The Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Own A Houseplant Plus My Top 5 Houseplant Suggestions

I have a complicated history with houseplants; in the past I’ve accidentally killed my fair share. My kids actually tease me and call me “The Plant Killer”, they even made up a little theme song for dramatic effect. 😀

There was a brief period of time I just gave up and didn’t have any plants in the house but I decided to give it another go and I’ve been finding my groove and now have several healthy houseplants gracing my home. 

But even with all the time it took me to learn what my plants needed, I believe it’s worth it.

There are so many benefits to having plants that go beyond them being nice to look at. And there is such variety within the plant world that there’s something for everyone! So today’s post is going to be detailing five main reasons as to why I think everyone should have at least one houseplant in their house.

Plus a bonus section at the end where I’ll share five specific types of houseplants that I think you should check out!

Reason #1 – They Can Reduce Stress

I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m all for anything that helps manage stress; and plants do just that! In fact, various studies have shown that plants can actually help reduce both physical and mental stress. 

For instance, one study had a group of people work with plants for about ten minutes while another group worked on a computer-based task; at the end of the experiment, the group that worked with plants reported feeling less stressed than when they started but the other group that worked with computers actually felt more stressed afterwards.

But researchers noticed a difference in the physical stress levels between the two groups as well. The group with the computer-based task had spikes of high blood pressure as well as an increased heart rate. Whereas the group that interacted with plants had a lowered physical stress response.

And that is just one of the many studies that has proved the same thing, being around or working with plants tends to reduce stress levels in people.

Reason #2 – They Improve Air Quality

For the health of people, pets, and the environment; there’s no doubt that air quality is extremely important. And plants are one of the most natural ways to improve air quality. So by having houseplants in your home, you’re taking a big step in making sure the air you breathe is clean.

Different plants will have different air purifying qualities, but we’re going to be talking about the concept on a broad spectrum in this section. And rest assured that all plants will help improve air quality in some way!

Firstly, plants essentially do the opposite of what we do when we breathe. When humans breathe, we take in oxygen and emit carbon dioxide. Plants take in carbon dioxide from the air, and emit oxygen. Meaning that plants make for really great “air quality teammates” for humans.

And secondly, many plants remove toxins from the air. Different varieties will be better at this task than others, so if this is a goal of yours then make sure to do your research first. But plants have been known to remove everything from carbon monoxide to formaldehyde from the air, in small amounts of course.

Reason #3 – They Boost Our Productivity

This specific houseplant benefit is actually one of the reasons that having a plant in your office at work is such a great idea. But any area of your home in which you need to be productive is also a great place to have a plant if you need, or simply want, an extra motivational boost.

Several studies have been done to prove that having plants in the area affects productivity, and the results all support the theory…

One study, done in a computer lab on a college campus, showed that people in rooms with plants worked about 12% faster than their counterparts working without the nearby greenery. And they reported feeling less stressed as well.

Another study, done in 2007, showed that employees with more plants in their office space took fewer sick days and were more productive than employees without plants. And yet another study, focused around people making creative word connections, showed that people in the room with plants performed better than those without plants.

Although most of these studies focused on plants in work environments, there’s no doubt that the benefits will also extend to you if the plant is in your home! But hey, bringing a plant to your office may not be such a bad idea either.

Reason #4 – Working With Them Can Be Therapeutic

There’s even a term related to this benefit, did you know horticultural therapy is a thing? It is, and it’s been around for a very long time. But recently it’s become even more popular and some places even “prescribe” plants to patients suffering from depression.

Part of the reason why this is so effective is that humans innately crave a connection with nature. Even something as simple as touching some foliage is proven to calm us down, and provide comfort. So bringing a bit of the outdoors to the inside of our homes can be a way to always have that comforting effect, especially when weather and other factors keep us indoors.

And depression isn’t the only type of mental illness that working with plants can help to improve. Patients suffering from anxiety and dementia have also been reported to find benefits from taking care of a plant.

So even if you don’t have a mental illness, owning and caring for a plant can be therapeutic for all types of people. You may be surprised by the mental benefits you can receive from such a simple act, and I highly suggest it.

Reason #5 – They Really Do… Look Great!

We’ve covered some scientific reasons why you should have plants in your home, but now I’d like to state the obvious; plants are great decorations and they’re often quite inexpensive compared to other types of decor as well. So it’s really a win-win situation!

And another reason I love plants as a form of decoration is because there’s so much variety, which I hinted at earlier. If you’re tight on space then there are so many types of small and unassuming plants; but on the other hand, if you have too much open space in a room then you could choose a taller plant, wider plant, etc.

