The Beauty Of Pot-Plants In Our Homes
Some times i wonder why Nigerians are so far from nature?
the few who get involve do it for the commercial benefit with very few who really care to, are seen as freaks. I think giving nature a little space in our homes will do us some good.
The health benefits of pot plants
The humble pot plant reduces stress while boosting creativity and indoor air quality.
How many hours a day do you spend indoors? Some urban dwellers can spend as much as 22 hours inside. And contrary to popular opinion, indoor air is more polluted than its outdoor counterpart, posing significant risks to our health.
"The air inside is always more stale," says Professor Margaret Burchett, a researcher in the use of indoor plants at the University of Technology Sydney. "We use a whole lot of materials derived from fossil fuels that contribute to pollution, like furniture, paint and computers. There's also more carbon dioxide as we all breathe together."
New research shows indoor plants reduce air pollution, along with a number of modern malaises such as stress, illness and even short attention span. The best part? Just three plants in the office or lounge room will do the trick.
"The air inside is always more stale," says Professor Margaret Burchett, a researcher in the use of indoor plants at the University of Technology Sydney. "We use a whole lot of materials derived from fossil fuels that contribute to pollution, like furniture, paint and computers. There's also more carbon dioxide as we all breathe together."
New research shows indoor plants reduce air pollution, along with a number of modern malaises such as stress, illness and even short attention span. The best part? Just three plants in the office or lounge room will do the trick.
Foliage improves concentration
Ever felt light-headed or sleepy at work? With so many breathing bodies in one space, high carbon dioxide levels can cause drowsiness and headaches and affect your concentration levels in the office. Enter pot plants, which absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis – that high school science class favourite – and refresh the air by releasing oxygen through the foliage. University of Technology Sydney research found that in airconditioned buildings, plants reduced carbon dioxide levels by about 10 per cent. In buildings that were not airconditioned, this figure rose to 25 per cent. Burchett says larger plants will absorb more carbon dioxide because of the increased surface area of their foliage.
Potting mix purifies the air
Toxic gases that leach from floorboards, carpets, TVs and window coverings contribute to poor indoor air quality.
Airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from these sources can cause allergies, asthma, headaches and "sick building syndrome", a condition linked to time spent indoors.
Scientists at NASA found that indoor plants are extremely effective at reducing harmful toxins from the air in confined spaces. The main weapon is the potting mix, which feeds bacteria in the air. But this doesn't mean a plant-less pot is the way to go – the plant itself nourishes the soil, which purifies the air. The humble pot plant can remove urban air pollutants by up to 75 per cent within 24 hours, Burchett says.
Airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from these sources can cause allergies, asthma, headaches and "sick building syndrome", a condition linked to time spent indoors.
Scientists at NASA found that indoor plants are extremely effective at reducing harmful toxins from the air in confined spaces. The main weapon is the potting mix, which feeds bacteria in the air. But this doesn't mean a plant-less pot is the way to go – the plant itself nourishes the soil, which purifies the air. The humble pot plant can remove urban air pollutants by up to 75 per cent within 24 hours, Burchett says.
Flowers boost creativity
If you've hit a creative wall, choose a pot plant with flowers. An eight-month Texan study found that plants and flowers in the workplace help improve idea generation, creative performance and problem solving. Men generated 15 per cent more ideas while women came up with more creative solutions to problems.
Leaves (underside) reduce illness
Plants are like the lungs or kidneys of a building, says building biologist Nicole Bijlsma. "They balance humidity levels. Many plants, especially broad-leaved varieties, release moisture into the air through evaporation of the moisture in their leaves," she says. People are more likely to develop viral infections when humidity levels are too low, and when humidity is too high we are vulnerable to eye and fungal diseases. The underside of leaves help keep humidity within the optimal range. Norwegian researchers found indoor plants can reduce fatigue, coughs, sore throats and cold-related illnesses by more than 30 per cent. Participants placed plants with foliage on a window bench in the back corner of the office.
The whole plant puts you in a good mood
Dr Anthony Kachenko, environmental and technical policy manager at Nursery and Garden Industry Australia (NGIA), says his research reveals that more than half of office employees believe that their workplaces don't contain enough plants and workers feel more positive with plants around them.
"Indoor plants have also been shown to reduce the number of sick days taken by staff and improve job satisfaction in office environments," he says. "Around one in three workers go so far as saying that they have more energy when they have plants around, that plants help them work more productively and that they'd even like to choose the types of plants they have at work."
This is hardly surprising as pot plants are a proven mood-booster. Just one plant is linked with a reduction in feelings of anger, anxiety, depression, confusion, fatigue and stress.
