Houseplants, which up until a few years ago spanned a sparse list of chile plants, herbs and the occasional cactus in the bathroom, have undergone a huge rise in popularity. Although it is unclear whether this surge in popularity has been due to social media ‘trends’ or COVID-19(meaning people have been staying in their own houses more), or perhaps a mixture of both, the statistics tell us that 1 in 10 millennials consider themselves a ‘plant parent’, with 40% saying they planned to, or had in the last month bought a new houseplant. Since COVID-19 there has been an 18% increase in the number of houseplant sales, and houseplant prices have risen by 15%. These statistics show, not only the sheer number of people who are owners of houseplants (66% of American households own one or more houseplants), but also the increase in demand that houseplants have triggered. 

 

Whether or not the reason for this sudden increase of owners is relevant, the fact remains that there is something about owning a houseplant that is an attractive prospect for people. A study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology examined the psychological reactions of participants taking part in the study to being around a houseplant. The results showed that plants consistently made people feel more soothed, comfortable and ‘natural’. Additionally, the diastolic blood pressure of participants was found to be significantly lower than before the interaction with the plant. However, one of the most interesting findings of the reactions to houseplants was productivity levels. University of Exeter researchers found that simply the addition of plants to a workspace increased productivity by 15%. Whether this was because of the feeling of being surrounded by nature, the calming effect they have on people, or the 87% of airborne toxins that plants remove from the air (in 24 hours), it is clear that having houseplants only creates a positive environment.