Story at-a-glance Indoor plants significantly reduce stress levels, lowering heart rate and blood pressure while creating a calming effect on your nervous system Exposure to real plants improves cognitive function; it enhances attention span, memory retention and reaction time compared to artificial plants or images Patients recover faster and need less pain medication when plants are present, as greenery creates a healing environment that supports physical and emotional well-being Specific houseplants like spider plants and Boston ferns help remove indoor air pollutants, which is particularly important since Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors The routine of caring for plants creates a purposeful ritual that fosters emotional resilience and has been prescribed by doctors for anxiety, depression and cognitive decline