Knuth, 2019) that plants positively influence our well-being. Not only that, but the benefits of indoor plants include improved creativity and productivity.
Work Hard, but Do Not Stress Too Much
Nowadays, it is very hard to live without our phones. We go on with our days without noticing how much stress the little device in our pockets causes us. This stress affects our ability to perform simple tasks, which stresses us even more. But how to stop the cycle? Turn off your phone (if you can) and put a plant on your desk (that you can do for sure). Data shows that people who perform tasks with an indoor plant beside them experience lower mental stress (Hassan et al., 2020).
Ok, I’m Convinced, but Now What?
Now that you have decided it’s time to change and join the plant community, the question arises: Which indoor house plants will be the best? The short answer: Every. But no worries, we have some suggestions for plants for mental health:
· Gerbera
Are you feeling sad and tired lately? Your home may lack colour that stimulates energy and happiness. The Gerbera will be your best bet if you want to cheer up your home by adding some colour. They are bright, and when people see them, they instantly get you in a better mood. If you want to feel more energised, warmer colours like red and yellow will be good, but if you want your plant to have a calming effect, it’s better to stick to blue and purple. Gerberas bloom for a long time, so you know you can be sure that you will see their beautiful colours when you go home. The only thing you should consider when getting this plant is that it will need a lot of light. So, you better have a window where you can put it!
· Lavender
Not only does lavender look cool and smells good, but a study shows (Koulivand et al., 2013) that it is therapeutic. So why not add a little bit of purple and green to your home? It helps with anxiety and depression, and if that is not enough, it also enables you to sleep better and relax. Additionally, lavender would not only look pretty on your windowsill, but when it grows, you can clip part of it, dry it, and make some tea or put it in your wardrobe as an air freshener. However, don’t forget that it's one of the types of plants that needs a lot of light to grow, so think about it before you get one.
· Dracaena
This is a classic house plant for a reason. It comes in many shapes and forms and always fits your décor. It brings green into your home and is proven to improve your mood and bring balance and joy (How Do Colors in My Home Change My Mood? Color Psychology Explained, n.d.). One of its best features is that it is a low-maintenance plant, so there are no worries about killing it—just the joys of having a plant!
Not So Fast Though
Remember that plants are living organisms and will require care, even if it is minimal in some cases. This added responsibility may stress you and have a negative effect on your mental health. Some plants are toxic to children and pets, and worrying about this can also negatively impact you. Therefore, before getting a house plant, research it. Ultimately, if it dies, it dies, and that’s simply part of life.
Sources:
Hall, C., & Knuth, M. (2019). An update of the Literature Supporting the Well-Being Benefits of Plants: A review of the Emotional and Mental Health benefits of plants. Journal of Environmental Horticulture, 37(1), 30–38. https://doi.org/10.24266/0738-2898-37.1.30
Hassan, A., Qibing, C., Yinggao, L., Tao, J., Li, G., Jiang, M., Nian, L., Bing-Yang, L., & Shiliang, L. (2020). Do plants affect brainwaves? Effect of indoor plants in the work environment on mental stress. European Journal of Horticultural Science, 85(4), 279–283. https://doi.org/10.17660/ejhs.2020/85.4.9
Koulivand, P. H., Ghadiri, M. K., & Gorji, A. (2013). Lavender and the nervous system. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/681304
How do colours in my home change my mood? Colour psychology explained. (n.d.). Mental Health America. https://mhanational.org/surroundings/color-psychology-explained#:~:text=Happy%2C%20bright%20colors%20can%20increase,re%20feeling%20overstimulated%20or%20frantic%20.
Plants to help ease the mind - Thrive. (n.d.). Thrive. https://www.thrive.org.uk/get-gardening/plants-to-help-ease-the-mind
Rankel, K. (2024, June 15). 10 benefits of having a gerbera. Greg App 🪴. https://greg.app/gerbera-benefits/