You can actually be productive with houseplants in your home if you are once again happy. The light that houseplants bring brings out the beauty of your home in fascinating ways. There are a variety of plants that can be kept as houseplants to make your home look lush and beautiful.
In exchange, houseplants provide us with the oxygen that we need to breathe. In fact, houseplants also clean the air you breathe, since they photosynthesize to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air.
Do Houseplants Clean the Air?
There are some houseplants that clean the air and there are others that don’t. NASA’s scientific experiment has proven that certain houseplants help maintain indoor air purity. Oxygen and clean air are provided by them by helping to capture VOCs and other gases from the air to purify it. During photosynthesis, plants take in these gases in order to neutralize them.
How Can Houseplants Improve the Air Quality?
The function of plants is crucial to the survival of themselves as well as humans. Photosynthetic plants maintain the levels of gases in the environment through photosynthesis.
In humans and plants both carbon dioxide and oxygen are exhaled, but humans give oxygen to the plants while they absorb carbon dioxide and breathe it.
Houseplants are mainly of tropical rainforest origin, and they grow well in low light conditions in our homes.
Phytoremediation
By means of phytoremediation, plants are able to flush out chemicals, and air toxins that are present around them.
Indoor plants have many health benefits. This is one method by which you can lower the amount of harmful toxins, such as formaldehyde and benzene.
With the help of plants, we can breathe in a safe, toxin-free environment by absorbing and removing toxins and gases.
Process of Transpiration and Stomata
Toxic gas and vapor are absorbed into the leaves and roots through a process of transpiration, which is referred to as stomata.
Researchers even claim that houseplants can reduce molds and bacteria by 50-60% with their presence. They can also reduce stress and boost your mood.
What Types of Houseplants Purify the Air?
Many houseplants clean the air and maintain a healthy environment. But in order to keep them functioning correctly, you need to maintain proper plant care.
Devils Ivy
Golden Pothos, also called Devils ivy, is easy to grow indoors. It effectively treats airborne toxins.
In small pots, they have beautiful leaves and flowers. Hanging baskets are great for them.
Devil’s Ivy can filter harmful compounds such as xylene, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.
Areca Palm
Areca palms are biologically engineered to keep carbon dioxide and oxygen levels low. . They are also known as a powerhouse for the release of gases.
The Areca Palm helps to reduce the concentration of benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and xylene. Also, Areca Palm is non-toxic to pets.
You need a lot of room to grow Areca Palm inside.
Snake Plant or Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
Snake plants are famous for helping you get a peaceful night’s sleep. Their foliage features yellow stripes.
During the night, the Snake Plant releases oxygen, helping to maintain peaceful breathing.
It is also famous for removing formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene from the air.
Barberton Daisy
Brightly colored Barberton daisies are known for having bloom in bright shades of red and orange.
Benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene are mostly found in houses with paint and synthetic fibers. The machine also helps in the removal of these gases from the air.
It is best to place the Barberton Daisy in a well-moisturized soil and in full sunlight.
English Ivy
English Ivy is a famous climber found on outdoor walls and trees. NASA research indicates their ability to purify air is the best out of all plants.
The easy-to-grow perennial vines help reduce air toxins. English Ivy can be placed in the bathroom or in suites.
Household mold levels are reduced with English Ivy.
Money Plant
Money Plants also clean the air as NASA research has shown. Toxic chemicals such as B ene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene are removed.
However, this air purifier is toxic to animals and children. Its foliage is lush and glossy, but if consumed, it can cause irritation and swelling.
Make sure they are out of reach of pets and children and placed in higher locations.
Chrysanthemums
A beautiful flowering species, chrysanthemums are also known as mums, and are excellent as decorative plants.
These are also known as one of the best cleaners to keep around the house. They require some hard work, but the colorful blooms are worth the effort.
Plastic products and detergents emit toxins such as ammonia and benzene, which they act on to purify.
Pineapple Plant
According to NASA research, Pineapple plants supposedly stop snoring because of high levels of oxygen they produce at night. It even reduces the amount of airborne pollutants in the home.
Also, Pineapple Plant prevents snoring at night.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a wonderful plant that helps heal burns or any injuries as well as clean the air. It also removes toxins like formaldehyde and benzene, which are found in paints and plastics.
Dracaena or Dragon Tree
Dragon Trees have red stems and are more commonly known as Dracaena Plants. They take up an incredibly large amount of space in the home, and they purify the air. They grow as tall as almost 15 feet.
Toxins removed by the Dragon Tree include trichloroethylene and xylene.
It would be the spikey foliage responsible for removing pollutants from the air.
Rubber Plant (Ficus Elastica)
In addition to being easy to maintain, this natural humidifier purifies the air as well as performing the air filtration.
Rubber Plant is also useful in destroying bacteria and mold present in the air, as the foliage of the plant inhales toxic pollutants and breaks them down into harmless gases.
The main chemicals that Rubber Plants remove include xylene, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many houseplants are needed to clean the air, according to NASA’s Clean Air Study?
For 1800 square feet of area, NASA research studies suggest almost 15-18 plants are needed to purify the air. That means that one plant should be present for every 100 square feet of floor space.
Are purifying plants better than the air-purifiers?
Plants are natural, in-expensive, and better for our mood and productivity than air purifiers even though they have less power.
Is it OK to have houseplants in the bedroom?
The health of an individual is not affected by houseplants. House plants can help you sleep peacefully by releasing oxygen into the room. The only thing that matters is choosing the right type of houseplant to place in the bedroom.
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