Plants: Nature’s Air filters!

                     Part 2 of ‘Green House’ In your Home

In part one I went over the process of finding the right plant and pot for your indoor plantscape. Now, on to the benefits of plants in the home!

First, there’s the aesthetic value; homes look ‘homier’ when they have a few plants here and there. (It’s not just for hippies anymore!) It’s a proven fact that when you incorporate greenery into your home and office it decreases anxiety, lowers blood pressure and gives you a moment of serenity in the midst of your day.

Sanseveria

Secondly by using plants you can create an atmosphere for your home or office. If you want to create a luxurious look you use pots that highlight your décor and give a richer feel to the room. For example, if you were going for a contemporary look for your surroundings, you might use monochromatic pots in colors that have been incorporated into your scheme or use these pots for the color in the scheme. Black & chrome, while beautiful is cold, adding monochromatic pots in a splash of color like burnt orange or a rich blue can add warmth. You would then use a structural type plant to continue the contemporary theme, such as a Sanseveria or a Phormium. They are also useful in creating a ‘theme’ such as Victorian or Southwestern. Victorian would utilize more ornate or sculpted pots with more upright plants, such as a Parlor Palm or Aralia. For a Southwestern theme the go-to pot type would be terra cotta pots; available in a variety of shapes & sizes or utilize painted pots with either Southwestern motifs or in Southwestern colors such as turquoise, peach, white, black, red, green and yellow. The plants for a Southwestern theme can be obvious such as succulents and cacti or you can use geraniums, dracaena, cordylines and strappy leafed plants like the Spider plant.

Aralia

And third, they help clean the air around you. You know that plants take in carbon dioxide and water then give off oxygen. Well, within that carbon dioxide, there are toxins or VOC’S (volatile organic compounds) that are emitted by everyday items such as carpet, wood furniture, toilet paper, personal products, cleaning products, insulation and more. Formaldehyde is just one that is found on a regular basis in the home. You will find it in carpet, plywood, and foam insulation just to name a few. There are also benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene; sound scary, don’t they? These are common toxins found in common household items as well as just about any building you go into. They are given off, in minute amounts, but constant, every day, every hour and we are inhaling them daily. While some of these chemicals occur naturally, because they are concentrated into products or paired with other chemicals that can increase their volatility.

Pothos

While we can’t eliminate our exposure to these items (unless you own a mountain top or island and don’t mind living au natural!) but you can help lessen their impact on your environment by not only using products that have been certified as low or no VOC  but by placing plants in your environment to help cleanse the air.  A short list follows with plant names of the most common that work on the toxins I noted above. The general idea is 1 plant (in about a 6 inch pot) for every 100 square feet of area. Even in the bathroom! Yup, you have products in there that emit toxins and the right plant will thrive in the humid environment! Just remember, they don’t necessarily like drafts from the heater or air conditioner so be mindful of where you place them.

I hope I didn’t alarm you or make you fearful of your environment. That was not my intention but I did want to alert you to the things that are around you that while you can’t see them, they can be harmful especially if you are sensitive. Please don’t go crazy trying to figure out what plant you need in your home in relation to what toxins you may have. I gave you the information about toxins and their product origin so you have an idea of what the plants can do for you! Plants are wonderful little workhorses that can work wonders for your life!

Happy “indoor” gardening!

Mary

‘Indoor’ plants for your health. This is not a complete list, just a starting point!

Plant                                         Helps with VOC’s from

Aloe                                     Paints and cleaners

Ficus                                    Furniture & carpets

Spider Plant                         Solvents used on leather, rubber and in the print industries

Mother in law’s tongue         Cleaners, toilet paper, tissues, personal 

                                            care products  Perfect for the bathroom!

Chrysanthemum                    Paint, plastics, glue, detergents (needs bright light)

Ficus                                    Furniture & carpeting

English Ivy                            Airborne fecal matter (never knew!)

                                                  Again, great for the bathroom

Warneck dracaena               Varnishes

Heartleaf Philodendron         Particle board (desks, tables, cupboards) Caution though, toxic if eaten so keep away from kids/animals