8 Undeniable Benefits Of Indoor Gardening
Cultivating an indoor garden dates back to the famed Hanging Gardens of Babylon and to the ancient Chinese. In 1800, home heating systems were developed, and that made keeping houseplants feasible.
Moving forward to today, interest in indoor gardening is on a steady rise. It’s not only the fiftyish and above crowd, but the millennials are very enthusiastic about being plant parents.
According to the National Gardening Association for three years from 2016 - 2019, sales on gardening items rose by almost 50 percent to $1.7 billion
There is a good reason for this. People will purchase because there is a primary benefit to them. So, just what do we get out of indoor gardening?
Besides having many benefits, keeping houseplants is also affordable and easy. We have compiled a list of 8 benefits of keeping an indoor garden.
Before you finish reading, you’ll be wondering why you haven’t started your indoor garden!
1. Better Air Quality
Indoor air pollution is a byproduct of harmful emissions from manufactured building materials. Paints, carpeting, and other materials release toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and other harmful chemicals into the air.
If the space in which you live or work is on the smaller side, the air circulation will be reduced and the more you will feel the impact of these toxins in the air.
Airborne mold, viruses, and pollutants can also add to the mix.
Plants are infamous for their air-purifying capabilities. They absorb gases (aforementioned) through the pores on the surface of their leaves and roots and emit clean oxygen, which helps to combat the toxins that might be in the air.
Indoor plants are adept in naturally increasing humidity levels. Having enough indoor plants enriches oxygen in the air keeping your family and pets healthier while making the air in your home more comfortable.
2. Fresh and Pesticide-Free Produce
As an indoor gardener, you can control exactly what products and chemicals are going into your fresh food.
Growing your plants organically, which is precisely how all plants should grow, will improve your health as you’ll no longer be eating fruit and vegetables that might have chemicals used in mass-produced with pesticides and preservatives.
The health benefits of eating fresh produce pesticide-free are significant. In addition, you would not need to run to the supermarket in case you run out of herbs, fresh lemons, tomatoes, or whatever plant you wish to grow.
3. Improves Mental Health
The benefits of indoor gardening are therapeutic in many ways. Studies also show that spending time in green spaces helps people de-stress and relax.
With indoor gardening, you’ll be able to live and sleep in that green space and feel the benefits around the clock.
Here are two additional ways that having indoor plants and creating an indoor garden can benefit your mental health.
4. Growth Mind-set
Gardening is an excellent opportunity to develop a growth mindset. By nurturing indoor plants, we form a habit of looking forward to growth.
With this mindset, we're continually learning that tomorrow will be so much better as long as we take care of today.
5. Physical Exercise
The most effective way to boost mood and lower anxiety is an appropriate amount of physical movement.
Studies have shown that physical activity can aid in well-being. While caring for indoor plants is not strenuous, it does promote activity and movement.
6. Controlled Environment
One of the significant benefits of indoor gardening is that you control the environment wherein you expose your plant.
The sudden cold breeze, violent winds, and overly hot days that cause your plants to wilt under the immense heat does not affect your indoor plants.
Especially if you live in an area with extreme weather, growing your plants indoors prevents any harsh weather from damaging your garden.
There are plenty of robust plants that can withstand a wide range of climates, but if you’re growing a more temperamental kind, choosing the right space to grow within your home will help them thrive.
7. Limitless Growing Season
Keep the plants growing after their usual growing season is over by bringing them indoors. But keep in mind that it is crucial to transition by placing them in a partially sheltered area since warm indoors may shock their systems if they would be brought in from the cold outdoors.
8. Decor
You can bring life to any room by placing a living plant into a well thought out space. Plants can add height, texture, and architectural layer into your house's decorative theme.
From succulent arrangements, cactus gardens, to a windowsill full of blooming, colorful flowers can wonderfully transform your place.
9. A Sense of Comfort
Commercial building owners and those in office spaces have a more thorough understanding of the benefits of indoor gardening and its effect on consumers.
They understand that greeneries can be used as decorative items in their malls, spas, salons, restaurants, coffee shops, etc.
Indoor plants provide a welcoming and inviting atmosphere that entices people to come inside.
10. Educational Tool
Cultivating an indoor garden is a perfect way to get children involved and learning. Children are very much hands-on learners and this is the perfect opportunity to teach them about nature.
If you have an indoor garden, it is ideal for children to learn where some of their food comes from and there is a huge sense of accomplishment when your meal includes food you have grown yourself.
While they are tending to their own indoor garden, it is a great time to teach a bit about biology, life cycles, ecosystems, and sustainable farming.
In Conclusion
Gardening done indoors has therapeutic benefits and is satisfying while boosting aesthetics. Next time you find yourself deciding whether to bring home that potted leafy goodness, think of all the great benefits of indoor gardening, then pick up two or three leafy friends to bring home!