Miami, FL – Start 2016 on the right foot by boosting health and wellbeing with houseplants. In addition to bringing a touch of nature indoors, these plants are proven to provide a wealth of benefits, both physically and psychologically.
It’s a well-known fact that plants produce the oxygen we breathe, but houseplants also work as powerful natural air filters, removing harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde, benzene and xylene, from the air.
“Including a few plants in your home can improve air quality, especially in newer, more energy-efficient buildings,” says Justin Hancock, horticulturist at Costa Farms. “It’s surprising how many household items release VOCs into the air. These products include household cleaners; off-gasses from carpeting, drapes, and furniture; and personal-care products such as nail polish, nail polish remover, hair spray, and hair gels.”
Some of the best easy-care houseplants for cleaning the air include peace lily, Chinese evergreen, philodendron, ZZ plant and dieffenbachia.
Other scientific studies show houseplants can help us stay healthier in other ways, including reducing frequency of headaches, sore throats and stress levels.
“It’s no surprise to us that exposure to nature — even in the form of indoor plants — is good for us, especially when we spend so much time indoors during the winter months,” says Hancock.
Because houseplants release moisture as a part of their natural breathing process, they act as natural humidifiers in situations where forced-air heating can make conditions desert dry, causing dry skin, chapped lips, and other uncomfortable symptoms.
Being around plants, especially in indoor environments, improves creativity, problem-solving skills, memory, and cognitive skills.
Adding houseplants is one of the easiest, and least expensive, ways to make your home healthier for the New Year.
About Costa Farms:
Costa Farms is one of the nation’s largest growers of ornamental plants. Founded in 1961 by Jose Costa, Costa Farms is a third-generation, family-owned business that globally stretches over 3,500 acres and employs 4,000 people. Along with thriving indoor and bedding plant divisions, Costa Farms operates merchandising and young-plant production divisions as part of its infrastructure, with operations domestically in South Florida and North and South Carolina, and abroad in the Dominican Republic and Far East.
Source: Costa Farms
