In one of my previous posts, I wrote about the greenery trend which is evident in interiors this year. Placing plants in your living room not only adds more interest and texture to it but can also significantly improve the air quality.
In 1989 NASA was trying to find the cost-effective solution for the “sick building syndrome” which became a problem along with new energy-efficient buildings. Few of the symptoms of the syndrome were headaches, dizziness, nausea, eye and respiratory system irritations, skin problems and many more. They discovered that stagnant indoor air allows pollutants to build up and cause serious health issues. Adding plants to the rooms was one of the solutions for the problem and can be introduced in any interior, not only in spaceships.
In this post, I will give you my top 5 plants to use around the house that are relatively easy to maintain and hard to kill.
- Spider plant– is very easy to grow and is a powerful filter that removes formaldehyde and xylene from the air. It likes bright and indirect light and requires watering 2-3 times a week depending on the season and humidity.
- Dracaena– comes in more than 40 different kinds so it will be easy to find the perfect one for your room however if you have cat or dog you may reconsider buying it as it is toxic for them. It is able to remove benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and xylene from the air.
- Peace lily– prefers shady areas, in summer it produces white flowers that may contribute some pollen to the environment. Refrain from having too many of them around the room or place them outside in summer. This rather small plant can remove ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from the air. It likes moist soil. Avoid overwatering your peace lily though because it will die.
- English Ivy– this very expansive plant is not recommended to use in your garden as it will take over it very fast but used indoors can purify your air from benzene, formaldehyde, xylene and toluene. Some studies have shown that it has the ability to remove also the mould spores. This plant loves well-draining soil, plenty of watering and direct sunlight (it will grow in the shadow as well).
- Snake plant– commonly called Mother-in-Law’s Tongue is one of the easiest to grow. Water it occasionally, it prefers drier conditions and not too much sun. It removes formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and xylene from around the house.
Adding these five plants to your design can significantly improve your well being through cleaner air but this won’t solve your problem with pollutants in 100 %. You may consider improving air circulation around the house through a better ventilation system, opening windows to let the fresh air or buying the air purifier. Better choices as it comes to the furnishings, cleaning products and even reducing plastic can benefit your general health as well because they emit harmful gases to the atmosphere. Take care of yourself by taking care of your home and environment.
Thank you for reading,
Gosha
My Gosh House 