Bring the outdoors in for better health

Bring the outdoors in for better health

Bring the outdoors in for better health. It’s no secret that plants can be used for better health. Houseplants can be a beautiful way to bring the outdoors in – but their benefits go beyond botanical good looks! Air purifying houseplants can both look fabulous and help you breathe a little easier each and every day.

Even the tidiest and cleanest home or office can be sub-par when it comes to air quality. Things like computers and carpets can produce gases that can negatively impact our health, not to mention the dry air circulated by air conditioning systems.

Luckily, the addition of a capable little potted plant pal can absorb tricky substances and break them down. The result? Cleaner, more breathable air, with improved humidity levels. Help your plants help you by shining their leaves every few months to keep them looking – and working – their best.

Houseplants for better health

Peace Lily

Not only is the peace lily one of the top-ranked plants when it comes to boosting household air quality (and looking good while doing it), but it’s easy to care for – even coming with a built in mechanism to let you know when it needs water. If it starts to sag a little, it’s definitely time to water it. Indoor peace lilies will do best out of direct sunlight, so if your plant starts to show brown spots or streaks, (potential sunburn) it’s time to move it to a more shaded area.

Fiddle-Leaf Fig

The indoor plant that is having a ‘moment’ thanks to it being featured in almost every home design magazine in the last 12 months, the fiddle-leaf fig gets its quirky name from its leaves that resemble little green violins. This plant is the perfect way to bring a little drama to your indoor space, with the potential to grow up to six feet tall! Tucked beside a sunny window, your fiddle leaf fig will thrive if you take good care of it. Consistent light is key – and make sure to keep it away from draughty spaces.

Rubber Plant

Bring back the 70’s with a cool and groovy rubber plant! If you’re looking to bring a rubber plant into your home, it’s best to start with a young plant – you’ll typically see better results this way than if you try to coax a more mature plant into the indoor environment. Just make sure it has access to light without being constantly exposed to direct sunlight.

Ficus Trees (Weeping Fig)

Ficus trees are popular indoor plants – with a pint sized trunk and canopy leaves, they really provide a way to bring a traditional tree ‘look’ inside. Word to the wise – the plants that we generally know as ‘ficus trees’ are technically the weeping fig plant – part of the larger Ficus genus of plants. Like the other indoor plants mentioned, ficus trees are happiest with plenty of indirect light. The Weeping fig is extremely versatile and loves being trimmed and manicured and it responds with lots of new growth.

Dracaena

Dracena are characterised by their long, elegant leaves. These beauties can do fabulously indoors – but will need a little love to be at their best. Feeding your dracaena with fertiliser every two weeks in spring and summer will help it flourish – and to really keep things tip-top, be sure to keep it in well-draining soil, so that over-watering is less of a risk.

Zamioculcas Zamifolia (ZZ plant)

The ZZ Plant is stylish, attractive and easy to take care of, with an easy and straight forward propagation method. It can take a reasonable amount of neglect without adverse effects and appears impervious to the majority of pests which can afflict other plants. What’s not to love about it?

Sansevieria (Mother in Law’s Tongue)

An evergreen with long, stiff, and vertical leaves that are dark green with light green bands, this is a beautiful plant to grow. Mother-in-law’s tongue is a very popular house plant. It is very tolerant to low light levels but equally as happy in sunlight. Frequent watering is not required. Absorbing toxins such as nitrogen oxides, it’s great for improving indoor air quality.

Outdoor plants for better health

Petal Power! Some of our favourites from the garden to bring indoors are:

Lavender – for better relaxation and sleep

Lavender is a lovely scented herb which belongs to the mint family. The oil produced from this plant is quite often used to soothe restless sleepers and create a sense of calm. Bring some lavender cuttings indoors to help keep you stress-free, relaxed and to help get a better nights sleep.

Jasmine – for better sleep quality

The smell of jasmine flowers can be so soothing! Like lavender, this amazing plant can improve how well you sleep. Place some jasmine cuttings in your bedroom and those restless nights will soon be history. A good night’s sleep with a decent 7-8 hours shut eye will help you start the day off fresh with loads of energy.

Rose – for better relaxation

The heady, floral scent of roses are great for serenity.

Want to feel energised? Try one of these:

Geranium

The leaves contain a stimulating and uplifting scent. Bold colours like pink or red provide an extra uplift.

Eucalyptus

Create an invigorating atmosphere with the fresh smell of eucalyptus leaves and stems.

Freesia

This sweet floral scent is great for awakening and brightening the senses.