Did you know that house plants can improve your physical and mental health?
In the middle of winter, when dark, empty tree branches contrast with the white, snowy ground cover outdoors, I enjoy my houseplants. At a time when the outdoor flora take their winter nap and daylight hours are short, plants brighten my home and my spirits. 
They come in many shapes and sizes, various shades of green and other colors. Some of them, such as the Christmas cactus and African violet, produce lovely flowers. They add a decorative touch and health benefits to the home environment.
If I had the space for them, I’d have more.
Houseplants can improve the air quality in your home. Green plants breath in carbon dioxide and breath out oxygen. They are natural humidifiers, adding moisture to the air.
Studies have shown they improve mental health and make your brain work better. They make you calmer and more optimistic, and they give you purpose in caring for them. (Yes, I talk to my houseplants.) Physical benefits to growing houseplants include fighting colds, stopping headaches, decreasing blood pressure, clearing congestion, preventing allergies, and improving sleep by removing impurities and contaminants from the air. They also aid healing after illness or surgery.
One potted plant per one hundred square feet of indoor space is suggested by NASA researchers.
Different plants have different soil, light, and water needs. Some like less light and dryer conditions. Some prefer more light and more water. You have to chose what best fits your home environment and personal needs. The local public library, used book sales, friends, florists, and the Internet are good resources for learning about raising indoor plants.
If you have allergies, you may find that indoor plants are not a good option. Insects can sometimes invade your plants. I’ve been able to get rid of the insects and keep the plants, but at times I’ve had to throw the plant away. One time a friend gave me a plant that I didn’t check carefully. By the time I discovered the problem, I had to throw away that plant and another one. Keep a new plant isolated from your other plants until you’re sure it’s healthy. Black mold, from a dark and moist environment, can also be a problem.
What we bring into our homes affects us physically, mentally, and spiritually. Books and other reading material, the Internet, television, and other media can be like good soil, correct light, and the right amount of water, or they can become pests and black mold that destroy family members and create a toxic environment. I believe the best resource for a healthy home and family environment is the presence and use of God’s Word.
Psalm 119:105
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.” NKJV
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