The Green Page:

How Plants Make Us Happier And Healthier:

axios.com/2022/07/14/how-plants-make-us-happier-and-healthier

Our house plants don't just look nice. They make us happier and healthier.

Why it matters: 

Many of our jobs keep us indoors — away from nature — and the pandemic magnified that problem. But it turns out that being around nature is essential to health.

Here are just some of the perks:

Interacting with plants can increase life satisfaction, reduce anxiety and stress, spark creativity, boost productivity and even mitigate symptoms of PTSD and dementia, studies have shown. And certain plants are natural air purifiers for your house - such as the ZZ Plant or Zamioculcas Zamiifolia. 

(I have three that I love in my lounge.)

"When we have plants in our home or take a hike, we see decreases in anxiety and stress," says Melinda Knuth, a horticulture professor at North Carolina State. "Just being around a plant can decrease the cortisol levels in our saliva."

She says that humans get a subconscious positive jolt from the smell of flowers, birds chirping, and the sound of rushing water.

What's happening: 

Plants sales soared during the pandemic as we coped with being stuck inside by bringing nature into our homes.

According to a Garden Centre survey, plant nurseries saw sales jump 10%-15% in 2020. Many of these sellers were small mom-and-pop shops now thriving due to our revived interest in plants. And a whopping 89% of consumers owned at least two houseplants in 2021, according to a Floral Marketing Fund report.

Zoom in: 

Watering and tending to plants and then watching them bloom is great for our minds.

A key sign of poor mental health is losing interest and pleasure in activities. According to Justin Puder, a psychologist, plants can curb that by bringing passion and routine into our lives.

Asiyah Muhsin, a wellness coach and retired nurse, started buying plants to cope with her mental health after a bad experience. "They made me feel safe, heard and seen," she says. Now she uses plant caregiving to help clients. 

The bottom line: 

Consider buying a plant from a local nursery to brighten up your home — or add to your collection if you're already an avid plant owner — and reap the benefits.