If You’re Happy and You Know It, Thank a Plant!
By Fiona Lavin Steck
It has been scientifically proven that spending time in nature positively affects mental health, but this can be difficult to do for many people. One way to reap those benefits is to incorporate houseplants into your living space. Some houseplants have positive physical effects, like pothos, peace lilies, and fiddle leaf figs, which have air-purifying qualities. However, all plants can add to the atmosphere of a space by bringing brightness, texture, and depth to a millennial gray room. Indoor flowering plants, like anthuriums, with heart-shaped blooms, flowering maples, and bromeliads, can offer a pop of cheerful color to your home. The joy of helping something living thrive and the symbiotic relationship between plants and their owners is a wonderful addition to any living space.
Plants can have soothing effects, especially on people with anxiety. Both the act of caring for another living being and physical closeness to plants have been shown to have positive effects on those who suffer from anxiety. Folks of all ages can benefit from the addition of plants; many Millennials and Gen Z people are filling their homes with plants to have something to nurture while they work toward milestones like marriage, homeownership, and having children (HC Companies, 2025). Indoor plant sales have increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic and have continued to grow, though at a slower pace (Nursery Management, 2022). Additionally, senior citizens who spend time gardening or caring for their house plants see huge benefits like reduced fatigue and boosted healing and pain tolerance (All Seniors Care, 2022). One of our longtime volunteers, Nancy, said of her time with the Annie’s House plants: “I always feel a sense of hope, wonder, and community after being in the garden. I bring those feelings with me long after volunteering. Without the garden, I wouldn’t have known that pulling weeds was my happy place!”
“We see a clear connection with the fact that being around plants improves cortisol levels in our body,” says Melinda Knuth, an assistant professor of horticultural science at North Carolina State University. “We hold our stress hormone, cortisol, in our saliva, and we know this is decreased when we are around plants” (Time, 2023). Especially for people living alone, creating a routine and having something that depends on them can boost mental health for those who live with anxiety and depression (NIH, 2022). It has also been shown that proximity to plants can increase focus, speed healing, and foster happiness.
When time outside is usually limited, like during winter, plants help warm up a space. Because most plants need sunlight to thrive, their presence encourages people to appreciate the natural light available and soak up the sun. Houseplants are also an affordable way to change the way a space feels. Having plants in an office has been shown to increase focus, as well as being able to insulate a room for sound (Creative Office Resources, 2024).
“A research study conducted at Exeter University in the U.K. found that indoor plants can improve concentration, productivity, and staff well-being by 47%. They also discovered that plants can boost memory by up to 20%[…]. These effects likely come from a plant’s stimulating colors, energizing aromas, and oxygenating abilities” (Bloomscape).
Plants and gardening have been noted to positively affect those of increasing age. When comparing a group of older women who spent 15 sessions outside participating in gardening activities versus staying inside, the study revealed that those who had gone outside had improved muscle mass and hand dexterity. In contrast, the women who spent the same time indoors had decreased muscle mass and agility and increased symptoms of depression” (Hall & Knuth, 2019). “Those who are more connected to nature and exhibit environmentally-conscious behaviors tend to experience more positive vitality and life satisfaction than those less connected to nature” (Hall & Knuth, 2019).
At Sustaining Way, we notice a fraction of this in our garden volunteers at the end of a session. Melody, one of our Steward Leaders, reflects: “I feel relaxed after working in the garden. The plants provide aromatherapy sometimes when I’m working and can smell them. I also feel accomplished when I put a seed in the starter trays and a week or two later see them sprout!”
Adding plants to your home or workspace can be a great way to liven corners and window sills and foster an environment of joy. Here are some of our favorite houseplants and their benefits:
Aloe – A member of the succulent family, aloe is best known for helping with burns and skin irritation. Several excellent varieties include vining, aloe vera, hedgehog, and spiral. Aloe loves well-draining or sandy soil and only needs to be watered when its soil is completely dry.
Pothos – There are many varieties of pothos plants: Golden, Marble Queen, Neon, Baltic Blue, Satin, Cebu Blue, Silver Splash, etc. The list is lengthy! Pothos are easy to grow in bright light and with well-draining soil. Many varieties are vining and look lovely in hanging pots.
Snake plants, or sansevieria – They can grow almost anywhere and are tolerant of low light with a few variations. They branch out easily and can be propagated.
Peace lily – A popular plant with lovely white flowers, known for its oxygen-boosting prowess.
Indoor gardenia – A personal favorite, generally a smaller version of its outdoor cousin with glossy leaves and fragrant flowers.
Polka dot plants – With whimsical dotted leaves, the polka dot plant loves warm, humid areas and bright, indirect sunlight. It especially loves a bathroom windowsill.
Philodendron – Like Pothos, there are many types of philodendrons: Heartleaf (the most common and quaint), Brasil, Micans (a lovely dark, velvety leaf), Lemon-Lime (a truly fun neon leaf), Birkin (boasting pinstripes), and many a plant lovers’ favorite, Pink Princess (darling with bright pink leaves mixed with the bright green).
Many of us at Sustaining Way love our house plants. Houseplants like those listed above can be widely found in big box stores like your neighborhood big box stores. More difficult-to-find varieties can be sourced from local plant specialty stores like Sun and Soil Plant Parlor, The Nested Fig, and Plant Stella. Seeds for houseplants can be found at seed libraries like the Eckerd College Seed Library and the Greenville County Library Seed Library. The Greer Farmers Market also does free plant-cutting swaps at many of their markets during the spring.
Where do you shop for plants locally? Message us and let us know!
Sources:
NIH 2022,https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9490697/
Time 2023, https://time.com/6258638/indoor-plants-health-benefits/
Hall and Knuth, 2019 -chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://ellisonchair.tamu.edu/files/2019/07/An-Update-of-the-Literature-Supporting-the-Well-Being-Benefits-of-Plants-A-Review-of-the-Emotional-and-Mental-Health-Benefits-of-Plants.pdf?_gl=1*xsvzms*_gcl_au*ODU4NzkxMzMxLjE3MzkyOTg4Mjk.*_ga*MTgzOTc0MDM3OS4xNzM5Mjk4ODMw*_ga_SJ5GMN0ZQL*MTczOTI5ODgyOS4xLjAuMTczOTI5ODgyOS42MC4wLjA.*_ga_3LYM4WJM04*MTczOTk5MDE1MS4yLjAuMTczOTk5MDE1MS42MC4wLjA.
An Update of the Literature Supporting the Well-Being Benefits of Plants: A Review of the Emotional and Mental Health Benefits of Plants, Charles Hall and Melinda Knuth