"Indoor plants have also been shown to reduce the number of sick days taken by staff and improve job satisfaction in office environments," he says. "Around one in three workers go so far as saying that they have more energy when they have plants around, that plants help them work more productively and that they'd even like to choose the types of plants they have at work."
This is hardly surprising as pot plants are a proven mood-booster. Just one plant is linked with a reduction in feelings of anger, anxiety, depression, confusion, fatigue and stress.
How many hours a day do you spend indoors? Some urban dwellers can spend as much as 22 hours inside. And contrary to popular opinion, indoor air is more polluted than its outdoor counterpart, posing significant risks to our health.
"The air inside is always more stale," says Professor Margaret Burchett, a researcher in the use of indoor plants at the University of Technology Sydney. "We use a whole lot of materials derived from fossil fuels that contribute to pollution, like furniture, paint and computers. There's also more carbon dioxide as we all breathe together."
New research shows indoor plants reduce air pollution, along with a number of modern malaises such as stress, illness and even short attention span. The best part? Just three plants in the office or lounge room will do the trick.
"The air inside is always more stale," says Professor Margaret Burchett, a researcher in the use of indoor plants at the University of Technology Sydney. "We use a whole lot of materials derived from fossil fuels that contribute to pollution, like furniture, paint and computers. There's also more carbon dioxide as we all breathe together."
New research shows indoor plants reduce air pollution, along with a number of modern malaises such as stress, illness and even short attention span. The best part? Just three plants in the office or lounge room will do the trick.
Foliage improves concentration
Ever felt light-headed or sleepy at work? With so many breathing bodies in one space, high carbon dioxide levels can cause drowsiness and headaches and affect your concentration levels in the office. Enter pot plants, which absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis – that high school science class favourite – and refresh the air by releasing oxygen through the foliage. University of Technology Sydney research found that in airconditioned buildings, plants reduced carbon dioxide levels by about 10 per cent. In buildings that were not airconditioned, this figure rose to 25 per cent. Burchett says larger plants will absorb more carbon dioxide because of the increased surface area of their foliage.
Potting mix purifies the air
Toxic gases that leach from floorboards, carpets, TVs and window coverings contribute to poor indoor air quality.
Airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from these sources can cause allergies, asthma, headaches and "sick building syndrome", a condition linked to time spent indoors.
Scientists at NASA found that indoor plants are extremely effective at reducing harmful toxins from the air in confined spaces. The main weapon is the potting mix, which feeds bacteria in the air. But this doesn't mean a plant-less pot is the way to go – the plant itself nourishes the soil, which purifies the air. The humble pot plant can remove urban air pollutants by up to 75 per cent within 24 hours, Burchett says.
Airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from these sources can cause allergies, asthma, headaches and "sick building syndrome", a condition linked to time spent indoors.
Scientists at NASA found that indoor plants are extremely effective at reducing harmful toxins from the air in confined spaces. The main weapon is the potting mix, which feeds bacteria in the air. But this doesn't mean a plant-less pot is the way to go – the plant itself nourishes the soil, which purifies the air. The humble pot plant can remove urban air pollutants by up to 75 per cent within 24 hours, Burchett says.
Flowers boost creativity
If you've hit a creative wall, choose a pot plant with flowers. An eight-month Texan study found that plants and flowers in the workplace help improve idea generation, creative performance and problem solving. Men generated 15 per cent more ideas while women came up with more creative solutions to problems.
Leaves (underside) reduce illness
Plants are like the lungs or kidneys of a building, says building biologist Nicole Bijlsma. "They balance humidity levels. Many plants, especially broad-leaved varieties, release moisture into the air through evaporation of the moisture in their leaves," she says. People are more likely to develop viral infections when humidity levels are too low, and when humidity is too high we are vulnerable to eye and fungal diseases. The underside of leaves help keep humidity within the optimal range. Norwegian researchers found indoor plants can reduce fatigue, coughs, sore throats and cold-related illnesses by more than 30 per cent. Participants placed plants with foliage on a window bench in the back corner of the office.
The whole plant puts you in a good mood
Dr Anthony Kachenko, environmental and technical policy manager at Nursery and Garden Industry Australia (NGIA), says his research reveals that more than half of office employees believe that their workplaces don't contain enough plants and workers feel more positive with plants around them.
"Indoor plants have also been shown to reduce the number of sick days taken by staff and improve job satisfaction in office environments," he says. "Around one in three workers go so far as saying that they have more energy when they have plants around, that plants help them work more productively and that they'd even like to choose the types of plants they have at work."
