Study Documents the Power of Indoor Plants

By Melinda Wenner
Special to LiveScience
posted: 17 April 2007
10:42 am ET



Green thumb or not, most of us have at least one houseplant because
even the most pathetic mini-shrub offers our citified selves a slender
link back to nature, according to new research.


Previous studies have suggested that plants lower the levels of indoor
contaminants and keep people feeling healthier. After noticing how
much joy his wife got from plants, Clas Bergvall, an ethnologist at
Umeå University in Sweden, wanted to know what they did for people
emotionally-so he dedicated his doctoral dissertation to the subject.


In the eight years since he began his research, Bergvall has found
that people across centuries share an almost metaphysical connection
to plants, and that when brought into the home, plants have an
enormous positive impact on well-being.


For one thing, plants seem to make people more contemplative and self-
reflective, Bergvall told LiveScience. Plants are often linked to
people, places and memories-they are often given as gifts from close
friends, for example-so having them around helps people snap out of
their busy lives and think about things that are important to them, he
said.


Plants also remind people of the passing of time. They often look
different in the morning than they do in the evening, said Bergvall,
and this can keep people in tune with changes in their surroundings.


And perhaps most importantly, plants bring people closer to nature,
said Donna Lynn Sidhu, a plant enthusiast and landscape designer in
Santa Barbara, California. "Plants are an expression of nature's
beauty," she said. They help people incorporate the natural
environment into their chaotic lives, and their influence can go as
far as to be spiritual, she said.


Related plant facts:

Americans spent an average of $147 on domestic plants for their homes
last year.
Research suggests that indoor plants reduce symptoms of fatigue,
headache, cough and dry skin.
Plant-filled rooms contain up to 60 percent fewer airborne molds and
bacteria than rooms without plants, studies show.
America's favorite potted flowering plant is the poinsettia.
There are more than 65,000 greenhouses in the U.S.
Most American Christmas trees are grown in Oregon and North Carolina.
The following plants are best at decontaminating air and balancing
humidity: Areca, Reed and Dwarf date palms; Boston ferns, English ivy
and Peace Lilies.
Plants remind us of "life, ecology, beauty, relationships to other
people, [and] the passing of time," Bergvall said. "These are
important dimensions of life."




--j_a

Americans spent an average of $147 on domestic plants for their homes last
year.

I guess that makes rgo growers *above average*, LOL!

Diana

wrote in message
oups.com...
Study Documents the Power of Indoor Plants

By Melinda Wenner
Special to LiveScience
posted: 17 April 2007
10:42 am ET



Green thumb or not, most of us have at least one houseplant because
even the most pathetic mini-shrub offers our citified selves a slender
link back to nature, according to new research.


Previous studies have suggested that plants lower the levels of indoor
contaminants and keep people feeling healthier. After noticing how
much joy his wife got from plants, Clas Bergvall, an ethnologist at
Umeå University in Sweden, wanted to know what they did for people
emotionally-so he dedicated his doctoral dissertation to the subject.


In the eight years since he began his research, Bergvall has found
that people across centuries share an almost metaphysical connection
to plants, and that when brought into the home, plants have an
enormous positive impact on well-being.


For one thing, plants seem to make people more contemplative and self-
reflective, Bergvall told LiveScience. Plants are often linked to
people, places and memories-they are often given as gifts from close
friends, for example-so having them around helps people snap out of
their busy lives and think about things that are important to them, he
said.


Plants also remind people of the passing of time. They often look
different in the morning than they do in the evening, said Bergvall,
and this can keep people in tune with changes in their surroundings.


And perhaps most importantly, plants bring people closer to nature,
said Donna Lynn Sidhu, a plant enthusiast and landscape designer in
Santa Barbara, California. "Plants are an expression of nature's
beauty," she said. They help people incorporate the natural
environment into their chaotic lives, and their influence can go as
far as to be spiritual, she said.


Related plant facts:

Americans spent an average of $147 on domestic plants for their homes
last year.
Research suggests that indoor plants reduce symptoms of fatigue,
headache, cough and dry skin.
Plant-filled rooms contain up to 60 percent fewer airborne molds and
bacteria than rooms without plants, studies show.
America's favorite potted flowering plant is the poinsettia.
There are more than 65,000 greenhouses in the U.S.
Most American Christmas trees are grown in Oregon and North Carolina.
The following plants are best at decontaminating air and balancing
humidity: Areca, Reed and Dwarf date palms; Boston ferns, English ivy
and Peace Lilies.
Plants remind us of "life, ecology, beauty, relationships to other
people, [and] the passing of time," Bergvall said. "These are
important dimensions of life."




