Garden Talk - Do plants take nature?s benefits indoors?

We have seen abundant evidence that nature is good for us. One study after another has confirmed what we know intuitively: being active outdoors, in natural settings, offers significant physical and mental benefits. However, as winter sets in and it becomes harder to engage in many outdoor activities, we might reasonably ask if gardening indoors offers benefits beyond the simple beauty of plants.

Studies suggest that indoor plants do have something positive to offer, though not on the same scale as their outdoor performance. Air quality is one area in which indoor plants, like their outdoor counterparts, make a difference. We all know, of course, that plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.

A NASA study adds that houseplants absorb some common indoor pollutants such as benzene and formaldehyde The National Institute of Health confirms that plants, regardless of location, remediate air quality. Occasionally indoor plants may produce allergens that will trouble some individuals, so a bit of research may be useful to ward off undesired effects. Dr. B. C. Wolverton?s book ?How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants That Purify? is a valuable resource.

A small Norwegian study found that workers with plants in their offices had fewer complaints of fatigue, cough, dry throat and itching.

Experiments in England and the Netherlands found employees in workplaces with plants were more productive, with better concentration and higher job satisfaction than those in bare offices.

And two good studies confirmed that surgical patients placed in rooms with plants reported less pain, anxiety, stress and fatigue than those in rooms without plants. Those surrounded by plants had lower blood pressure and more positive outlooks.

With our intuitions nicely confirmed, anyone in need of something to take along for a hospital visit, housewarming, or any other occasion can think plants and predict a very positive response.