15 Aug House Plants For Your Health

Houseplants are like beautiful leafy housemates that make our homes that little bit cosier, friendlier and prettier, but did you know they can also make it healthier? NASA did some in-depth research that shows this is the case. (You can read the full report here)

Buildings where we live or work can create environments where toxins build up and stagnate in the air and even lead to sick building syndrome, which is when a building becomes a breeding ground for chronic infection. Things like building materials, cleaning products, furniture as well as bacteria mould and even outside pollutants such as car exhausts, and pesticides if you live near farming areas, can collect in poorly ventilated areas in your home or workplace.

Keeping your air naturally clean with some cheerful green foliage can do wonders for nipping poor health in the bud.

Common Pollutants:

• Benzene is found in cigarette smoke, cleaning products and pesticides
• Formaldehyde from paints, solvents and synthetic materials is quite common
• Trichloroethylene from solvents
• Xylene from varnishes, paints and paint thinners

Plants are experts at absorbing gas through their leaves, that’s how they breathe and photosynthesise. It’s this talent that makes them a natural technology that can obligingly improve your air quality for you if you pick the right plant and give them some TLC. Not only that, but it has been found that plants in your environment lower stress and tension too.

Which Plant Where?

Bedroom

Christmas cactus and gerbera daisy: because most plants give off carbon dioxide at night it’s not ideal to have them in your bedroom. These two pot plants give off oxygen at night though, providing you with a breath of fresh, clean air as you sleep. The Gernera Daisy is also fantastic for detoxifying benzene.
Dendrobium orchid: is a delicate zen touch that detoxes formaldehyde, acetone and chloroform from indoor air. Orchids also give off oxygen at night.

 Bathroom

Boston fern loves the humidity you’ll find in a bathroom, is an excellent performer in the air detox department and detoxes formaldehyde. Ferns are a soft beautiful green touch for any bathroom too.

Dwarf banana also thrives in humidity.

Kitchen

Tulips are not only romantic, they clean up xylene, formaldehyde and ammonia, chemicals that may be found in cleaning products.
Peace lilies are great for volatile organic compounds. You may find these in flooring, wallpapers, paint, dry-cleaned clothes and furniture. They are also great for removing mould spores in the air.
Spider plants tackle carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.

 Lounge

Areca Palm ranks amongst the best all-round air detox plants. Palms are especially great if someone in your household smokes.
Bamboo Palm is good for areas where you have indoor heating as it hydrates the air. Removes trichloroethylene, benzene and formaldehyde.

Workplace

Anthuriums mop up ammonia, formaldehyde, toluene and xylene and are great for the workplace around printers.
Golden Pothos is among the top 3 plants great for removing formaldhyde and carbon monoxide so is great for the urban office.
Aloe Vera is a good air cleaner that doesn’t need a lot of water, making a good choice for your work desk.

Some Other Power Plants For Cleaner Air

• Mums (Chrysanthemum sp. or Chrysanthemum morifolium):benzene, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde and ammonia.
• Dragon tree is a benzene buster and takes care of cigarette smoke and chemicals such as formaldahyde, xylene and trichloroethylene.
• Moth Orchid is good for volatile organic compounds, formaldahyde, solvents and airborne synthetic chemicals.
• Dwarf Date Palm removes formaldehyde and Xylene.
• Janet Craig is a good overall air purifier, removing most air pollutants.
• Kimberly Queen Fern clears formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene out of your home.
• Snake Plant absorbs toxins, such as nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde.

Be sure to get know these hardworking leafy friends that you grow in your home so that you can take good care of their water and light needs. And remember that plants have been found to respond to good vibes and music, so treat them well, give them some love, and reap the benefits of a mutually beneficial relationship!