indoor plants for better health

Indoor Plants for Better Health, yes, but before we get there, I have a confession to make…
I don’t have a green thumb. Yes, my father was an agriculture teacher, and he left a huge forest behind, but I have the tendency of killing plants, not growing them. Even the unkillable ones! The truth is, I have a long plant killing criminal record. I mean I killed our yellow orchid: Nikki. Yes, she’s my latest kill.

However…

I keep hearing benefits of having indoor plants especially in writing rooms/home offices. And what I’m hearing recently keeps getting louder and louder. Even the list of ideal office plants is getting longer. I have no choice but to convince myself to get one of them green things. Maybe just for my desk to begin with?

So, why do we really need those indoor plants?

Apparently, we need plants to improve indoor air quality, reduce stress, uplift our mood and promote productivity.

Indoor plants improve air quality
Plants improve indoor air quality by removing harmful air pollutants present in the home. It’s not just because us humans breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide but also, we are surrounded by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from plastic or synthetic materials. They are in our furniture, paint on the wall, fittings, computers, etc. they even say that indoor air is always more polluted than outdoors! So, we need indoor plants.

Indoor plants reduce stress and uplift our mood
I don’t know how they do it but indoor plants relieve staff stress and reduce negative mood states by up to 60% in workplaces. And you don’t have to have a jungle to achieve that.

Indoor plants promote productivity
Research consistently finds that indoor plants promote productivity and performance. According to a UK study, bringing plants into the workplace increased productivity by 15%.
So, what are the plant options out there, now that we are convinced?

The List
Did you know that there is a list of NASA approved indoor plants? Oh yes, there is. Following plants are in total compliance with the rules here:

• Areca Palm
• Lady Palm
• Bamboo Palm
• Rubber Plant
• Dracaena Janet Craig
• English Ivy
• Dwarf Date Palm
• Ficus Alii
• Boston Fern
• Peace Lily

For me, none of these would fit to some tiny little area I have on my desk and I don’t like having large objects on the floor as I move things around–and I do that a lot! Succulents are small but some of them have spiky bits and I could be quite clumsy sometimes.

What to do?

All of a sudden, I remembered my money tree downstairs, right next to the gate. I was given a tiny little stalk of it with only four fleshy leaves by Irene –my lovely Asian neighbour who lives a few doors down. She gave it to me and said “Now, you go home and grow some money, my dear.” How cute is that?

And I did grow some money! I named her Lakshmi (the Goddess of Abundance) and grew another one in another large pot downstairs –named that one Lakshimette. Then I had Lakshimette 2! Later on, another friend of mine gave me even healthier sapling and it is getting bigger now. Maybe my black thumb karma is improving?

Binominal name of money tree is crassula ovata but let’s not get technical here. Money tree is also known as jade plant, friendship tree and lucky plant. It is low maintenance; no spiky bits and I just love its luscious green roundness. I think I’ll go and get myself a nice-looking pot for my new indoor plant and let the journey begin.