Most people have a houseplant or two. Houseplants are given as tokens of appreciation, as housewarming gifts, or to cheer an ailing friend. Houseplants bring the cycles of nature indoors.
Growing plants indoors expands the range of plants that can be enjoyed. Tropical and subtropical plants that cannot survive cold winters are adaptable to greenhouses and sunny windowsills.
Growing houseplants is a serious hobby for many people. There is the Indoor Plant Society of America, as well as societies for orchid, succulent, African violet, and cactus enthusiasts. Researchers are doing studies to determine if houseplants can purify the air.