Breathe Easy ...The Benefits of House Plants - Flowers Oman

[fusion_separator style_type=”none” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” sep_color=”” top_margin=”10″ bottom_margin=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center”][/fusion_separator]

With the hot summer upon us what better way to feel cool and heathy by bringing in some fresh house plants into you home
Fresh living plants not only look and make your feel good they are also extremely health beneficial

When you embellish interior spaces with houseplants, you’re not just adding greenery. These living organisms interact with your body, mind and home in ways that enhance the quality of life.

Most of us have flowers or plants of some sort inside but we don’t always realise their excellent health benefits. Did you know that the air in your home could be harbouring unhealthy invisible toxins that can be eliminated by plants? And that strategically placing a plant or two in your teenager’s bedroom can help them to concentrate better when they study? See how you could take advantage of potted plants and flowers:

• Reducing carbon dioxide levels.
• Increasing humidity.
• Reducing levels of certain pollutants, such as benzene and nitrogen dioxide.
• Reducing airborne dust levels.
• Keeping air temperatures down.

Natural healers

The aloe vera plant (Aloe barberae) is also known as ‘lily of the desert,’ the ‘plant of immortality’ and the medicine plant. The aloe vera plant has many healing benefits, including its ability to clean air.

The gel inside an aloe plant can help heal cuts and is also very effective at soothing burns, including sunburn. Ancient Egyptians recorded use of this herbal plant in treating burns, infections and parasites. The leaves of this super plant can also help to alleviate asthma symptoms by boiling the leaves in water and breathing in the vapour.

Purifying the Air

NASA carried out a study called the Clean Air Study to determine which plants help to clean the air we breathe by eliminating harmful toxins. The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is one of the plants on the list. It is one of the most popular and easiest to grow of house plants.

The spider plant will clean the air in your house of benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene. These are all common volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are emitted into the air in our homes by everyday items such as furniture, carpets and common household appliances.

The rubber plant (Ficus elastica) is another plant featured in NASA’s Clean Air Study. They are popular ornamental plants with leathery, glossy oval shaped leaves.
Rubber plants rank high on the list of house plants that eliminate toxins such as formaldehyde from the air in your home. As time goes on, the rubber plant becomes even more efficient at eliminating toxic compounds from the air.

Formaldehyde can be released into the air from furniture and flooring, as well as common household items that you might not think of, such as air fresheners, hair products and nail polish.

Breathe easy

Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’), also known as Mother In Law’s Tongue, is low maintenance and is one of the toughest of all house plants. It has stiff upright leaves and makes a great statement in any room.

As we all know, plants do the opposite of what we do when we breathe – they take in carbon dioxide and convert it to oxygen. Most plants do this during the day, but the snake plant is one of only a few plants that release oxygen into the air at night, making it the perfect plant to have in your bedroom as you sleep.

Place plants within your breathing zone, which is about two square metres around where you normally sit or sleep, to get the full benefits.

Natural humidifiers

About 10 per cent of the moisture in the air we breathe is released by plants. Areca palm(Chrysalidocarpus lutescens), also known as the butterfly or golden cane palm, is a very popular household palm. This luscious palm releases moisture into a room, making it particularly welcome in dry winter months. Plants such as cacti and succulents, on the other hand, retain water and therefore release very little water into the air.

Natural scents

Use fragrant plants such as dwarf kaffir lime trees (Citrus hystrix) to fill your home with a wonderful fresh smell instead of using artificial air fresheners. It’s a natural and chemical-free way to freshen your home, not to mention being handy for cooking.
Less stress, more success

Studies have shown that having plants in your home, or even in your workplace, have a positive effect on the occupants, helping to reduce stress and fatigue and enhance productivity.
Place some house plants, particularly those with broad leaves, on your desk at work, in your home office and in any area of your home where children study or do their homework. Any palm, such as bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) or a weeping fig(Ficus benjamina), will regulate humidity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions in your home or office.

Restful sleep

Getting the recommended seven to eight hours’ sleep per night can be difficult, especially when our minds are busy thinking about what happened during the day and everything we need to do tomorrow.

Studies have shown that the vapour from some plants, specifically lavender (Lavandula) and jasmine (Jasminum) can lead to a more restful sleep. Keep a lavender or jasmine plant by your bed. The smell from these plants induces a state of tranquility that will help you prepare for a good night’s sleep.

Improve your mental health

When you are feeling under the weather, nothing perks you up like the gift of a plant or colourful flowers. Studies have shown that hospital patients who have flowers or plants in their room, or who look out onto a garden from their room, often recover more quickly than those who have no plants around them.

Plants help to increase our levels of positivity and make us feel more secure and relaxed. They can also help with loneliness and depression. Caring for a living thing gives us a purpose and is rewarding, especially when a plant you have been lovingly caring for bursts into bloom.
Releasing Water

As part of the photosynthetic and respiratory processes, plants release moisture vapor, which increases humidity of the air around them. Plants release roughly 97 percent of the water they take in. Place several plants together, and you can increase the humidity of a room, which helps keeps respiratory distresses at bay. Studies at the Agricultural University of Norway document that using plants in interior spaces decreases the incidence of dry skin, colds, sore throats and dry coughs.

The Dutch Product Board for Horticulture commissioned a workplace study that discovered that adding plants to office settings decreases fatigue, colds, headaches, coughs, sore throats and flu-like symptoms. In another study by the Agricultural University of Norway, sickness rates fell by more than 60 percent in offices with plants.

Find The Best Office Plants

Enhance your business environment with natural beauty by adding office plants to your workplace design. Plants can offer your company benefits far beyond simple aesthetics. People find solace in spaces decorated with abundant greenery. University studies in both the United States and Europe have concluded that with the presence of plants employees take fewer sick days, feel less stress, and view their work space more positively.

Breathe new life into dreary conference rooms, lighten the mood in reception areas, and brighten lonely cubicle and desk space with the best office plants. From cacti to canes, plants can enhance any space in your office while invigorating customers, clients, and visitors. Beautify your building and improve workplace efficiency and employee morale with our help. The Flower Shop can handle orders small or large.

After the initial consultation, we will conduct a light survey of your space to determine which plants will thrive in your office environment. Once the correct lighting levels are determined, our design consultants will help you select the best office plants for your business.

Call us on +968 24560043 for a free consultation

Orchids and Succulents

Two very popular living floral choices are orchids and succulents. Both come in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes and both have light and watering requirements that make them ideal for indoor and office situations

Orchids – among the most beautiful and popular flowers for home gardeners. Orchids have developed a reputation for being sensitive, but they are actually closer to succulents, which are hardier than most other flowering plants. Orchids are prized because of their vibrant colors and unique shapes.

Succulents – very popular plants known for their thick, fleshy leaves and their hardy nature. Succulents originated from arid, desert climates which is why they tend to do well without much watering. There are several succulent species that also thrive in low light. Low maintenance plants mean you get the benefits of plants in your office without all of the work that goes into maintaining them.

Breathe Easy …The Benefits of House Plants