The Benefits of Indoor Plants

Spending time in nature is not just enjoyable but there’s loads of evidence to suggest it can improve our mental well-being. Gardening has also been proven to reduce stress and lift our mood. For those of us that live in cities, finding time to escape urban life can be a little tricky and many of us don’t have the luxury of a garden or a balcony. Bringing outside inside, by introducing plants to your home, is a great way to reap the benefits of nature where access to outdoor space is limited.

James started The Stem after battling his own mental health challenges whilst working in the city. Finding time to connect with nature provided sanctuary and massively boosted his mental wellbeing. He wanted to start a business that helped others find their own connection with nature by introducing plants to their home.

"Spending time in green and blue spaces, and around nature are strongly associated with improved mental health. As more of us spend more time at home, we aren’t always able to enjoy time outside, and having house plants is one way to bring the green indoors."

Chris O’Sullivan, Mental Health Foundation

They help reduce stress and anxiety

We all lead hectic lives and having greenery inside your home has a calming effect and even reduces stress levels. Studies have shown that interacting with plants induces physiological & psychological relaxation. There is also something extremely rewarding about looking after plants and watching them grow.

They can improve productivity by up to 15%

Co-existing with nature can help us complete tasks with greater accuracy, improve our attention and even help us to retain information. Since the majority of us are working from home far more, introducing plants to your work-space could be a great way to improve your productivity. Small plants such as an Aloe Vera or Maidenhair Fern would make great desk plants.

They improve air quality

Over 4 million people worldwide die prematurely from indoor air pollution. Although any significant reduction in pollutants would require international effort, there are things you can do to improve air quality at home. Plants are pretty powerful and amongst other things act as natural air purifiers, removing nasty VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) from the atmosphere. English Ivy, all types of Snake Plant, and Heart-Leaf Philodendron are some of the best plants at purifying the air.

They facilitate healing

Plants are so effective at helping patients recover from surgery that one study recommends them as “noninvasive, inexpensive, and effective complementary medicine for surgical patients.” The Kansas University study found that viewing plants after surgery reduced blood pressure and lowered levels of pain, anxiety, and fatigue.