The Relationship Between Houseplants and Their Surrounding Environment

Throughout history, the use of plants and flowers has undergone a very broad and extensive evolutionary journey. Humans have used various methods to cultivate plants and flowers in order to improve their well-being and have used them as sources of food and for their survival. Over time, humans have identified, cultivated, and domesticated plants and flowers and classified them into groups of agricultural and horticultural plants for economic purposes. In addition to the economic uses of plants, people also grow them as ornamental flowers and houseplants around their living environments and even in their homes and workplaces to achieve a sense of mental peace. The increase in urbanization and the influx of population into cities have led to increased congestion and, consequently, increased unplanned construction in urban environments. This has resulted in greater destruction of green spaces and natural areas within and around cities, which serve as the respiratory lifelines of the urban environment and its residents. This widespread environmental destruction has led to increased pollution in urban environments and human living spaces, as well as numerous physical and psychological problems among urban residents. These numerous problems demonstrate the need to reconsider and return to more precise and psychologically informed designs for new urban environments and buildings.
Modern architectural science and technology have turned to green architecture and the use of environmental psychology in building design to prevent the destruction of nature while simultaneously restoring nature in urban environments. Fortunately, in recent years, the culture of buying flowers and keeping various ornamental flowers, houseplants, and air-purifying plants has grown in Iranian society. In addition, non-biodegradable and environmentally harmful gifts have gradually been replaced by flower gifts. Natural flowers are also increasingly filling homes, replacing artificial and plastic flowers, which lack natural benefits and are harmful to the environment and, through their artificial appearance, can indirectly have negative effects on people's minds and emotions. With the widespread use of social media and the growth of online flower shops, buying and ordering flowers has become easier, faster, and associated with less environmental pollution (less commuting and traffic). TiTiGift Flower Shop and Online Store is one of the oldest and most diverse online flower shops in Iran, offering flower ordering and delivery services to many cities throughout Iran, including cities such as Tehran, Isfahan, Mashhad, Shiraz, Qom, and all provincial capitals.

The Effect of Plants on Their Surrounding Environment:
The effects of flowers and plants on human living environments are mainly associated with annual and perennial plants, small shrubs, and large trees. Shrubs and large trees form forests, while smaller plants grow among them. Forests and natural vegetation cover ensure the preservation and stability of water, soil, and clean air in every region and serve as an important and reliable foundation for maintaining and developing agricultural practices and other human food resources. Therefore, vegetation has the following effects on the environment:
1- Creating beauty and pleasant scenery in nature;
2- Creating recreational areas for people;
3- Preventing soil erosion caused by water (rainfall) and wind;
4- Preventing floods by absorbing rainfall through their roots and allowing water to penetrate into the soil;
5- Producing oxygen and pleasant air and purifying polluted air, especially in urban and industrial areas;
6- Preventing the Earth's atmosphere from warming by absorbing carbon dioxide and other harmful gases from the air.

The Effect of Plants on the Economy:
Considering the diversity of plants and flowers and their classification into agricultural, horticultural, and ornamental plant groups, selecting, improving, and cultivating these plants can not only provide food, support human survival, and generate economic benefits, but also contribute to improving the country's economy through the sale and export of these products.

The Effect of Plants on Physical and Mental Health:
Among horticultural and ornamental plants are flowers, plants, and decorative shrubs that people cultivate in their homes, gardens, and urban environments such as parks. In addition to creating beauty in the environment, these plants can contribute to physical and mental relaxation and well-being. In the modern era, industrial development has resulted in greater environmental pollution, and increasing urban populations have reduced living spaces to the size of an apartment. Expanding green spaces in the following ways can promote greater physical and mental relaxation and help relieve human fatigue:
1- Plants absorb harmful solar radiation and help prevent its harmful effects on the human body. The human need for green nature, especially flowers and ornamental plants, is felt more strongly.
2- Producing oxygen and improving air quality: A significant amount of the oxygen released into nature is produced through green spaces. Without trees and green spaces, the problems humans face due to the presence of carbon dioxide and toxic gases resulting from the combustion of fossil fuels (oil, diesel, and gasoline) in the air, as well as oxygen deficiency, become clear, ultimately leading to respiratory problems and other illnesses.
3- Regulating the climate: Lower temperatures around trees and increased humidity in the air contribute to greater comfort in human life.
4- Reducing noise pollution: Plants and trees planted alongside busy streets and in parks help prevent the effects of disturbing sounds caused by traffic, car horns, and other motorized devices. As a result, people experience greater comfort and relaxation by reducing the stress caused by excessive noise.
5- Giving and ordering various types of flowers as ornamental flowers or in the form of bouquets, flower boxes, flower baskets, wreaths, and other arrangements for various traditional ceremonies, memorial services, celebrations, and birthdays can appropriately create a sense of peace, happiness, and joy.
6- Absorbing dust from the air: Ornamental shrubs and trees act like dust filters due to the distribution of their branches and leaves, preventing dust from entering living spaces and ultimately reaching the human respiratory system. Research shows that trees such as walnut, pine, oak, fir, juniper, willow, maple, and ash release substances into the air that have lethal effects on many microbes, unicellular fungi, and some small insects, while the production of these substances has a refreshing effect on humans.

The Role of Plants in Absorbing Indoor Air Pollution:
Ventilating living and working spaces and breathing pleasant fragrances are among the factors that not only improve the transfer of oxygen to different organs of the body but also help increase people's work performance and concentration while performing tasks and improve their mood. According to the results of research, more than 180 chemical substances have been identified in indoor air, and around 80 species of houseplants have been found to be effective in removing these pollutants. Researchers at the University of Sheffield have found that indoor air pollution levels can be three times higher than those in city centers or on heavily trafficked roads. The World Health Organization has also reported that 1.5 million people die each year as a result of indoor air pollution. Houseplants introduce more oxygen into the home through photosynthesis and remove toxic gases from the air, helping to reduce indoor pollution. Researchers have concluded that leaves, roots, soil, and microorganisms present in the soil, in addition to participating in photosynthesis, play a significant role in removing pollutants and toxins. Studies have shown that symptoms such as headaches, stress, drowsiness, and colds decrease when flowers and plants are present in the home. Houseplants can eliminate 34 percent of airborne toxins within 27 hours. This significant and remarkable level of positive and diverse effects of plants on humans and their ability to soften and improve the living environment demonstrates the importance of using plants as part of the architectural design process and highlights the need to integrate architecture with nature during the design and construction process as a useful and responsive solution to the physical and psychological challenges faced by people today.