Plants That Clean the Air

September 10, 2019

Did you know that plants can help you lead a healthier life? Man has lived with plants since the dawn of time – in jungles and forests, by watering holes, on the savannah and even deep in the ocean.  Plants can help us lead healthier on many levels – environmentally and psychologically. Here’s how!

Every man-made item in your home emits some type of toxic compound in small quantities. However, if you have enough of them at the same time, they can become overwhelming, leading to headaches, nausea, and more. If you have ever gone to a carpet store, lumber yard or new bedding store and started to feel light-headed, more than likely it was the formaldehyde and other toxins you were experiencing.

Rather than spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars purchasing air-cleansing devices, you can purify you’re the air in your home naturally, while bringing color, fragrance and beauty through plants.  Plants help absorb the particulates in the air and turn carbon dioxide into pure oxygen; this helps cleanse the air in your home to help you breathe better.

Fortunately, nature has a way of keeping itself clean. There are many powerful air-purifying plants that naturally remove pollutants from the air. Instead of scattering single plants, create groups and displays in each room for a great look and maximum air quality. For example, a 2000sf homerequires approximately 15-20 plants.

Pop Quiz: Do you know what these six plants have in common?

Boston Fern-Boston ferns need a cool place with high humidity and indirect light -make sure that the fern’s soil remains damp

Peace Lily-The peace lily thrives in both low and bright light. Keep the soil slightly moist and feed monthly during spring and summer with an all-purpose liquid fertilizer. Low-light conditions inhibit flower production.

Garden Mum -Place the chrysanthemum in bright, indirect light. Check the soil’s moisture every other day, and keep it damp. Don’t bother with fertilizer, as it won’t re-bloom.

Anthurium -Anthurium plants can tolerate all levels of indirect light; in low light will produce fewer flowers and grow slower. Anthuriums cannot tolerate direct light; this can burn the leaves. They grow best in bright, indirect light.Also, they require the soil be free draining but hold some water

Dracaena -Keep the soil damp but not soggy. A pot sitting in a water-filled saucer is the kiss of death for this plant. Feed monthly during spring and summer with an all-purpose liquid fertilizer

SansevieriaIf you have a tendency to forget to water you plants, this is the perfect plant for you! Sansevieria can be neglected for weeks at a timeand still look fresh. Additionally, they can survive low light levels, drought and have few insect problems

Answer: They all remove formaldehyde from the air!

Additionally, they remove toluene, benzene, xylene, trichloroethylene and ammonia.  Plants naturally “scrub” our environment of these chemicals that are introduced into our atmosphere primarily by cars and the manufacturing industry. Other natural irritants come from pollens, bacterial and moulds.

Going green and living healthier is more than recycling water bottles - using something as simple as plants to keep the air in your home fresh and allergen-free is smart living.

Share your “Getting Green” tips and trivia with us!

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