Going Green...

[admin]

With Indoor Plants

Indoor plants brighten a home and allow us to enjoy nature no matter what the weather. Besides beautifying our homes, indoor plants have the added and even more important benefit of improving our environment -- our indoor environment, that is. Specific plants help to remove environmental pollutants and improve the quality of the air we breathe. Science has proven that some indoor plants remove airborne toxins and reduce chemical pollutants like formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene. The plants serve as a filter for carbon monoxide and other pollutants, removing substances in the air through the minute openings in their leaves. The leaves and roots of plants and the bacteria in the soil all work to remove the toxic vapors.

According to the EPA, indoor air is surprisingly four to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Ironically, as homes have become more energy-efficient, the “sick house syndrome” has increased. The symptoms of this syndrome include headaches, fatigue, and irritations of the eyes, nose, and throat. The more tightly sealed homes have a negative effect of also sealing in the toxic substances found in many furnishings and household supplies. Many household items made of synthetic materials like upholstery, particleboard, carpets, paints, varnishes, and cleaning supplies release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. By the way, fumes from paint and carpet continue to be toxic after the smell has disappeared.

Some plants contribute humidity to the air. This type of humidity isn’t a negative; it actually serves to reduce airborne contaminants like dust and pollen. Yet another documented bonus of indoor plants is that they reduce dust by as much as 20 percent.

Some tropical plants actually excrete substances that protect them from airborne mold and mildew. An additional way to prevent mold is to place a layer of stones on the top of the soil.

The recommendation for the number of plants needed to detoxify the air in your home is two or more medium to large plants per 100 square feet. It is reported that within 24 hours, some plants can remove up to 87 percent of the toxins in the air.

There is one note of caution. Some plants can be toxic to children and animals if ingested. So if you have pets or children, double check to make sure that the plant you are buying to detoxify your home isn’t going to be toxic to your loved ones.

Using plants to detoxify the environment is an easy, economical, and natural solution. It is as if Nature is providing a cleaning agent to protect us and keep us healthy. By bringing the great outdoors inside, you can benefit, too.

SIDEBAR;
Plants that will detoxify the air in your home:
• Philodendron
• Golden Pathos
• Spider Plants
• English Ivy
• Rubber Plants
• Peace Lily
• Aloe Vera
• Corn Plants
• Chrysanthemums
• Peace Palms
• Eureka Palms
• Ficus
• Gerbera Daisy
• Boston Fern

[Julia Hanlon Seyffert]

Hello Amy, nice article. One more plant to add to the air quality list.
Aglaonema or Chinese Evergreen. These leafy beauties do more air filtering than most other plants. And they are low maintenance. Not needing lots of water. The more variegation on the leaves the more light the plants require. There are many varieties of these plants. Farm and Garden always has a nice selection.
Julia Hanlon Seyffert Creative Aquascapes and Butterfly Gardens

[Suzanne]

Hi Amy, Live Plants..the ORIGINAL green product! What a coincidence that you should write about one of my favorite subjects on the day I decide to join WQ. Research continues to prove the many health benefits that you featured. Studies also show that live plants lower people's stress levels (WHAT STRESS???), can lower blood pressure, reduce muscle tension and promote a calming environment for workers, customers, patients and the rest of us. What a joy it is to come home and see yet another bloom emerging on my hoya plant. Not the gold medalist for reducing toxins, but certainly nature's gift for lifting one's spirit. That's a nice benefit. Thanks for the informative post.

[Val Filipski]

My one indoor plant consists of a small vase of bamboo in my office. That's been the only indoor plant to survive cats and my neglect. I suppose the ferns would work also, but they are not my cup of tea.

Winter time I bring in the orchids and enjoy their color.