Can house plants make you happier?

When the world is gloomy, plants in the home can provide relief
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  • heart shaped plants in pots

People enjoy having houseplants in their home for many reasons. They can brighten up a room with a splash of color from foliage and flowers and can add to the overall aesthetic of an indoor space. Especially during our long, cold New Hampshire winters, having some greenery in our homes can also feel like it helps improve our mood. The science, in fact, supports this. In addition to improving your home’s decor, houseplants may provide some real health benefits.

Mental health improves with houseplants

Studies have shown that the biggest benefits to health from having houseplants are psychological. Spending time with houseplants lowers cortisol levels, the hormone our bodies produce when we’re under stress.  Being around plants reduces the amount of cortisol in our bloodstream, leading to feeling less stress. 

Additionally, research suggests that having and caring for houseplants can reduce heart rate and blood pressure. Experiments in hospitals have even shown that ornamental plants in rooms can improve outcomes for patients recovering from surgery.

All these findings point toward the idea that having plants in our environment makes us feel calmer, more at ease and happier.  

Consider adding houseplants to rooms in which you spend a lot of time to maximize the positive benefits. A home office, a living room or a den are great places to add houseplants. Choose plants that don’t require much care but don’t forget to check in on them and water when the soil feels dry.  
    

When asked why houseplants make people happy, UNH Extension Master Gardener Terrie Wallace explains, "It's simple—because it's fun. There's joy in nurturing a living organism and watching it thrive. Plants add pleasant surprises to our lives, like a cactus suddenly blooming. Others lift our spirits with their bright flowers or lovely foliage. All plants bring beauty and a touch of nature into our homes, creating a calming and pleasurable environment."

  • tropical plant with flower

    Thank you to Churchill's Garden Center -  Exeter, New Hampshire for permission to take photos in their greenhouse.

  • a tray of succulent plants

    Thank you to Churchill's Garden Center -  Exeter, New Hampshire  for permission to take photos in their greenhouse.

  • wooden duck smelling a begonia

    Thank you to Churchill's Garden Center -  Exeter, New Hampshire for permission to take photos in their greenhouse.

  • Cactus in a greenhouse

    Thank you to Churchill's Garden Center -  Exeter, New Hampshire  for permission to take photos in their greenhouse.

  • pink begonia

    Thank you to Churchill's Garden Center -  Exeter, New Hampshire  for permission to take photos in their greenhouse.

  • heart shaped plants in a tray

    Thank you to Churchill's Garden Center -  Exeter, New Hampshire  for permission to take photos in their greenhouse.

     

  • Orchids in a window with snow outside

    Thank you to Churchill's Garden Center -  Exeter, New Hampshire  for permission to take photos in their greenhouse.

  • colorful plant foliage

    Thank you to Churchill's Garden Center -  Exeter, New Hampshire  for permission to take photos in their greenhouse.

The confusion about houseplants cleaning your home’s air

One commonly repeated health benefit of houseplants is that they clean harmful chemicals from the air. This belief largely stems from a NASA study in the late 1980s that  suggested houseplants could filter out harmful chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde which are common indoor air pollutants. While it is true that some plants do filter chemicals from the air, the often-cited study was focused on sealed environments found in space capsules and the Space Station. The findings are not applicable to homes and buildings that have air exchange with the outdoors. If you’re worried about indoor air quality, opening windows and running a HEPA air filter are better ways to improve the quality of your indoor air. 

Why do houseplants thrive in houses?  

Most houseplants thrive in homes because they are tropical plants. Unlike many of the native plants that we have in New Hampshire that require periods of cold, tropical plants evolved to grow in relatively constant, warm temperatures, like the conditions inside of your home! Many also evolved in the understory of forests, which means they require less sunlight and it’s the reason why houseplants can thrive in a window with less direct sunlight. Generally, houseplants like well-draining soil so make sure not to overwater. Fertilize with a houseplant specific fertilizer about once per month during the spring and summer months.

  • Orchid inside with snow outside.
More Extension information related on the Subject
 

University of New Hampshire

Penn State University 

Utah State University

Summary

  • wooden duck smelling a begonia

    Thank you to Churchill's Garden Center -  Exeter, New Hampshire for permission to take photos in their greenhouse.

Houseplants can brighten up a room and improve the overall aesthetic, especially during long winters. Studies show that houseplants can lower cortisol levels, reduce heart rate and blood pressure, and improve patient outcomes in hospitals, making us feel calmer and happier. While houseplants do not significantly clean indoor air, they thrive in home environments and can be a low-maintenance way to bring nature indoors.

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