There are plants that bloom beautiful flowers, plants with striking foliage, plants that hang down, plants that climb up, and everything in between. Plus, especially depending on the species, plants can be a great conversation starter when guests enter your home; much like a lovely art piece.

So when you combine the scientific and physical benefits with the fact that plants are so beautiful, why wouldn’t you want a houseplant? 

If you’ve decided after reading about the benefits that you want to try your hand at keeping some plants in your home, or even if you’re just looking for some new types to try out, let me share some of my favorite types of houseplants…

#1 – Any Type of Succulent

Especially if you’re a beginner gardener, but even if you’re experienced with plants, I think succulents would make a great addition to your houseplant collection. There’s plenty of varieties to choose from and they come in a bunch of different colors, shapes, and sizes.

They’re also considerably more low maintenance than other types of houseplants. Succulents can handle a significant amount of neglect (such as when you forget to water them, trust me I’ve been there) without being any worse for wear, and as long as they have plenty of sunlight they should be just fine.

And succulents are particularly good at improving air quality, so if you were interested in the second benefit I mentioned in this post then these might be the plants for you. Not only do they remove a lot of toxins from the air, due to their porous leaves; but they also emit water vapor from those same pores. This humidifies the air and can help with pesky symptoms from overly dry air; such as dry skin or sore throats.

Examples of succulents are…

• Jade Plant
• Snake Plant (One of my personal favorites, and a great succulent option if you don’t have a lot of light in your home)
• Aloe Vera
• Burro’s Tail
• String of Pearls

#2 – Peace Lily

The peace lily, like the snake plant, is one of my personal favorites and I had one in my home for many years. But its placement on this list isn’t because of my personal bias, it’s widely seen to be a great houseplant option!

Aesthetically speaking, this plant is really distinctive and you’d be able to identify one at first glance. Most peace lily plants have dark green leaves, and they always appear to be quite glossy. Additionally, the trademark feature of this plant is its “flower” which is a large white leaf that covers the real flower that blooms inside.

Back to the practical side, these plants are also great at purifying and humidifying the air. Specifically, they’re known to absorb mold spores which can help if you have a mold allergy (which many people do). And because of this trait, it can actually even prevent mildew from forming!

They’re also not that hard to take care of, which makes them another great option for beginners and experts alike. Plus, they don’t need a lot of light so they’re perfect for shady spaces that need some brightening up.

#3 – Pothos

The pothos might just be one of the most popular houseplants out there, and it comes by this title honestly. It’s extremely versatile and offers a wide array of benefits. As you may have guessed, this is another type of plant that has resided in my home for a while now.

Like the other items on this list, it’s great for the air quality in your home. And one of the things it targets is actually the ozone in the air, which is a very common type of air pollutant. And in addition to absorbing literal toxins, according to the laws of Feng Shui, the pothos actually removes negative energy from your home as well.

And it ranks really well on my beginner-friendly meter, it’s literally so hard to kill that many people consider it a weed! But indoors, it can make for a fantastic decoration since you can manipulate it into a variety of shapes. It can trail downward, or you can even make it climb in unique shapes on the wall.

#4 – Rubber Tree Plant

The rubber tree plant has a lot going for it, but you might need a bit more space to house it than you would with other houseplants. In the wild, the rubber tree plant can grow to be several hundred feet tall; and although you don’t have to worry about your indoor rubber tree plant reaching those heights, many will grow to about ten feet tall.

Rubber tree plants are quite adept at cleaning out toxins from the air; and they specialize in removing formaldehyde, mold, and bacteria. Plus, they’ve been proven to emit more oxygen than a lot of other plants. So if you’re interested in that sort of air quality improvement then a rubber tree plant can be a great investment.

Keeping with our theme of being easy to take care of for everyone, the rubber tree plant likely won’t give beginners too many issues. This plant can be happy in plenty of different conditions, and don’t need to be pruned often aside from removing the occasional dead leaf.

#5 – Any Type of Fern

I’m going to close out this post by talking for a minute about ferns, because they’re a bit different from other suggestions I’ve made today in that they’re harder to grow successfully. But I think they can make a great challenge for when you have a bit more confidence in your indoor gardening skills.

And even beginners could try their hand at growing a fern, you just need to make sure to do your research first. For instance, the proper humidity and lighting are very important factors in having a healthy, thriving, and beautiful fern.

If you are willing to put in the work necessary to grow a fern then you’ll be rewarded with a plant that’s been praised for its beauty and grace for years. Certain types of ferns were even popular during the Victorian era!

Don’t worry though, these plants are helpful in more ways than just sprucing up your home. They’re very effective at removing air pollutants, and as much as they need humidity, they also emit it back into the air!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post, and please share your favorite houseplant down below!