In Nigeria it is a common phenomenon – that when people are about to develop or construct in a new site, they just move in and clear away everything in sight such as trees. Going into most (newly developed) estates the usual experience is that if it happens to be on a sunny day that you are strolling into one of such places, the sun will smite you right from the gate until you arrive at your destination, and ditto for a rainy day. This is because you will not find any tree shade or shelter under which to take refuge.
The habit of cutting down every ‘living thing’ on the path of construction should stop because it only goes to show a lack of aesthetic sense, as well as plain ignorance regarding the value of plants to mankind. Apart from the numerous benefits (outdoor) plants give to us, the same is also able to benefit us greatly when we utilise them indoors. Whereas many Nigerians still adore plastic plants further goes to underscore the level of ignorance and lack of appreciation of the worth and beauty of ‘living’ plants, especially among the lowly placed, and not highly educated.
But scientific studies have proven over time that the addition of living plants has the innate ability to increase the oxygen presence in the air we breathe. Living plants around us and in our homes help to sustain the balance of energy in the
space within which we all operate; they produce life-enhancing negative ions, and are therefore incredibly beneficial to the health of human beings.
The fact remains that by the time you fill your house with living plants and flowers, you will immediately begin to feel the difference. Researches show that when we have plants around us, people tend to be more relaxed wherein stress and anxiety are kept at bay. Also, people who work in offices where they have indoor plants have shown evidences of high productivity ditto for students in similar environments. Experts say that the presence of plants around us tends to improve the environments as well as the quality of the air around.
Naturally the plants are able to perform such functions due to their ability to reduce the carbon dioxide levels as well as pollutants present in the atmosphere – like benzene and nitrogen dioxide. Conversely, the plants will inject fresh oxygen into the environment by the simple action of photosynthesis thereby enabling concentration and creativity. Plants are also able to increase or reduce (stabilise) the humidity while keeping down the air temperatures, and level of dust in the environment.
According to building biologist, Nicole Bijlsma, “Plants are like the lungs or kidneys of a building.” “They balance humidity levels. Many plants, especially broad-leaved varieties, release moisture into the air through evaporation of the moisture in their leaves,” she says. Studies carried out equally suggest therefore that broad-leaved plants and colourful flowers elicit high spiritedness and good mood in individuals – leading to increased productivity.
It is worth noting also that indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air according to Professor Margaret Burchett, a researcher in the use of indoor plants at the University of Technology Sydney. This, of course is contrary to popular beliefs, but research provides evidence proving that very often, indoor air is stale and therefore injurious to health, experts say. “We use a whole lot of materials derived from fossil fuels that contribute to pollution, like furniture, paint and computers; there’s also more carbon dioxide as we all breathe together” Burchett says.
Morgan Nwanguma
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