Succulents, over the years you've probably noticed these plant friends grow in popularity and there are several reasons why, not all just because of their great looks and style! In this blog we'll take a look at how succulents can benefit your health and the pros of bringing them to your home and workspace today! Plus, we'll be giving a general rule of thumb for plant care at the end! Now, let's get to it!
Benefits of adding succulents to your home and workspace!
One of the great perks for having these plants around is the toxins they pull from the air cleaning it to improve air quality. Succulents, like all plants, have pores on their leaves that allow them to absorb gases in the air, including ones that aren’t good for you to breathe, such as benzene and ammonia. A couple of popular varieties known for their air purification systems are snake plants and aloes. Along with succulents purifying the air they also release water vapor through their porous leaves during the photosynthesis process, which adds extra moisture in the air and prevents a space from getting too dry. A dry indoors can cause unpleasant symptoms to develop like dry skin, sore throats, cracked lips, etc. So, these friends can help keep those nasty symptoms stay at bay.
Not only do they remove toxins and add moisture to the air, they can boost focus and productivity, as well! There are studies that show having them on your desk and in your workspace made it easier to concentrate, allowing to tackle the tasks before you at a faster more efficient rate. Plus, they just add a happier environment that allows a more enjoyable work and home atmosphere! Quality of work and home life goes up one succulent at a time! Also, on top of improving productivity, taking care of your green friends can reduce stress levels. After a long hard day at work, or even having a hard day at work, tending to your plants helps reduce blood pressure, calms the nerves and helps bounce back from the mental stress of the day. Since succulents aren’t fussy or hard to care for, so they might even reduce your stress more than other plants!
With the winter months approaching, succulents are known for helping with depression. There was a study A bacterium in plant soil called mycobacterium vaccae triggers the release of serotonin, which lifts mood and reduces anxiety. Therefore, interaction with indoor or outdoor plants can alleviate symptoms of depression.
The general rule of thumb for watering plants is the thicker the leaves, the less water a plant needs. So plants like succulents and cacti with thicker leaves have a thicker tissue inside the leaves that stores a reserve of water. For these green babies, you want to make sure the soil is fully dried out before watering them again.
Worried about your fur babies? Many varieties in the succulent family make the perfect non-toxic pet-friendly plants for your pets. Here is a quick list of popular varieties that are totally harmless to have around your furry family members. For a more in depth list you can visit ASPCA’s list of non-toxic plants for dogs and cats. Using ASPCA's website, this is where we compiled our short list below.
1. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera)
2. Haworthia
3. Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum)
4. Sedum
5. Baby's Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)
6. Graptoveria
7. Aeonium
8. Nerve Plant (Fittonia albivenis)
9. Gasteria
10. Lithops
11. Graptopetalum Paraguayense (Ghost Plant)
12. Peperomia
13. Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
14. Tillandsia (Air Plants)
15. Echeveria
Visit our website to order your succulents today: www.jpparkerco.com
Or you can give us a call at 317.738.9837
Sources:
Hillside, H. (2019, April 05). Psychological Benefits of Plants & Horticulture Therapy. Retrieved January 05, 2021, from https://hside.org/plants-improve-mental-physical-health/
Blumberg, P. (2020, October 29). 5 Ways Houseplants Can Improve Your Mental Health. Retrieved January 05, 2021, from https://thebeet.com/5-ways-houseplants-can-improve-your-mental-health/
ASPCA https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants
