Power of Plants 1

Running Head: POWER OF PLANTS

The Underutilized Powers of Plants

Mary Kate Lantzy

Glen Allen High School

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Introduction:

Plants are found virtually everywhere outside whether it be in a park or potted on a patio,

yet their presence fails to extend indoors. Indoor plants and flowers are a valuable source for

improving overall well-being but their presence indoors remains minimal. There have been

various studies that have looked into the plethora of ways in which indoor plants can improve

human health and wellbeing. The importance of indoor plants in everyday life is increasingly

vital in the present day as new construction techniques lead to increased indoor air pollution.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency “improving the energy efficiency of

buildings usually tightening the buildings through air sealing and other weatherization

techniques” exacerbates the problem of indoor air pollution as the poor air cannot escape the

building. Pollutants such as “radon, mold, particles and chemicals” can therefore build-up

indoors to unhealthy levels (Health, Energy Efficiency and Climate Change, 2017).

In the present paper, the many ways in which plants can improve human’s overall

wellbeing are investigated in order to prove that plants have a powerful presence that remains

horribly underutilized. Many people may believe that an indoor plants only purpose is for

decoration, but they can serve a much bigger purpose. Indoor plants have the ability to improve

productivity, increase focus, improve mood and reduce harmful toxins in the air. The question

guiding this research is: how can the simple addition of indoor plants improve people's lives?

Through this research, the implementation of plants into indoor environments can be displayed

as a helpful step towards a better life.

Plants Improve Human Overall Well-being:

Improve Focus and Productivity:

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Plants can be implemented into indoor environments to improve many aspects of overall

well-being. Various studies have been conducted on how the addition of plants into a work

environment can help to improve the working environment which in turns improves the working

ability of the people in the office. Virginia Lohr has conducted numerous studies on the impact

of plants on humans. Her study “Interior plants may improve worker productivity and reduce

stress in a windowless environment” discussed the important role plants play in increasing

worker productivity and reducing stress. This study found that when plants were added into a

work environment worker productivity increased by 12% and the workers reported lower levels

of stress compared to the control group (Lohr, et al., 1996). These results were found by adding

plants to a windowless college computer lab and testing the participants blood pressure and

emotions. The participants blood pressure levels rose as a result of the stressful task, however,

the blood pressure readings of the people in the presence of plants were significantly lower,

leading to the conclusion that plants reduce stress levels. Through the analysis of the

participant’s blood pressure the difference between the participants with plants present was

significantly better compared to the participant’s blood pressure without the presence of plants.

While discussing her findings, Lohr also discussed some possible reasons for the increase

in productivity and reduction of stress. Lohr stated that “people sense that contact with plants and

nature is restorative” which is evident “by the extensive landscaping in residential

communities, the use of plants in theme parks and other segments of the tourist industry, the

growth of urban and community gardening, and interior plantscaping of office and retail spaces”

(Lohr, et al., 1996). However, Lohr did account for some shortcoming in reasons on why plants

affect productivity and stress with the idea that “the factors contributing to the productivity of

actual employees are complex and multifaceted” and therefore “the full impact of plants on
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worker productivity cannot be estimated from this study” (Lohr, et al., 1996). This lack of reason

means that more research is necessary.

Raanaas (2010) found similar evidence in the study conducted by the Department of

Plant and Environmental Sciences at Norwegian University of Life Sciences. When participants

were placed in a room with foliage and flowering plants the performance of the participants in

the office were improved when compared to the participants in the office without any foliage or

flowering plants (Raanaas, et al., 2010). Another important note that this study found was that

the presence of plants can actually prevent fatigue in a stressful environment which can lead to

better productivity. Similarly to Lohr, Raanaas gave a possible reason to why plants can increase

concentration and prevent fatigue. Raanaas argued that plants can help with attention restoration

which is when mental fatigue is restored once a person's direct attention is given a break.

Shifting our minds to plants and nature can have the effect of attention restoration and therefore

increase productivity, focus and prevent fatigue.

Overall, when these studies are looked at together they form a strong argument on how

the addition of plants into work environments can help increase productivity and lower stress

levels. The evidence out there highlights just how important plants can be in improving overall

wellbeing and furthers the idea that the addition of plants indoors can help improve the overall

well-being of people in work and home environments. Once people are made more aware of the

simple ways in which they can improve productivity and focus, the additions of plants into their

environments will seem like an obvious choice.

Improve Mood
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Along with the important increases in mental focus and productivity, plants have been

found to have an impact on mood. In a review of previously conducted studies, it was stated that

people felt more concentrated carefree, playful, friendly, and affectionate went in the presence of

interior plants than in the absence of interior plants (Lohr 2010). Houseplants have also been

seen to help boost mood in winter months (Freed, 2017). Freed gave examples of many plants

that can be added indoor that would increase mood due to their color brightening up the bleak

atmosphere. When an indoor environment is bland and life-less plants can help to bring the

needed energy and liveliness that can improve mood.

