Humans gravitate towards plants. When we can’t be outside, indoor plants help us fulfill an instinctual need to merge with nature. We’ve always known greenery is beautiful and calming, but society is just beginning to acknowledge the healing effects of green.

The Neutral Nature Of Green

Color is more than we see. Green, known as the color of balance and harmony, lands right in the middle of the visible light spectrum. The electromagnetic spectrum includes visible  wavelengths measuring from about 390 nanometers (perceived as blue/violet) to 780 nanometers (perceived as red/orange). Green falls right in the center of the spectrum with wavelengths of 555 nanometers – it’s the middle ground. Color therapy states that green is neither a cool or warm color, but even keel. Neutrality is the nature of green, and this may be why gazing at your plants soothes the eyes. It’s not too stimulating and not too dull. 

The Biophilia Trend

Biophilia is a complicated sounding word to describe something simple; the natural tendency for humans to connect with living things. Think about the little burst of happiness you feel when you see your pet and how it lifts your mood. We relate to our plants from the same instinctual place, but the interaction is more subtle. Biophilia increases our well being. Green sends calming signals to both the conscious and subconscious mind. For proof of the biophilia hypothesis, just look at the growing interest in houseplants over the past few years. As stress levels went up in the world and people isolated, the indoor plant scene exploded. Plants became the new pets and garden centers experienced record business. 

Green Therapy

Plant therapy is a growing industry. Living with plants is good for us, but caring for them is therapeutic. The Chicago Botanic Garden offers horticultural therapy services for people with issues like PTSD, sensory spectrum disorders, and even stroke recovery. They also consult on therapeutic garden installations so that larger communities can reap the benefits of a well designed garden. Community gardens are becoming a standard for many areas. Japan is ahead of us in this movement. During the ’80s, shinrin-yoku, the idea of forest bathing, emerged as an eco-therapy to balance out the disconnection from nature in an ultra modern, urban lifestyle. Forest bathing fills your senses with nature and reduces stress levels by lowering heart rate and cortisol levels.  

We Know What We Know

We instinctively know plants are good for us. I see the healing effects of green all the time in my work environment. People enter the plant-filled space with hanging vines and lush greenery and often burst into a smile. Recently one man put words to that smile and said, “This is my happy place.”