Rated among the leading five environmental risks to the health of the public are indoor air pollutants.
This is because stagnant indoor environments enable pollutants to quickly build up and actually stick around in larger volumes than every human should be allowed to breathe in.
Working and residing in environments that are filled with air contaminants and lack of proper ventilation can result in what is known as sick building syndrome.
This syndrome can in turn cause:
- Nausea
- Nose, eye and ear irritation
- Dizziness
- Headaches
Why Clean The Air?
Since most people spend over ninety percent of their quality time in their homes, the air quality matters profoundly.
Emitting diverse varieties of toxic compounds in both our offices and homes include:
- Synthetic building materials
- Upholstery
- Furnishings
- Home cleaning products
The toxic compound released is similar to formaldehyde.
The indoor air pollution can be caused by molds, bacteria, pollen, and car exhaust finds its own way into our buildings.
The good news is that there are simple and affordable ways to tackle this problem.
How Do Plants Clear The Air?
Wondering how plants for their job of purifying the air we breathe in?
These plants absorb so many particulates from our air at the same time that we take in carbon dioxide.
It is processed straight into oxygen via photosynthesis.
Indoor plants have the tendency to make people much smarter by enabling them to stay alert and decrease mental fatigue.
List Of Indoor Plants That Clean The Air
Some of the indoor plants that humans can make use of include:
Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii)
Scoring with a very high score for its ability to remove chemicals transported by air, the dwarf palm is particularly effective to rid xylene, a common solvent ingredient.
The plant is well suited for temperature-controlled environments in offices and homes and will survive for decades if optimally located.
Keep it away from direct sunlight, away from drafts with temperatures between 60-75 F (16-24 C). Provide adequate space, as this plant, although growing slowly, will reach heights of 8 to 10 feet.
But a precaution: the dwarf tamper should not be placed near play areas because it has sharp needle-like spines placed near the base of the leaf stem. These can easily penetrate the skin and even into protective clothing.
To take care of your dwarf date palm, keep the hill evenly moist, do not let the plant dry in winter, between watering. Mist frequently and feed every week (except in the winter, when a biweekly diet is ideal) for best results.
Rubber Plant (Ficus robusta)
The rubber plant is particularly useful in removing formaldehyde from the indoor air.
Although rubber plants prefer semi-sunlight to partial shade, they will tolerate dim lighting, making them extremely easy to locate. Avoid direct sunlight, especially in summer.
In rooms with central heating and dry, look for cochineals, mites, and thrips. The rubber factories, which reach a height of eight feet and a width of up to five feet, should also be supported by a stake. Wear gloves when pruning, as milky sap can irritate the skin.
During the summer, feed regularly with diluted liquid fertilizer. Water abundantly from mid-summer to fall, allowing the soil to dry before watering again. In winter, keep slightly moist. This plant does not tolerate excessive watering.
Dracaena
There are roughly forty different types of dracaena plants, and this makes it simple to find the one that is ideal for your.
Dracaenas are regular foliage plants that have long broad leaves which are frequently variegated with red, white or cream lines. The plant removes formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, and trichloroethylene pollutants.
Weeping/Ficus Fig
The Ficus is a tree found in its Southeast Asian native home. Though it grows in the house, it is referred to as a hardy plant, and it ends up being roughly between two and ten feet tall.
It is a low maintenance indoor plant that should be grown in indirect yet bright light
While it has critical air cleaning capabilities, it can be taken outside in late spring and brought into the house once again whenever temperatures get warm and above freezing.
The pollutants it removes are trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, and benzene.
Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa)
Rhapis are among the easiest palms to grow, they also contribute to indoor air. But each species has its own environmental and cultural requirements.
The “Lady Palm” is a kind of durable palm tree that fits well in most interiors, preferring the semi-sun and a temperature of 60-70 F (16-21 C). Although the plant grows slowly, it can grow up to more than 14 feet high, with large tufts often having a diameter as broad as tall.
To keep your Lady Palm, water it abundantly in the spring and summer, turn up the volume in the winter if your plant is located in a warm, dry environment. Feed each month with liquid fertilizer and enjoy the bright leaves of the plant in graceful and arched stems.
Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
Bamboo palm is another plant with a very high capacity to remove formaldehyde from the air. This plant also effectively eliminated benzene, an ingredient used in the manufacture of dyes, lubricants, rubbers, and detergents, as well as trichloroethylene, an industrial solvent.
Its green and jagged fans born in bunches of fine rods add moisture to any environment and provide a tropical feel.
In terms of growth support, bamboo palms prefer a bit of sand added to their soil mix.
Spider Plant
These plants are rated among the simplest indoor plants to grow, and this helps in making them excellent choices for forgetful owners as well as newbies in the whole indoor plants business.
Spider plants remove xylene and formaldehyde pollutants.
Philodendron Heart-Leaf (Philodendron sp.)
Growing philodendrons indoors, they should be sprayed regularly and the leaves are free of dust. The soil should be evenly moist but let it dry between waterings. Plants usually need less water during the winter months.
Feed the philodendrons with a liquid fertilizer every two weeks during the active growing season. Large plants will need a complete fertilizer. The ideal temperature range for philodendrons is between 60-70 F (16-21 C).
These plants are less tolerant of extreme temperatures.
Garden Mum
In the research made by scientists at NASA, this plant is a grand champion in the purification of air.
It successfully removes ammonia, formaldehyde, xylene, and benzene from indoor air.
Though they are popular, they are also affordable at garden stores. Note that they can be planted outside once they are done blooming.
Clean air is yours
Breathing in clean air is healthier and safer for our health. No one should have to live in an environment that is ventilated poorly and never have to breathe in any form of polluted air.
You can always go through this list to view some of the houseplants you can purchase for your home to purify the air that comes in.
