Let's Discuss! - "House Plant Therapy?!"

 Let's Discuss! 

"House Plant Therapy?!"

Hello World! Welcome back, my name is Benjamin! This post will be all about "House Plants" and how they harness mystical healing powers (well, sort of). Just to let you know in advance, I'm not claiming that house plants actually have any inherent mystical healing powers, keep in mind that your mileage may vary. That being said, it will be the focus of today's discussion as I think they are pretty neat....Let's Discuss! 

- "House Plants", eh? Enlighten me, what's the appeal? 

I'm glad you asked! First of all, they bring an extra dimension to a room that simply cannot be replicated by anything else. The idea of having something that is alive and breathing in your working or living space is very appealing to me. I suppose a house plant could be perceived as a "pet" or "companion" in some instances. Imagine if you lived in a small, one bedroom apartment with a strict "No Pets" policy. The next best thing for you could be a house plant! They don't argue with you, they won't wake you up in the middle of the night, they don't pee on the floor! They are the perfect low maintenance companion. 

"Leon and his aglaonema plant" - From the film "Leon The Professional" (1994)  

- Hmmm...that level of affection towards a plant is quite astonishing....what are the benefits?

Well....according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), there are many perceived benefits to owning a house plant or two! (or three.....or four). These benefits include: 

• An improved mood - I suppose having something physically growing in your living or work space is therapeutic, providing a real-time sense of achievement.  
• Reduced stress levels - Plants are pretty! Things that look good make us feel good! Natural eye candy! 
• Patients in hospitals with plants recorded decreased post-operative pain - Right....you heard that correctly....next time you feel like breaking your leg, make sure to pack your house plant before calling the ambulance!  

It has also been stated that house plants can increase air quality, reducing the presence of compounds such as carbon dioxide. 

- OK, you've convinced me! Where can I buy one? 

Check out your local garden centre to find the larger indoor plants. Also, be sure to check out your local supermarket as indoor plants, especially "desktop" sized plants are increasingly popular and easy to attain. They are often called "succulents", just watch out if you buy a cacti. From experience, I can assure you that it hurts and itches if you get "pricked" by a spikey house plant (Ouch!)

It might be worth reading the little label that usually comes on house plants, especially if you have any allergies. It's worth noting that certain plants can actually make allergies worse, so be sure to do a bit of research before purchasing your house plant. 

- Sweet! How many plants do you have? 

Well, it would be rude to talk about house plants without showing off my current setup. I currently have a mix of real and artificial house plants. I currently have five real plants and seven artificial plants in my working space. Check them out below! 

"Desktop Garden" (Part 1)

Can you tell which ones are real, and which ones are artificial? The beauty of the artificial house plant is that they do not need watering, however, they do occasionally need a bit of dusting!

"Desktop Garden" (Part 2)

It's important to water your plants every so often...check the instructions on the label for further information. Of course, it's also important that plants get plenty of sunlight. It's important to rotate your plants, especially during winter! 

Do you have any house plants? If so, show the world!

That's about it for today! If you need me, I'll be buying more house plants! I hope you enjoyed this post about "House Plant Therapy?!" See you next time! 

 Benjamin Andrew 95!