The scents and smells that come from plants have also been seen to improve mood and

promote relaxation and peacefulness (Dyas, 2017). According to Dyas, the compound linalool

found in basil plants has been found to improve mood, while the scent of geraniums promote

peace of mind. Another source also suggested that the scent of plants can help to create a

relaxing environment (More, 2016). The scents from lavender, lilacs, and roses have all been

found to reduce “tension and anxiety” (More, 2016). More also suggested that the mundane task

of watering and caring for plants can actually relax people. The act of taking care of plants also

gives the caretaker a sense of purpose and can foster positive feelings. These findings along with

the findings from other studies prove the important role that plants have on affecting mood and

how the addition of plants indoors could improve moods.

Although the research on how plants directly affect people’s mood is somewhat limited,

most people already feel as though colorful plants improve their mood which can be seen with

the presence of the huge flower industry. The scents plants give out also pose a powerful

argument for the relaxational benefits of fragrant plants. Overall, more scientific research is
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needed on the specific subject of how plants impact mood, but the lack of research could be a

result of the fact that people already see plants and flowers as a way to improve mood.

Improve Job Satisfaction

The affect plants have on overall job satisfaction in the workplace has also been looked

into. Research was conducted that looked into job satisfaction and overall mood by surveying

workers in Texas and the Midwest who either had interior plants and/or a view of green spaces

or people who had no view and no interior plants (Dravigne, et al., 2008). The findings of the

experiment show that employees who work in offices with plants or windows reported to have a

higher overall quality of life and perception of job satisfaction than those who worked in an

office without plants or windows present (Dravigne, et al., 2008). Workers with plants also

reported better feelings in the subcategories of ‘‘nature of work,’’ ‘‘supervision,’’ and

‘‘coworkers’’ no matter the age, ethnicity, salary, education level, or position they held.

Analyzing people’s happiness along with other factors such as age and position allowed for the

study to suggest that the presence of plants affects people at all levels and at all walks of life.

Overall, people who were able to see plants and views reported that they were more satisfied

with their job and more satisfied with the work they performed.

However, this study did mention that there could be some possible limitations to the data

found as it was not a nationwide study and only focused on a certain area of the United States.

The researchers suggested that to make sure the results are accurate; a study should be conducted

with a randomly selected sample from a national standpoint. But, this study is still a great

starting point in proving just how important plants are in our lives. Improving job satisfaction

can help improve overall well-being and help to improve people’s lives.

Educational Application
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Offices are not the only environment that can be positively impacted from the simple

addition of plants. The school environment has also been tested in relation to the impact that

plants can have on students. A study was conducted in a classroom environment to test if the

addition of plants would help improve the learning environment. The study conducted by Daly

found that students in a school environment with plants present saw a 10% improvement on

standardized tests when compared to the students without plants in the classroom (Daly, et al.,

2010). But there are some limitations to these studies as the reason for the results is said to be

unknown by the researcher, most likely due to the complexity of the results having to do with

productivity, mental focus, and mood.

However, another article cited many possible reasons why plants can have the impact it

does on students and argues for the addition of plants into educational environments. In this

article the author suggested that the 20% increases in memory retention, a statistic they found in

their own research, due to the presence of plants could be from the fact that the leaves and stems

of plants can absorb or deflect distracting background noise and create a better learning

environment for students to focus (The benefits of plants in schools and educational facilities).

This article also cited that plants can be implemented to create a sense of community by

strengthening student relationships, promoting teamwork to grow and keep the plants alive and

giving the students a sense of responsibility (The benefits of plants in schools and educational

facilities). The educational environment is an important place to include plants as improving the

education of people will not only improve their educational experience but will better prepare

them for their future and create people who can become better citizens.

Plants Improve Indoor Environment:

Purify Air of Toxins

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As previously states, the new construction techniques that improve energy efficiency lead

to an increase of harmful indoor air pollutants present in indoor air. This increase in indoor air

pollution has a very simple solution in plants that many people should start utilizing. The ability

for plants to purify the air and take harmful toxins out of the air has been found by multiple

researchers. These recent studies have come about due to these new construction style that have

sparked worry in many researchers. The increase of indoor toxins present in indoor air has even

led to people experiencing “sick building syndrome” due to a lack of circulation and clean air

(Wolverton, et al., 1989). According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “sick building

syndrome” describes “situations in which building occupants experience acute health and

comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building.” The EPA also states that “30

percent of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be the subject of excessive complaints

related to indoor air quality,” confirming the idea that indoor air quality is an important issue that

affects many people and must be solved.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration conducted a study in 1989 which

found that houseplants coupled with activated carbon plant filters can improve indoor air quality

by removing pollutants from the air (Wolverton, et al., 1989). Along with this finding, the study

also found that plants are able to purify the air through their leaves, roots, soil, and

microorganisms which was seen to reduce cigarette smoke, organic solvents, and possibly even

radon along with other air pollutants (Wolverton, et al., 1989).

