It can be hard not to get overwhelmed by life’s stressors sometimes. Whether it be work, school, kids, or a combination of all three, everyone needs to relieve stress in some way or another. So have you tried stress-relieving houseplants?
Believe it or not, houseplants are commonly said to help people destress from the day’s activities. The number of plants in one’s house is thought to help individuals decompress and return to life with an improved sense of self. Here are my favorite stress-relieving houseplants. Put these on your grow list ASAP!
Mint
Not only does this herb taste fantastic in a cup of hot tea (also great for destressing!) it grows relatively well indoors, too. You can grow mint leaves from cuttings in window boxes in the kitchen. Just make sure these are getting plenty of direct sunlight every day. Additionally, the soil should be kept moist but not sopping. The smell of fresh-cut mint is said to help one feel less frustrated and more aware.
Aloe Vera
There’s something about an aloe vera plant that just looks peaceful. Aloe plants are tolerant of just about any kind of light condition (though, they will grow slower in areas of lower light) and require sporadic watering. The plant is a succulent, so water it just as you would anything else. Here’s a helpful guide on the right way to water houseplants. Aloe also helps reduce stress by purifying carcinogens from the air and releasing oxygen at night.
Snake Plant
Also referred to as Mother-In-Laws-Tongue, the Snake Plant is another great stress-relieving plant because it is also low maintenance. Like Aloe, Snake Plants are tolerant of any kind of light conditions. In fact, they tend to grow well in dark places like the bathroom. These plants don’t require much water, either. I only water mine every 3 weeks during the growing season. The Snake Plant is also shown to help relieve stress by purifying harmful chemicals from the air. The Snake Plant is known to NASA as a clean air plant!
Lavender
Lavender can be tricky to grow inside because it requires consistently moist soil and plenty of sunshine. But if you can manage to grow it yourself, lavender is said to be one of the very best plants for relieving stress. Inhaling the smell of lavender is said to help those suffering from bouts of anxiety, depression, and even symptoms of PMS! To grow this plant successfully in your own home, make sure it is in a Southern facing window and check the moisture levels in the soil every couple of days. I only recommend growing this plant in a southern facing window.
Jasmine
Indoor jasmine smells absolutely incredible and tastes just as good. Add the blooms to hot tea! But aside from being totally tasty and smelling good, jasmine plants are also said to be great stress relievers. A study found the smell of Jasmine to be as calming as some prescription medications! To grow Jasmine indoors, I recommend placing it in a hanging basket. The soil should be well-draining and a mixture of bark and peat moss. Keep in near a southern-facing window and make sure it gets plenty of air circulation.
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