Spider Plant Benefits and the Major Health Advantages

Did you know that scientists have so far discovered 391,000 vascular plants around the world? What’s more, they come across 2,000 new vascular plant species each year.

The spider plant, the common name of chlorophytum comosum, is one example of a vascular plant. Carl Thunberg, the father of South African botany, was the first to collect and name it in 1794.

Since then, chlorophytum comosum has become one of the most popular houseplants.

However, that’s not only because of its pretty, long, slender green leaves. It’s also because scientific studies have discovered several spider plant benefits.

Ready to learn what science has to say about spider plant health benefits? Then let’s get right into it!

Can Contribute to Cleaner Air

In 1989, NASA conducted its Clean Air Study to research plants’ air filtering effects. The agency wanted to know if plants could remove pollutants from indoor air.

The green spider plant was among the plants used in the study.

The scientists found that all tested plants significantly reduced benzene in the air. In addition, they found that the plants lowered the levels of formaldehyde present in the air.

Benzene and formaldehyde, in turn, are common volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They’re in many building and household products, such as paint, glue, and carpets. Once inside the home, VOCs off-gas into and pollute indoor air.

Either way, exposure to VOCs can cause eye irritation and respiratory difficulties. Chronic exposure can also heighten one’s risk of central nervous system damage. Some VOCs, including benzene and formaldehyde, can also cause cancer.

Now, keep in mind that VOC concentrations can be up to 10 times higher indoors than outdoors. So, if you want some extra help cleaning your indoor air, consider getting spider plants.

May Help Increase Relative Humidity Indoors

Relative humidity (RH) is one way to measure the moisture present in the air. You’ll often hear it used to describe indoor humidity levels.

It’s vital to monitor your home’s indoor RH as it can affect your comfort and health. For example, high RH levels can draw in pests and encourage mold growth. By contrast, low RH levels may trigger or aggravate asthma and irritate the eyes and skin.

With that said, experts recommend indoor RH levels ranging from 30% to 50%.

The problem is that space heaters and air conditioners can reduce RH levels. So, regardless of the season, the use of these systems can make your indoor air too dry.

Fortunately, scientists found that variegated spider plants can help raise RH levels indoors. They can do that through the process of evapotranspiration.

Evapotranspiration refers to the water loss that occurs within the soil and plants. That loss happens when water from the ground evaporates into the air. At the same time, the moisture from plant leaves also undergo transpiration.

Since spider plants have high evapotranspiration rates, they may help boost indoor RH. Just make sure to keep tracking the RH levels at home, as you don’t want the plants to make your place too humid.

Can Help Reduce Stress Levels

According to researchers, interacting with indoor plants can help reduce stress. In addition, they found that this activity is better in lowering stress than mental work. All in all, they say that working with plants can soothe and make people feel more comfortable.

Now, it’s true that there are loads of other plants you can grow indoors. However, one thing that makes chlorophytum comosum stand out is it’s hardy and easy to grow. Moreover, according to this spider plant care guide, it only needs indirect sunlight.

May Help With Patient Recovery

One study looked at the specific stress-reducing effects of plants on hospital patients. They used 20 different species, one of which was the spider plant. They then placed the plants in one surgical ward (Ward A) and left another (Ward B) without potted plants.

At the end of the study, they found that Ward A patients had better health improvements than Ward B patients.

For instance, Ward A patients had shorter hospital stays after their operations. They also reported lower pain intensities, stress, and analgesic intake. Even their vital signs, from blood pressure to heart rate, improved.

Furthermore, Ward A patients had more positive feelings about their hospital stay. They described the ward as calming and pleasant. As such, they reported feeling satisfied with their time at the hospital.

With all that said, one of the top health benefits of the spider plant is that it may aid in recovery. The findings above further highlight how this beautiful plant can help bust stress.

May Help Boost Student Performance

Many studies, such as this one, found that indoor plants may help boost productivity. In that same study, participants who worked in a room with plants also felt less stressed. Moreover, they reported feeling an increase in their attentiveness.

All that shows how plants, in general, can be an excellent addition to the workplace.

However, one study specifically showed spider plants, among others, can boost student performance. For example, students reported that plants in the classroom helped them concentrate better. In addition, they said that the indoor plants promoted more positive feelings.

So, if you’re feeling down or unable to focus, why not add some spider plants in your study room or workspace? Just looking at them may be enough to cheer you up and help you concentrate on tasks.

Time to Enjoy These Science-Backed Spider Plant Benefits

There you have it, your ultimate guide on the many different spider plant benefits. From helping clean the air to busting stress, this beautiful plant can do wonders for your health. Best of all, it’s easy to maintain, making it a must-have indoor plant.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your gardening tools so that you can add pots of this pretty plant around the house.

Did you find this article informative? If so, you’ll love our other posts, so feel free to spend as much time looking around our site!