This is hardly surprising as pot plants are a proven mood-booster. Just one plant is linked with a reduction in feelings of anger, anxiety, depression, confusion, fatigue aHow many hours a day do you spend indoors? Some urban dwellers can spend as much as 22 hours inside. And contrary to popular opinion, indoor air is more polluted than its outdoor counterpart, posing significant risks to our health.
"Indoor plants have also been shown to reduce the number of sick days taken by staff and improve job satisfaction in office environments," he says. "Around one in three workers go so far as saying that they have more energy when they have plants around, that plants help them work more productively and that they'd even like to choose the types of plants they have at work."
This is hardly surprising as pot plants are a proven mood-booster. Just one plant is linked with a reduction in feelings of anger, anxiety, depression, confusion, fatigue aHow many hours a day do you spend indoors? Some urban dwellers can spend as much as 22 hours inside. And contrary to popular opinion, indoor air is more polluted than its outdoor counterpart, posing significant risks to our health.
"The air inside is always more stale," says Professor Margaret Burchett, a researcher in the use of indoor plants at the University of Technology Sydney. "We use a whole lot of materials derived from fossil fuels that contribute to pollution, like furniture, paint and computers. There's also more carbon dioxide as we all breathe together."
New research shows indoor plants reduce air pollution, along with a number of modern malaises such as stress, illness and even short attention span. The best part? Just three plants in the office or lounge room will do the trick.
Foliage improves concentration
Ever felt light-headed or sleepy at work? With so many breathing bodies in one space, high carbon dioxide levels can cause drowsiness and headaches and affect your concentration levels in the office. Enter pot plants, which absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis – that high school science class favourite – and refresh the air by releasing oxygen through the foliage. University of Technology Sydney research found that in airconditioned buildings, plants reduced carbon dioxide levels by about 10 per cent. In buildings that were not airconditioned, this figure rose to 25 per cent. Burchett says larger plants will absorb more carbon dioxide because of the increased surface area of their foliage.
Potting mix purifies the air
Toxic gases that leach from floorboards, carpets, TVs and window coverings contribute to poor indoor air quality.
Airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from these sources can cause allergies, asthma, headaches and "sick building syndrome", a condition linked to time spent indoors.
Scientists at NASA found that indoor plants are extremely effective at reducing harmful toxins from the air in confined spaces. The main weapon is the potting mix, which feeds bacteria in the air. But this doesn't mean a plant-less pot is the way to go – the plant itself nourishes the soil, which purifies the air. The humble pot plant can remove urban air pollutants by up to 75 per cent within 24 hours, Burchett says.
Airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from these sources can cause allergies, asthma, headaches and "sick building syndrome", a condition linked to time spent indoors.
Scientists at NASA found that indoor plants are extremely effective at reducing harmful toxins from the air in confined spaces. The main weapon is the potting mix, which feeds bacteria in the air. But this doesn't mean a plant-less pot is the way to go – the plant itself nourishes the soil, which purifies the air. The humble pot plant can remove urban air pollutants by up to 75 per cent within 24 hours, Burchett says.
Flowers boost creativity
If you've hit a creative wall, choose a pot plant with flowers. An eight-month Texan study found that plants and flowers in the workplace help improve idea generation, creative performance and problem solving. Men generated 15 per cent more ideas while women came up with more creative solutions to problems.
Leaves (underside) reduce illness
Plants are like the lungs or kidneys of a building, says building biologist Nicole Bijlsma. "They balance humidity levels. Many plants, especially broad-leaved varieties, release moisture into the air through evaporation of the moisture in their leaves," she says. People are more likely to develop viral infections when humidity levels are too low, and when humidity is too high we are vulnerable to eye and fungal diseases. The underside of leaves help keep humidity within the optimal range. Norwegian researchers found indoor plants can reduce fatigue, coughs, sore throats and cold-related illnesses by more than 30 per cent. Participants placed plants with foliage on a window bench in the back corner of the office.
The whole plant puts you in a good mood
Dr Anthony Kachenko, environmental and technical policy manager at Nursery and Garden Industry Australia (NGIA), says his research reveals that more than half of office employees believe that their workplaces don't contain enough plants and workers feel more positive with plants around them.
"Indoor plants have also been shown to reduce the number of sick days taken by staff and improve job satisfaction in office environments," he says. "Around one in three workers go so far as saying that they have more energy when they have plants around, that plants help them work more productively and that they'd even like to choose the types of plants they have at work."
"Indoor plants have also been shown to reduce the number of sick days taken by staff and improve job satisfaction in office environments," he says. "Around one in three workers go so far as saying that they have more energy when they have plants around, that plants help them work more productively and that they'd even like to choose the types of plants they have at work."
Horticulturalist Rebecca Mugridge
