Why is it Beneficial to Have Plants in the Classroom?
Indoor plants are an ever-increasingly popular decorative feature in most homes and workplaces. This is partly due to their natural beauty and proven positive impact on their environment and the mental health of those who share it with them.
Creating a positive learning environment in your classroom is important in ensuring the development and well-being of your pupils; indoor plants can play a key role in this. With the natural beauty of plants contributing to the aesthetic of your classroom, it’s their hidden qualities that can assist you in establishing a thriving learning environment.
Research has shown that children can process information faster and learn more efficiently with plants. The addition of plants in your classroom can:
- Improve concentration
- Aid memory retention
- Reduce stress levels
- Increase energy levels
Aloe Plant
Plants belong to different families, and this popular plant belongs to the Asphodelaceae family. Known for their thick, waxy leaves and lower maintenance qualities, Aloe plants, in particular, can make a fantastic addition to your classroom. You can even harvest your plants’ aloe vera to treat sunburns and skin irritation.
- Family: Asphodelaceae
- Origin: Arabian peninsula
- Soil: Well-drained
- Light: Keep in bright, direct sunlight.
- Water: Heavily, but only once every two weeks.
- Air Purifying Quality: High – helps to clear formaldehyde and benzene.
Snake Plants
Commonly known as the Snake Plant, the Sansevieria is a plant belonging to the Asparagaceae family. With their tall, patterned leaves, these plants are easy to care for and would look fantastic in your classroom, growing up to 3 meters tall!
- Family: Asparagaceae
- Origin: West Africa
- Soil: Free drained
- Light: Indirect sunlight
- Water: Once a week. Allow the soil to dry out in between watering.
- Air Purifying Qualities: High – continues producing oxygen at night.
Pilea Peperomioides
More commonly known as the Chinese money plant, the unique coin-shaped leaves of the Pilea peperomioides make it one of the most interesting and most loved indoor plants. So simple to look after, this intriguing plant would do well in your classroom, helping create a stimulating learning environment.
- Family: Urticaceae
- Origin: Southern China
- Soil: Well-drained
- Light: Bright, indirect sunlight
- Water: Once a week
- Air Purifying Qualities: Low
Philodendron
Referring to a species of plant, philodendrons and their large, polished, heart-shaped leaves are beautiful and ideal for your classroom. Consisting of over 400 different species, these popular plants vary in size and can thrive indoors all year round.
- Family: Araceae
- Origin: Venezuela, Colombia, Caribbean
- Soil: Loose and well-drained
- Light: Bright, indirect sunlight
- Water: Once a week. Allow the top inch of the plant to dry out.
- Air Purifying Qualities: High – remove chemicals like formaldehyde.
Echeveria Elegans
These desert succulents are Mexican snowballs and can grow up to 20cm tall. Their rose shape, thick blue-silver leaves, and ease of care make them one of the prettiest and most popular indoor plants.
- Family: Crassulaceae
- Origin: Central America
- Soil: Well-drained
- Light: Bright, direct sunlight
- Water: Once every two weeks. Allow the soil to dry out before watering again.
- Air Purifying Qualities: High
Spider Plant
Named after their long, overhanging spider-like leaves, these plants are adaptable and don’t require much attention. Perfect for the classroom, spider plants are not only physically distinctive but also really easy to grow.
- Family: Asparagaceae
- Origin: West and South Africa
- Soil: Well-drained
- Light: Bright, indirect sunlight
- Water: Once a week. Allow the soil to dry out before watering again.
- Air Purifying Qualities: High. Studies have found that spider plants are the most effective in helping to clear chemicals from the air.
Calathea Plants
Belonging to the Marantaceae family, Calathea plants and their rigid-edged, decoratively striped leaves are not only aesthetically pleasing but are known for their lower light needs.
- Family: Marantaceae
- Origin: The Amazon, Africa
- Soil: Moist
- Light: Bright, indirect sunlight
- Water: Once a week. Don’t allow it to dry out, but beware of over-watering.
- Air Purifying Qualities: High
Areca Palm
These impressive palms are more suited to an indoor environment than other palm plants. Their height and thin, bamboo-like leaves really can assist you in creating a visually stimulating, positive classroom environment.
- Family: Araceae
- Origin: Madagascar, South India
- Soil: Moist
- Light: Bright, indirect sunlight
- Water: Once a week. Allow the soil to dry out before watering again.
- Air Purifying Qualities: High
Jade Plant
Resilient, attractive, and long-living, jade plants are among the most popular and delightful indoor plentiful; you can trust them to complement your classroom setting. A succulent, the jade plant has distinguishable thick, waxy leaves that make them unique and easy for you and your children to look after.
- Family: Crassulaceae
- Origin: South Africa
- Soil: Well-drained
- Light: Bright, indirect sunlight
- Water: Once a week. Don’t allow the soil to dry out completely before watering.
- Air Purifying Qualities: High. Jade plants can help to remove toluene emitted from paint and gasoline.
Cacti
Last but not least is the trusty cactus plant. Famed for their distinctive spikes, quirky shapes, and low maintenance, cacti are perfectly suited to indoor environments. No two cactus plants are the same; they’re sure to spark your children’s interest and can make a superb addition to your classroom. However, although their spikes make them unique, it might be a good idea to keep your cactus plants a little more out of reach from any young children to avoid injury.
- Family: Cactaceae
- Origin: Americas
- Soil: Well-drained
- Light: Bright, direct sunlight
- Water: Once a week. Allow the soil to dry out before watering again, and beware of sogginess.
- Air Purifying Qualities: High. Cactus plants absorb carbon dioxide and kill bacteria.Top of Form
