Succulents have made a recent breakthrough in home décor. While many use succulents to add a pop of color and or to act as a windowsill accessory, these popular indoor plants are actually beneficial to one’s health.
Specific houseplants purify the air in a potentially stuffy room, alleviating dangerous airborne by-products from chemicals as well as airborne allergens. There are highly effective leafy plants that help with air quality, but they require so much fuss, including exact temperatures, constant sunlight, and frequent water. The easiest plants to care for are, in fact, succulents.
According to NASA’s “Clean Air Study” conducted in 1998, air-purifying indoor plants were very effective and the cheapest option on the market for eliminating harmful toxins from indoor spaces. Also found in this study were additional health benefits aside from improving air quality: “improved concentration, increased productivity, improved mood, enhanced memory, reduced stress, and helped with fatigue.”
Another benefit of owning succulents is their low-maintenance existence. Succulents have survived for millions of years because of their ability to live in scarce situations and desert climates. Like cacti, these plants gather water and retain it internally, making them able to thrive while going long periods of time without a rainstorm. This quality makes succulents a practical plant for anyone to own — especially busy college students going on Block Breaks.
There are a few common types of succulents that are best known for their air purification skills. Some of the ideal succulents to own for health and well-being benefits are aloe, agave, snake plants (also commonly known as viper’s bowstring hemp), red-edged dracaena, and yucca. Most of these plants are easily accessible at grocery stores, including Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, and at stores with garden centers, such as Home Depot.
Consider getting a succulent to help keep your living space clean. With college demanding a hectic schedule, a succulent is the perfect option for freshening up your space with little time commitment. Owning a succulent can be an investment in your well-being.
