Indoor plants have become more popular over the past year. They’re super trendy but can also help significantly with someone’s physical and mental health. Plants can literally make you happier by being in a place you spend a lot of time in. Here are four ways plants are able to improve your mental health. 

Taking care of a plant can help you mentally 

Having the ability to take care of something can help your mental health so much because it can give you a sense of purpose. If you’re feeling depressed, it’s something you can do to feel accomplished. On top of that, physically taking care of plants releases serotonin, a brain chemical that helps improve your mood. If you’re struggling with a routine, caring for a plant can also help you maintain a regimented routine.

Plants can sometimes be a reflection of how you’re feeling mentally. If you’re really struggling with your depression and don’t water your plant for a couple of days, it may turn brown and droop since it’s not being nourished well. If you are actively taking phenomenal care of your plant, it will look green and happy. 

Plants make the air clearer 

You know how humans breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide? Plants do the opposite, according to Time. With photosynthesis, they take the carbon dioxide that humans exhale along with light and water to create sugar. This process creates oxygen so the air can be purified more. Plants are also able to remove any toxins from the oxygen.

Plants can increase productivity and concentration 

When people spend time indoors, they’re exposed to higher levels of CO2, according to Bloomscape. CO2 makes it difficult for people to concentrate, which then makes productivity worse. When plants go through the process of photosynthesis, purified oxygen is welcomed into the environment, and that oxygen is able to balance the CO2 in people’s bodies. From there, a person’s concentration increases since oxygen is in their body.

Plants are also able to absorb sound, providing a quieter work environment for people according to Huffpost, The stems, leaves, branches and wood on a plant are able to absorb sound. The greater the surface area of your plants, the better the noise absorbance will be. This is all done through reducing the reverberation time, which is the time required for sound in a room to decay.  

The soil from plants can reduce stress

It’s not just the stems and leaves that have mental benefits. The soil too is able to reduce stress, according to Forbes. This is because soil has a specific type of microbes that’s called “outdoorphins.” This microbe is a natural antidepressant because it releases cytokines. Cytokines make your brain release serotonin. 

Plants are honestly able to improve your mental wellbeing in so many ways. If you’re interested in getting a plant, great starter plants include succulents, cacti, snake and spider plants. SYG Nursery and Landscaping in Pullman has plants for sale — about an 8-minute drive fromthe southern part of campus.