Five Indoor Plants And Their Benefits

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It’s National Gardening Week, and even if you don’t have any outdoor space where you live, you can still enjoy having green fingers and getting some plant life into your life! Plants not only look good, but they also can have positive mental health benefits. Here are a few of the best plants to bring into your home, and what they’ll do for you…

Spider Plant

There are two bonuses that come with owning a spider plant. The first is that they’re super easy to look after. They only need to watered occasionally and don’t mind being in less sunny places of a home. The second is that they purify the air in your rooms! Specifically, they remove formaldehyde from the air (which comes in from all sorts of things from paper bags to synthetic fabrics) and target carbon monoxide and other toxic air impurities. So, if you have one - or a few - of these around, you might find yourself taking in some nice deep breaths!

Aloe Vera

Aloe has been used for thousands of years as a natural remedy to soothe irritated skin (you might have seen it in creams for sunburn!), and by owning a plant, you have direct access to some sweet sweet moisture! The gel inside aloe leaves is full of vitamins and is naturally antibacterial, so you can snap off the leaves, open them up, and apply the inner gel if needed. And, like the spider plant, aloe also has air purifying qualities!

Boston Fern

These green pals not only give a Jurassic Park vibe of full green foliage, but it’s thought to be one of the best air purifiers around. It helps get rid of harmful toxins in the air, and improves humidity by restoring moisture to the air. It has been said that this could offer real benefits to people who have dry skin, noses, or throats!

Lavender

This lush purple plant would be happy anywhere in a house, but, if you keep it in your bedroom, chances are you’ll have some very calming sleeps! Lavender is well known for its stress relieving benefits and is often used in spas, bath bombs, aromatherapy oils, or anything to make you feel relaxed. So, pop a plant on your bedside table and get cosy…

Rosemary

Like lavender, rosemary is another fragrant herb that has been used in folk medicine for centuries. Many believe that it helps improve concentration and memory, so it might be worth getting a plant to put on your desk or where you work to see if it helps you during exam season!