Putting plants in your house or work area will probably make the space happier and more relaxing. Besides the aesthetic beauty of a healthy plant, plants provide health benefits. One, seeing the color green helps the brain relax. Two, plants help clean the air by removing some chemicals and dust. Three, they provide more oxygen. Four, they help moisturize the air.
Have you ever been in the middle of a forest that smelled bad? If it did, it wasn’t because of the trees. Check out the study done by NASA that shows how some houseplants actually clean the air of some harmful chemicals. Its just a couple paragraphs below.
This is especially pertinent because many people suffer from some degree of sick building syndrome. I can think of many commercial and public locations that I think would benefit from having plants. For example, a Target or a Walmart. Both have so much plastic that the places smell funny and give me a bit of a headache. Plus, they use bad quality lighting. Compare them to a Whole Foods. Whole Foods uses tons of plants (they usually sit on top of the shelves) and also good lighting. I think some place like an underground transit system would greatly benefit from plants.
I understand if there may be maintenance issues with plants. But maybe it’s worth reconsidering because the benefits may outweigh the costs. Also, see below for some houseplants that may be poisonous if eaten by kids, etcetera.
Nasa study
Pick the right plant
Some plants work better indoors than others so be sure you pick the right ones!
From Plants that may be poisonous to kids
Children may find the bright colors and different textures of plants irresistible, but some plants can be poisonous if touched or eaten. If you’re in doubt about whether or not a plant is poisonous, don’t keep it in your home. The risk is not worth it.
You can refer to the list in the box below for plants that should not be kept in homes with children. The list is not comprehensive, so be sure to seek out safety information on the plants in your home to be safe.
The following plants may be hazardous to your child, and should be kept out of reach or not in the home at all:
- Bird of paradise
- Bull nettle
- Castor bean
- Chinaberry tree
- Crocus
- Daffodil
- Deadly nightshade
- Dieffenbachia (dumb cane)
- Foxglove
- Glory lily
- Hemlock
- Holly berry
- Indian tobacco
- Iris
- Jimsonweed
- Lantana
- Larkspur
- Lily of the valley
- Marijuana
- Mescal bean
- Mexicantes
- Mistletoe
- Morning glory
- Mountain laurel
- Night-blooming jasmine
- Nutmeg
- Oleander
- Philodendron
- Poison ivy
- Poison sumac
- Pokeweed
- Poppy
- Potato
- Privet
- Rhododendron
- Rhubarb
- Water hemlock
- Wisteria