In todays world it is hard to escape from air pollutants. Whether its from the chemicals we use to clean our homes or even the furniture themselves, we are surrounded by them everyday. Many people claim to suffer what is called “Sick Building Syndrome”; caused by pollutants in the air we might not even realize are there. Luckily, studies have shown that simple house plants can actually help to combat these unpleasant effects. Plants naturally help to clean air, and are cheaper, and more pleasant, than a bulky air cleaning machine. Most plants will help, but there are some that are shown to do a particularly good job at it. Below are several air purifying plants for your home or office.
What To Pick?
With so many choices of which plant to pick it can seem difficult to know which one to pick. The most important thing to keep in mind is the growing conditions in your home. If you have a lot of natural light that’s great for growing, and you’ll have a lot of options. If you don’t get much naturally light into your home you’ll be best looking into plants that require a little less light, or setting up an artificial lighting system.
Also keep in mind the amount of space you have. Some plant varieties can get quite large, and in a smaller apartment this may not be the best. Getting a smaller plant, or several of them, might fit your space better.
Peace Lilly
Peace lilies are a beautiful and easy to grow houseplant. They are fairly small, so are perfect for a small window or counter. They also grow best in indirect light, so having a slightly shady spot a few feet off from a window is ideal.
One thing to keep in mind, this is a flowering plant. The plant flowers in the summer, which can slightly contribute to pollen or floral scent. This is typically not a problem as long as you’re not severally allergic to pollen, just be careful about how many you add to your home.
Aloe Vera
Aloe is another excellent indoor plant that not only cleans the air, but also can provide health benefits as well. The plant contains a clear liquid that contains vitamins and enzymes that have anti bacterial and anti inflammatory properties. You’ll often times see it used for sunburn healing among other things.
Aloe is a full sun plant, so make sure it gets a lot of direct sunlight. Unlike the peace lilies, it doesn’t do well in the shade.
Ficus
The ficus in the wild grows as a tree, but in homes in makes a wonderful low maintenance plant. The ficus can grow anywhere from only a few feet, to well over 10 depending on the conditions they’re kept in.
Ficus trees generally prefer bright, indirect light. Certain varieties are also able to live grow in medium light settings. They are also very cold intolerant; keep them away from drafty windows or large temperature changes. This is especially true in the winter.
Boston Fern
Boston Ferns are another wonderful plant to grow indoors. One thing to keep in mind with these is they need to stay moist. It’s advised to check the soil daily, and water if it feels dry to the touch.
Bamboo Palm
An exotic addition to any home is the bamboo palm. These plants are excellent at filtering pollutants because they can become quite large, up to 12 feet tall! Don’t worry though, they can be maintained at much smaller sizes as well.
These are a bright light plant however, so make sure they get plenty of sun light. They thrive in full, bright light.
Spider Plant
Spider plants are often considered one of the easiest plants to grow making them ideal for beginner gardeners. They only require moderate watering into maturity, lending to their reputation of ease of growth. Due to their shape, they also make excellent plants for a hanging basket, but can grow perfectly fine in a standard pot as well.
Spider plants enjoy moderate, indirect light. Placing them directly in the sun can actually harm the plant by burning out the leaves. Keeping them in a sunny area slightly back from the window itself is ideal.
Original article and pictures take www.theindoorgardens.com site
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