--j_a

Not really.

Oh wait...I thought you said "month". Naahhh. That can't be right either.
Week?

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
.. .
Americans spent an average of $147 on domestic plants for their homes
last year.

I guess that makes rgo growers *above average*, LOL!

Diana

wrote in message
oups.com...
Study Documents the Power of Indoor Plants

By Melinda Wenner
Special to LiveScience
posted: 17 April 2007
10:42 am ET



Green thumb or not, most of us have at least one houseplant because
even the most pathetic mini-shrub offers our citified selves a slender
link back to nature, according to new research.


Previous studies have suggested that plants lower the levels of indoor
contaminants and keep people feeling healthier. After noticing how
much joy his wife got from plants, Clas Bergvall, an ethnologist at
Umeå University in Sweden, wanted to know what they did for people
emotionally-so he dedicated his doctoral dissertation to the subject.


In the eight years since he began his research, Bergvall has found
that people across centuries share an almost metaphysical connection
to plants, and that when brought into the home, plants have an
enormous positive impact on well-being.


For one thing, plants seem to make people more contemplative and self-
reflective, Bergvall told LiveScience. Plants are often linked to
people, places and memories-they are often given as gifts from close
friends, for example-so having them around helps people snap out of
their busy lives and think about things that are important to them, he
said.


Plants also remind people of the passing of time. They often look
different in the morning than they do in the evening, said Bergvall,
and this can keep people in tune with changes in their surroundings.


And perhaps most importantly, plants bring people closer to nature,
said Donna Lynn Sidhu, a plant enthusiast and landscape designer in
Santa Barbara, California. "Plants are an expression of nature's
beauty," she said. They help people incorporate the natural
environment into their chaotic lives, and their influence can go as
far as to be spiritual, she said.


Related plant facts:

Americans spent an average of $147 on domestic plants for their homes
last year.
Research suggests that indoor plants reduce symptoms of fatigue,
headache, cough and dry skin.
Plant-filled rooms contain up to 60 percent fewer airborne molds and
bacteria than rooms without plants, studies show.
America's favorite potted flowering plant is the poinsettia.
There are more than 65,000 greenhouses in the U.S.
Most American Christmas trees are grown in Oregon and North Carolina.
The following plants are best at decontaminating air and balancing
humidity: Areca, Reed and Dwarf date palms; Boston ferns, English ivy
and Peace Lilies.
Plants remind us of "life, ecology, beauty, relationships to other
people, [and] the passing of time," Bergvall said. "These are
important dimensions of life."




--j_a

wrote:
Study Documents the Power of Indoor Plants

Thanks for an interesting post.

On Apr 17, 3:11 pm, wrote:
Study Documents the Power of Indoor Plants

By Melinda Wenner
Special to LiveScience
posted: 17 April 2007
10:42 am ET

Green thumb or not, most of us have at least one houseplant because
even the most pathetic mini-shrub offers our citified selves a slender
link back to nature, according to new research.

Previous studies have suggested that plants lower the levels of indoor
contaminants and keep people feeling healthier. After noticing how
much joy his wife got from plants, Clas Bergvall, an ethnologist at
Umeå University in Sweden, wanted to know what they did for people
emotionally-so he dedicated his doctoral dissertation to the subject.

In the eight years since he began his research, Bergvall has found
that people across centuries share an almost metaphysical connection
to plants, and that when brought into the home, plants have an
enormous positive impact on well-being.

For one thing, plants seem to make people more contemplative and self-
reflective,...

Contemplative? Surely he's joking. There's nothing contemplative
about thinking murderous thoughts about sulen vegatation. "Grow, damn
you!" Is about as contemplative as I get.

J. Del Col

On Apr 19, 7:12 am, jadel wrote:


Contemplative? Surely he's joking. There's nothing contemplative
about thinking murderous thoughts about sulen vegatation. "Grow, damn
you!" Is about as contemplative as I get.

oh i dunno, i like to sit in my rocking chair and stare vaguely out
the front window past the plants (four blooming one in high bud) and
think "gee those are pretty--dammit is that an aphid?!" and there
goes the contemplation.

i do agree thought that i'd much rather fuss contemplatively with the
plants than, oh, go to work, or do the laundry, or any of the rest of
that stuff.

--j_a