The fact that plants have a positive effect on their immediate environment and our wellbeing is one that has been proved by scientific research, but not everyone knows the exact amount of plants they need per room in order to maximise those effects. Considering Australians are now spending around 90 per cent of our time indoors, ensuring our working and living environment has a positive impact on our health is now more important than ever.
Horticultural initiative Plant Life Balance joined forces with the scientists at RMIT University in Melbourne to analyse past and present research on the benefits of plants, and how that information applies to our modern living conditions.
The two main benefits of plants, of course, were found to be improvement of air quality and wellbeing. In fact, in an average four by five metre room, one plant can make your air 25 per cent cleaner and five plants make the air up to 75 per cent cleaner. The magic number for optimum purification and wellbeing benefits was 10 plants in an average four by five metre room.
While one plant makes very little difference to your wellbeing, a range of plants in different sizes and varietals are capable of making you feel more relaxed, inspired and positive.
Read on for our in-depth guide to getting the perfect plants-per-room balance.
In an average four by five metre room:
- One plant will provide little mental wellbeing
- Five plants will provide 60 per cent more mental wellbeing
- Ten plants will maximise their health and wellbeing benefits
In a three by three metre room:
- One plant provides 45 per cent cleaner air and a small amount of mental wellbeing
- Two plants provide up to 75 per cent cleaner air and 50 per cent more mental wellbeing
- 5 plants in a room this size will achieve maximum health and wellbeing benefits
In a large eight by eight metre room:
- 16 plants provide 75 per cent cleaner air and 60 per cent greater mental wellbeing
- 32 plants will achieve maximum benefits
The size of a plants also proved important to its ability to improve your space. Total leaf area and root-ball size should be considered in your selection, so look for bigger leaves and bigger pots.
Smaller pants will be wort 1/3 of a medium plant, and large pants are worth one and a half times more than a medium plant.
You might also like:
Why indoor plants are a necessity for apartment dwellers
10 plants that will survive indoors
The must-have houseplants you should be buying in 2018
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