Bring the “outdoors” inside and also improve the air quality in your
home at the same time. Winter seems to trap most people inside, which
makes it easier for us to get sick and gives rooms that “constantly
lived in feeling” that you don’t get when you can leave the windows wide
open for those warm summer breezes. Luckily, we don’t have to put up
with that same old indoor air all winter.
NASA found that
“houseplants can purify and revitalize air in our homes and offices,
protecting us from the negative effects of such common toxins as
ammonia, formaldehyde, and benzene."
Having plants in the home in
high dust areas also helps reduce incidences of asthma and allergies.
They do this by acting as natural filters; their leaves absorb the
toxins in the air and produce a healthier quality of air for us in
exchange.
It is recommended to have your plants located in rooms
where there is the highest amount of potential contaminants in the air.
Rooms with a high number of electronics, such as TV rooms, and rooms
where lots of chemicals are used, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and art
workshops grant the highest benefit from having plants.
The best plants for air filtering have large leaves. Here’s a quick
“Top 10” list.
- The Feston Rose Plant
- Devil's Ivy
- Phalaenopsis
- English ivy
- Parlor Ivy
- African Violets
- Christmas Cactus
- Yellow Goddess
- Garlic Vine
- Peace Lily
For a more complete list, as well as information on whether the plants
are edible or poisonous for ourselves or our pets, please check out this
List of Air Filtering Plants
Offices
are also great locations for plants, especially those with little or no
natural light. Remember to store any plants in an out of the way
location to prevent water and dirt spills on sensitive electronics or
paperwork.
For
offices, bathrooms, or places with no natural lighting, Snake plants
are a hearty and durable choice. They adapt quickly, with a wide range
of temperature, and are happy to grow in the dark where most plants
might wither.
The aforementioned NASA study also recommends a
6 inch plant for every 100 sq feet of interior. The better maintained
the plant; the more effectively it will work. So make sure to research
your plant’s requirements before purchasing.
One method I’ve
found useful is to type out a care schedule for each plant, like how
often to water, as well as when to re-pot or add extra nutrients, and
use clear tape to fix this to the pot. Make sure to cover the entire
note with tape so that any water spillage won’t ruin the writing. That
way, you never need to look up the information again and everything you
need is right with the plant itself.
