Houseplants provide a variety of benefits, including stress reduction and improved concentration. Did you know, however, that some air-filtering plant species can help you avoid liver illness, renal disease, and cancer? Check out this blog on top 10 Plants To Combat Indoor Air Pollution.
Most household products—furniture, paint, carpets, and even the building materials used to construct the home itself—contain volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. VOCs such as formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia, and toluene are released into the atmosphere over time and can cause major health problems.
Typical electrostatic air filters can’t remove VOCs, but fortunately, there’s an aesthetically beautiful, natural, NASA-proven solution to improve your air quality: adding air-purifying plants to your house. Read on to find out more about the best 10 air-purifying plants for your house, as well as maintenance instructions from the specialists at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
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Bad Effects Of Air Pollution
You should have these 10 Plants To Combat Indoor Air Pollution. The bad effects of air pollution are:
Some people believe that a plant transforms a house into a home. It’s not only a lovely addition to any room, but it’s also more sustainable than a bouquet of flowers – as long as you look after it properly and don’t feel embarrassed every time you walk past it waving its brown leaves at you. People, on the other hand, frequently purchase house plants just for aesthetic reasons, ignoring the numerous advantages they provide. It’s very important to buy the right indoor plants for air quality to reap the benefits.
The World Health Organization estimates that 7 million people die each year as a result of pollution. To put it in context, London had an estimated population of 8.136 million people in 2011. And, while we may believe that the four walls of our home shield us from the pollution we encounter outside, indoor air has been proved to contain harmful contaminants as well. However, research has shown that certain house plants can act as a natural filter for indoor pollutants, which is good news for us. In fact, NASA-funded research into the indoor power of plants discovered that there are more than 50 different species of houseplants that remove toxins and gases.
“He who plants a tree plants a hope” – Lucy Larcom
Why Does Indoor Air Quality Matter?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, we spend nearly 90% of our time indoors, whether sleeping, binge-watching Netflix, or working in an office. And all of that time spent indoors exposes us to pollutants. These10 Plants To Combat Indoor Air Pollution are a must-buy option for you.
Causes of indoor air pollution
Your coffee table may not appear to emit glassware, but if it is composed of particleboard, it does. Other materials in a home or office that generate volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as formaldehyde, include the paint on the walls and the upholstery on the furniture.
Inside, VOC levels are usually two to five times higher than outside. We’re all exposed to some level of indoor air pollution, and most of it isn’t harmful. However, when ventilation is poor or for persons who are particularly sensitive, it can make you sick.
Some of the symptoms include headaches, nausea, and fatigue, and it’s also known as “sick building syndrome.”
How do plants help in getting control over Air Pollution?
Indoor air pollution has been identified as one of the most serious environmental threats to your health. Breathing and working in environments containing dangerous compounds in the air and insufficient ventilation can result in headaches, giddiness, nausea, and ear, eye, and nose irritation.Environmentalists believe that, in addition to removing carbon dioxide and giving oxygen, some indoor plants may also have a unique way of removing harmful compounds from the air, such as benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde
Top 10 Air Purifying Indoor Plants
These are the 10 Plants To Combat Indoor Air Pollution that are the best for your home:
1) Spider Plant
Spider plants are one of the easiest indoor plants to care for, making them ideal for beginners or forgetful owners. Spider plants will put out shoots with blossoms that will eventually turn into young spider plants or spiderettes if they are exposed to bright, indirect sunshine.
While the babies are still linked to the mother plant, they can be placed in their own pot of soil. After they’ve rooted, cut them off. Give these to your friends or use them to add to the plant life in your own home.
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2) Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera(Aloe Barbadensis) is a flexible, perennial herb that can remove benzene and formaldehyde from the air. There are over 250 variations to pick from. It’s simple to cultivate and necessitates a lot of sunlight.
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3) Dracaena
Dracaena plants come in over 40 distinct varieties, so you’re sure to find one that complements your home or company perfectly. Pet owners, on the other hand, should pick a different plant because these are poisonous to cats and dogs if eaten.
Dracaena plants can reach three feet in height, necessitating larger pots and more space. Rather than being watered, they like to be misted.
4) Snake Plant
This plant, also known as the mother-in-law plant, is one of the most effective at filtering formaldehyde. It also aids in the removal of nitrogen dioxide. It takes in carbon dioxide and releases oxygen even at night. This is an excellent bedroom plant. It only needs a little sunlight and water to thrive, and it’s not tough to keep up with. Hence it comes in our list of 10 Plants To Combat Indoor Air Pollution.
5) Peace Lily
Peace lily plants are small compared to many of the other plants on our list, which makes them ideal for small spaces. Keep peace lilies in a shady position with wet but not saturated soil. These plants are simple to grow and bloom throughout the summer.
Just be mindful that peace lilies discharge pollen and fragrant smells into the air. Peace flowers can turn deadly if eaten by children or pets.
6) Boston Fern
These plants love to purify the air in a cold, humid environment with indirect light. They’re not difficult to grow, but they do need to be kept moist. Check the soil of your Boston fern every day to determine if it needs water, and soak it once a month.
7) Ficus/Weeping Fig
In its native areas of Southeast Asia and parts of Australia, the ficus is a tree. It’s a tough plant that can grow to be 10 feet tall when grown indoors. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings and grow this low-maintenance beauty in bright, indirect light.
This houseplant can also be put outside to freshen up your porch or patio when the temperatures are well above freezing.
8) Bamboo Palm
Palms prefer a lot of sunshine and aren’t bothered by cold draughts. They can reach heights of 12 feet and provide a lot of green in your room, but they’re slow-growing. Before repotting your bamboo palm in a larger container, give it at least three years.
9) Chinese Evergreen
The Chinese Evergreen, one of the most popular indoor plants on the planet, thrives in low-medium light, making it great for brightening up dark corners of your home. This plant has been bred as a “lucky plant” throughout Asia for generations, and scientists verified its potential to provide the fortune of good health in NASA’s clean air study.
10) Rubber Plant
Consider a rubber plant if you want an air-purifying plant that will grow tall soon. This plant, which was named for its latex-loaded sap, can grow up to two feet per growing season and reach a height of about 10 feet when properly cared for.
Is It True That Indoor Plants Can Detoxify Your Home?
After NASA published a series of studies in the late 1980s claiming that indoor plants might filter the air, people began to fill their window sills with greenery in greater numbers. Unfortunately, it appears that there was some wishful thinking going on back then. According to new research, a 1,500-square-foot home would require 680 plants for the foliage to really combat pollutants.
Indoor plants, on the other hand, provide a variety of air-purifying and health benefits without necessitating the construction of a jungle. Greenery, even in tiny amounts, can help to enhance the quality of indoor air. So why not decorate your home with a few low-maintenance plants?
Conclusion
According to NASA researchers, one plant for every 100 square feet may effectively clean the air. To minimize crowding an indoor location, this suggestion would be a wonderful place to start. You can crowd the plants as much as you want in outdoor spaces to ensure they get the nutrition they require. Which option will you choose?