Wolverton went on to conduct another study later on in 1993 which went more in depth

into the research of his previous study. This study looked into what specific types of plants

would help reduce the presence of certain harmful chemicals (Wolverton, et al., 1993). By

placing interior plants into chambers containing either formaldehyde, ammonia, or xylene,
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specific types of plants were evaluated for their ability to purify the air in those chambers. The

study concluded that interior plants do in fact have the ability to remove significant quantities of

harmful chemicals from the air and found that Nephrolepis exaltata was the best plant to remove

formaldehyde while Phoenix roebelenii was the most effective with xylene and Rhapis excelsa

was the best at removing ammonia (Wolverton, et al., 1993). While this study looked into the

same topic as the previous study conducted in 1989, the previous study did not look into the

impact specific plants have on specific chemicals.

A review for a number of different studies conducted on the effect plants have on air

quality stated that nine indoor plant species in 60 office “field studies” reliably reduced the total

volatile organic compound (TVOC), a major indoor air pollutant class, load by 75% (Tarran, et

al., 2007). Along with discussing how indoor plants can reduce harmful toxins in the air, this

article also talked about how plants can refresh the air. The article touched on the idea that plants

naturally take CO2 out of the air which is a helpful tool as it has been found that increased levels

of CO2 in the air can decrease performance levels of students and workers (Tarran, et al., 2007).

This article concluded by arguing that indoor potted plants are a new way to help solve indoor air

pollution especially due to their efficiency along with other positives such as their portability,

attractiveness, and low-cost (Tarran, et al., 2007).

The extensive amount of research done on the topic of plants and their ability to remove

toxins from the air provides a strong argument for the addition of plants into indoor

environments. When plants purify indoor air they not only make for a safer environment but also

make for an environment that won’t make anyone feel ill or uncomfortable.

Improve Humidity Levels & Decrease Particulate Matter

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Plants also have the ability to increase the humidity levels indoor to a more “preferred

and optimal level” and reduce particulate matter, which both improve a person’s surrounding

environment (Lohr 2010). Especially during the winter season, a dry humid environment can

have negative physical effects on the body which can be fixed by the addition of plants. In her

article, Evans explained why plants can increases the humidity level indoors. Evans stated that

indoor plants increase humidity through transpiration which is when plants absorb water through

their roots and then “circulate the moisture through stems and leaves with a vascular system

that's comparable to human veins and capillaries.” From there, when the water reaches the leaves

it evaporates into the air and therefore increases the humidity level indoors (Evans, 2010). Evans

goes on to state the plants that have the highest transpiration rates and therefore would be the

most efficient at increasing the humidity level indoors such as the areca palm and peace lily. If

highly efficient transpiration plants were added indoors and the humidity levels were increased

to a more comfortable level, people’s comfort and overall well being would increase as well.

Lohr also conducted research on the effect that plants have on the particulate matter

inside. Lohr stated that by adding plants indoors to the periphery of the room, the particulate

matter deposition was reduced by 20% in the room and even in the center of the room which was

many feet away from the plants in the periphery. Lohr went on to argue that the ability of plants

to reduce the particulate matter indoors is important for people that suffer from allergies.

Increasing the humidity level inside a room to a comfortable rate and decreasing the

particulate matter in a room are both factors that can contribute to a better working and living

environment. Even though humidity level and particulate matter may seem as small factors that

wouldn’t have a very big effect on people, all of these little beneficial factors combine to create a
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very big impact on overall well-being. With a better living and working environment overall

happiness and health can increase as seen discussed previously.

Conclusion:

Overall, plants have many abilities that are not well utilized by the general population to

improve everyday life. Plants need to be better utilized for the easy improvement of people’s

lives and overall well-being. Multiple studies have shown that plants help to improve work

environments, mood, and air quality. Additional research is still needed in many areas of this

topic, however the research that is available gives a very convincing argument on the power of

plants. The impact that plants have on mood is the least researched and therefore needs the most

improvement. Also, the scientific reasons to why plant have an effect on productivity and stress

are relatively unknown at this time. This could be due to the fact that productivity and stress have

a number of factors that contribute to them and the complexity makes it hard to nail down a

specific aspect plants help with. However, topics such as air purification are heavily researched

by very reputable sources, have great scientific backing, and need little further research.

The need for plants to be added to people’s everyday lives remains and will remain until

people are made aware of the many positive benefits of indoor plants. The simple addition of

plants into people’s everyday environments can substantially improve overall well-being and

should be encouraged.
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