Seeing Green! Why Having House Plants Will Keep You Happy and Healthy

Houseplants not only bring beauty and scents into your home, they can also give root to health benefits!

Studies show that rooms with plants have less mold and dust as leaves and other parts naturally trap allergens and other airborne particles.

Plants, especially flowering ones like orchids, brighten up your surroundings and lift your spirits! People who work in offices with foliage feel better about their jobs, worry less and take fewer sick days.

Air conditioners and furnaces can drink up moisture in the air, which increases the risk of catching a cold or the flu, but spider plants will help add moisture back into the atmosphere.

English ivy, dragon tree and asparagus ferns scrub the air of volatile organic compounds, which are given off by carpets, cleaners, inks, printer toners, paint and many other indoor objects.

Having indoor herbs like peppermint, spearmint and basil can help prevent bloating, gas and other after-meal digestive problems.

Fragrant purple lavender plants have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries and can help calm you and lower anxiety.

People have known for eons that aloe is tremendous for treating sun burns, psoriasis, skin conditions and minor burns.

Plants like gerbera daisies take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen even after sundown, the process known as photosynthesis — and extra oxygen can help you sleep better.

Anyone who feels pressured should invest in a heartleaf philodendron or snake plant to help you relax. Studies show being around these plants has a calming effect and can slash blood pressure, heart rate and the stress hormone cortisol.

Students in classrooms with potted plants did better on math, reading, science and spelling tests than those without them. Think golden pothos.

Giving a bouquet or a plant to a loved one in the hospital is far more than just a thoughtful gesture — researchers say patients who had plants like an orchid or a peace lily in their rooms recovered faster from surgery than those without them. Even patients with a room with a view of nature from the window fared better.

Nurturing a plant can help lower anxiety, boost attention and help soothe depression symptoms.