Indoor House Plants for Promoting Stress Relief and Reducing Anxiety

The Calming Properties of Keeping Plants in the Home

With our lives becoming increasingly busy and the digital world capturing our attention, from doomscrolling to endless notifications - we’re losing the ability to wind down and instead we can feel “switched on” all the time. It can be hard to find quiet time, especially if you live in a city. Consequently, the benefits of connecting with nature have become increasingly important as we navigate an environment that is saturated with technology designed to hold our attention - resulting in a lifestyle that can become overwhelming, quickly. It’s easy to feel disconnected from nature when you’re living in a city like London, which gives all the more reason to introduce plants into your home and to enjoy a space that encourages us to slow down and appreciate nature. Indoor houseplants have increased in popularity due to a range of benefits that they bring to our lives. Caring for plants in your home can improve air quality and create a comfortable, calming environment. From discovering a new daily routine that gives us the opportunity to be present, to improving our sleep quality – the presence of house plants in the home can be deeply nurturing for our souls. 

Indoor Plants Reduce Stress and Anxiety

We believe that there are so many benefits to having plants in your home - studies show that they relieve stress and anxiety, induce calming energy and ease your mind. We love the healing power of plants, and giving care and attention to a living organism can be hugely beneficial to your long-term wellbeing. All plants are wonderful aids for stress relief, but in this article we recommend some house plants that are particularly easy to care for, meaning you can quickly and easily build a collection of indoor plants that will bring calm and solitude to your space. The presence of house plants is even  understood to lower heart rate and regulate blood pressure due to their healing properties.  

Plants, Mindfulness and Creating a Routine

Aside from the aesthetic benefits of houseplants as stress-relievers, you will also find that caring for houseplants offers a unique way to introduce mindfulness into your daily routine. The practice of caring for a plant; nurturing it, growing it, being attentive to its requirements, are all processes that prove beneficial to our wellbeing. Enjoying these moments to nurture your plants may seem transient at first, but they give us an opportunity to take a pause, breathe deeply, and enjoy the act of care. By finding joy in a process that allows us to connect with nature on a daily basis, over time, you will see that caring for your house plants can become a grounding practice and promotes relaxation.

House Plants Make You Feel More Connected to Others

It is also understood that individuals who tend to plants feel more connected to people. Practicing patience, having responsibility for a living thing, and being aware of mindfulness subsequently help us feel more connected to people and be more present in social situations. By caring for something on a regular basis, you will become more aware of caring for other people. Plants are known to increase our compassion for one another, along with patience and empathy. What occurs is a beautiful synergy; you can nurture yourself and nurture others.

Mood-Boosting Effects of House Plants and Aesthetic Appeal

Caring for plants that are living and thriving organisms can provide huge mood-boosting properties. Tending to plants can also feel empowering, offering a sense of achievement through the progress of their care, which can be a hugely positive factor in our lives particularly if other areas of our lives are stressful, such as work and keeping on top of daily tasks. Being around greenery – foliage and natural textures - can improve your mood, increase general feelings of contentment, and foster positive emotions. They can also provide focus and mental clarity, which can be hugely beneficial for productivity.

House Plants That are Easy to Care For

Monstera

Epipremnum

Epipremnum are another plant genus that is very easy to care for and grows quickly. Place these plants in high spots throughout your home and watch them produce healthy flourishes of trailing foliage. They prefer to be in bright but indirect light, but are tolerant of shade too. 

Ficus

Ficus can be a striking addition to your home, featuring broad leaves and furled foliage. They originate from the tropics so enjoy plenty of bright (non-direct) light and lots of humidity. Watering can be fairly minimal - once about two thirds of the pot’s soil has dried out, and can be reduced over autumn and winter. Be sure to mist regularly in the warmer months or in drier environments. You can also place a dish filled with stones and water beneath the plant which will slowly release moisture into the air throughout the day. Don't forget to regularly wipe the leaves down with a damp cloth as their broad foliage is prone to collecting dust. This also promotes gentle touch that can produce soothing properties.

Asparagus Ferns 

Indoor Asparagus Ferns are an excellent choice of houseplant. There are many varieties and all look beautiful in the home. With delicate foliage and textures, they provide balance next to larger broad-leafed plants. We have a range of Asparagus ferns online. They like a spot with bright but indirect light and prefer to be kept damp (not soggy) in the warmer months and a little drier in the winter, although misting should be frequent all year round.

Introducing Plants Into Your Daily Life

We encourage our community to make plants part of their daily life by bringing nature into your home. Feeling calm, uplifted, and soothed in a green environment can radically improve our overall wellbeing. You can improve your downtime, sleep cycle, and the air quality in your home by having a varied collection of indoor plants. A green home environment invites us to develop a connection with nature to counteract the increasingly digitised world. It is important that we focus on our wellbeing, our relationship with others, with ourselves, and to be aware of the benefits plants can have on our mental health. Plants can rejuvenate our mood, particularly during times of stress and uncertainty, creating a peaceful environment.

We stock a beautiful range of house plants in our Deptford and East Dulwich sites. We’re always on-hand to help you choose houseplants that are perfect for your home. 

You can also learn more about the health benefits of plants with this in-depth guide written by one of Forest’s founders, Fran Bailey, ‘The Healing Power of Plants’ which features 80 plants that will transform your home into a healthy, healing space. From cacti and succulents to ferns and palms; flowering plants and foliage - bring the joy of the outdoors in and harness the natural healing power of plants.