Leafy Allies: How Houseplants Can Improve Your Mental Health
By: Charlotte Lewis
My house is a jungle. Everywhere you look, plants look back. They form loose constellations on counters and tables and floors, they hang in every window. Light filters through them like stained glass of endless blues, purples, and greens. Beautiful, focusing, and calming.
Being connected to nature has an incredible effect on the overall well being of humans, and particularly leads to better mental health outcomes[2]. Often, people consider ‘connection to nature’ equivalent to spending more time outside; conjuring images of hiking in the woods, swimming in the ocean, gardening, or any number of other immersive activities. However, while these activities are excellent, for many people they are not easily accessible. So, how can those without access to woods or oceans or gardens foster a connection to nature and receive the important health benefits?
It turns out houseplants have an equally powerful effect on the human psyche[1] [3]. Studies show that being with and caring for plants has a direct correlation to reduced cortisol (the stress hormone) levels[1]. This results in lowered anxiety and improved mood and particularly has a positive effect on people diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress disorder[4]. The exact reason for this effect is still unknown, however, some scholars believe our bodies have an evolutionary response to the color green and their presence of houseplants in our homes creates a sense of sanctuary[5].
Another study, conducted on elementary school students, shows that plants can increase concentration[7]. Groups of students were placed in rooms with real plants, fake plants, photos of plants, and no plants. Results were measured by brain scans and test results which showed that students in rooms with real plants demonstrated better concentration and relaxation than their peers. Other research shows that in addition to improving concentration, interaction with plants also improves memory retention and increases productivity & creativity[4]. These findings suggest that plants have a significant positive effect on brain function and support humans in everyday life.
Lastly, anecdotal evidence suggests that caring for plants (similar to caring for pets) can help a person learn to take care of themselves. Plants respond to voices[6] [3] and some evidence shows they grow better with positive attention from their humans[8]. This creates a symbiotic relationship between plants and humans thereby fostering a sense of connection. Responsibility to something living helps form routines and mitigate loneliness. As stated by Gary Altman (professor of horticultural therapy) plants “give us a little bit of predictability when things are uncertain”[5]. Routine, predictability, and positive relationships help people ground and find stability in unstable times.
Of course improving mental health is vastly more complicated than purchasing a handful of plants. However, the evidence is clear that having plants can reduce distress and cultivate better quality of life.
I call my plants by name; Kevin, Henrietta, Frank, Moth, Couch, Hazel. I call them by species; spider plant, inch plant, quill, orchid, pathos, ivy. I talk to them often (because I read somewhere that you should) and garner concerned looks from the human and cat that share my home.
“They like it!” I insist.
“Mmm Hmm” Human replies. Cat narrows her eyes skeptically. I pay no mind, watering and chattering; choosing instead to believe that my plants find my sing-song tones encouraging and hoping they find me as comforting as I find them.
Sources
[1] Beukeboom, C. J., Langeveld, D., & Tanja-Dijkstra, K. (2012). Stress-reducing effects of real and artificial nature in a hospital waiting room. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18(4), 329–333. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2011.0488
[2] Capaldi, C. A., Dopko, R. L., & Zelenski, J. M. (2014). The relationship between nature connectedness and happiness: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00976
[3] Dodd, S. (2021). They respond to vibrations’: does talking to plants actually help them grow? The Guardian. Retrieved 2024, from https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/jan/11/they-respond-to-vibrations-does-talking-to-plants-actually-help-them-grow.
[4] Hall, C., & Knuth, M. (2019). An update of the literature supporting the well-being benefits of plants: A review of the emotional and mental health benefits of plants. Journal of Environmental Horticulture, 37(1), 30–38. https://doi.org/10.24266/0738-2898-37.1.30
[5] Haupt, A. (2023). Your houseplants have some powerful health benefits. TIME. Retrieved 2024, from https://time.com/6258638/indoor-plants-health-benefits/.
[6] Khait, I., Obolski, U., Yovel, Y., & Hadany, L. (2019). Sound perception in plants. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 92, 134–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2019.03.006
[7] Oh, Y.-A., Kim, S.-O., & Park, S.-A. (2019). Real foliage plants as visual stimuli to improve concentration and attention in elementary students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(5), 796. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16050796
[8] Racco, M. (2018). IKEA conducts bullying experiment on plants — the results are shocking. Global News. Retrieved 2024, from https://globalnews.ca/news/4217594/bully-a-plant-ikea.
About:
Charlotte Lewis (she/her) is a provisionally Licensed Mental Health Counselor working as a Psychotherapist for And Still We Rise. Learn more about Charlotte Lewis here.