You might not have been aware it was even a holiday, but Houseplant Appreciation Day is coming up. Saturday, January 10 is Houseplant Appreciation Day, and it’s the perfect time for adding to your own houseplant collection or gifting friends, colleagues and family members with houseplants of their own.

Plants do so much for us — they help purify and oxygenate the air we breathe and neutralize toxins in our environment. Studies have shown they can help reduce stress, increase productivity and promote peace of mind. They are also an important element of the Chinese art of Feng Shui, which focuses on an optimal flow of life force energy, or “chi” around a home. Here are some plants that can help to improve the Feng Shui in any indoor environment; they’re also great for Houseplant Appreciation Day gift giving:

Chinese Evergreen

With its broad, patterned leaves and peaceful energy, the Chinese Evergreen can uplift the energy in any home. It’s also known to be excellent for cleansing VOCs (volatile organic compounds) around the home s that the air you breathe is safer for you and your family.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum Plant)

With a nickname name like Peace Lily, it’s not surprising that this plant will improve the energy and conditions around your home. It features shiny dark green leaves and it blooms bright white lily flowers throughout the year. Spathiphyllum also cleanses the air and is also very easy to care for.

Ferns

Ferns are another pleasant way to improve the conditions in your home. The fern has been around on this planet for millions of years, and it brings a calm, centering energy to any space. Consider a Boston fern for your own home or to give as a gift.

Ficus

The large ficus plant is also excellent for improving the flow of chi in your home as well as handling and neutralizing larger amounts of VOCs. This makes them ideal for larger spaces like living rooms, and they are particularly good at offsetting toxins brought in from new furniture items or carpeting. Consider adding an Amstel King or Benjamina ficus plant to your home or office, or give them as gifts to loved ones.

Houseplant Appreciation Day is a time to pause and express gratitude for all that plants do for our quality of life. Contact Billy Heroman’s for more ideas for Houseplant Appreciation Day gift giving.