Best Plants For Mental Health, According To Studies

Some adventures in nature leave you feeling relaxed and peaceful. Think of a walk in a forest or gathering wildflowers for a bouquet. But did you know interaction with your own plants can also be calming and even improve your mental health?

Nobody is surprised to hear that activities intended to increase mindfulness contribute to good mental health. Think meditation or yoga. And caring for plants falls into the same category. Yes, plants are good for mental health.

While nurturing plants is fun and rewarding, as an activity, it requires a focus on the moment that is the definition of mindfulness. While you are repotting your cactus, it’s almost impossible to obsess about that problem at the office.

There is something innately mindful about caring for a garden or houseplants. They can positively impact most of our senses with their beauty, fragrance and soft petals and leaves. It’s a little like caring for a pet in that the focus of attention becomes another living being instead of oneself.

It’s no secret that plants are good for you. In fact, a bacteria in soil is said to cause the release of serotonin, a real mood lifter. And some scientists believe that plant care can even increase a person’s attention span.

Do some plants have more of an impact on mental health than others? Not necessarily. Plants do not soothe our anxieties because of their petal content or leaf size. Rather, it is the gardener’s involvement with the plant that results in a lowering of stress and greater joy in the moment.

Obviously, any plants you particularly love are likely to make you happier or at least happy faster than unfamiliar plants. It’s hard to tend to a plant day after day without starting to care about it. If you are just starting out with