Got a green thumb? Here’s why houseplants could be triggering your allergies

Posted: 11th May 2022 | Posted by Costa

Got a green thumb? Here’s why houseplants could be triggering your allergies

Houseplants are having a real moment right now. They’re popping up in homes, restaurants, and shops across the globe. Gone are the days of spending time outside tending to your vegetable patch. Instead, it’s all about misting your monstera and propagating your pothos. In fact, the average Briton will spend £300 a year on houseplants. 

And for the millions of allergy sufferers across the globe, indoor houseplants can seem a pretty safe trend. It’s easy enough to avoid any plants with flowers or pollen that could cause you grief. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple…

Could I be allergic to my houseplants?

The short answer is yes, you might be. But not for the reasons you think.

Your plants themselves are less likely to be the culprit. Unless they sneakily do contain pollen that’s triggering your hay fever, or you’re coming into direct contact with a sap your sensitive skin disagrees with. But the more likely reason you’re reacting to your plants is because of mould or dust.

Mould thrives in damp environments. And this makes the soil of your plants a perfect breeding ground. It can show up on top of the soil, dead leaves, or the outside of pots. With any slight disruption to the soil or pot, mould spores are released into the air, and you can quickly find yourself sneezing, coughing, and itching. Or experiencing many other common allergy symptoms.

Having houseplants also increases the general humidity of your home. And this can result in more black mould showing up – such as in the kitchen or bathroom – and more spores being released into the air. 

What about dust?

If you don’t think mould is the culprit, try inspecting your plants a little more closely. While dusting your furniture is fairly common practice, dusting your plant leaves can seem a little extreme. And tedious.

But as they’re sitting out in the open undisturbed, your plants will be accumulating dust. And when there’s a slight breeze, those dust particles float up into the air. So you may find yourself suffering the very same symptoms we listed above. 

Is there a solution?

The good news is you don’t have to rehome your plants unless you want to. With the right measures in place, there’s no reason you can’t live in perfect harmony.

Certain pots and potting materials will be better for increasing evaporation and minimising damp in your plants. Where possible, opt for high-quality potting soil as this has better drainage. And avoid terracotta pots as this material pulls moisture out of the soil and onto the outside of the pot – where mould can then develop. 

You also want to avoid over-watering. Soggy soil is mould’s best friend, so err on the side of caution. If they’re getting a little damp, you can also give your plants some time in direct sunlight to dry out. And finally, you want to get into the habit of wiping down the leaves on a regular basis.

It’s easy to get attached to your plants. But this makes it harder to admit they could be the reason you’re suffering. A quick allergy test will confirm whether they’re actually the cause. And by switching up a few materials and habits, you can quickly get back to feeling your best.

For extra support navigating your allergies, get in touch with us. Sign up as a new patient or reach out on 02031 433 449.