How to Improve your Indoor Air Quality with Houseplants

In a few minutes of attention per day, you can improve the air quality in your home. Based on NASA studies, these houseplants have been proven to remove harmful chemicals from the atmosphere. They thrive in low-light conditions, are easy to grow, and require little care. So stop by your local nursery and let's get started clearing harmful chemicals from the air, because small varieties of each plant are often available for just a dollar each! For a living area under 2000 square feet, NASA recommends 15 houseplants (one of each).

You will find the reduced toxins and improved air quality will help your health and well-being in a very short amount of time!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Houseplants listed below
• Pots
• A little care and water

1. NASA recommends that you grow these houseplants in at least six-inch containers. They can be placed even in dark corners.

2. 
    
   Snake Plant, or Mother-in-Law's Tongue, Sansevieria trifasciata, in flower

   To remove benzene, which is released by oils, solvents and paints, try planting one of each of the following plants:
   English ivy (Hedera helix)
   Gerbera daisies
   Chrysanthemums
   peace lily (Spathiphyllum `Mauna Loa')
   Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)
   Mother-in-law's Tongue or Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

3. 
    
   Peace Lily, Spathiphyllum 'Mauna Loa', in flower

   To remove trichloroethylene, which is released by paints, adhesives, inks, and varnishes, try planting:
   Peace lily (Spathiphyllum `Mauna Loa')
   Gerbera daisy
   Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)

4. 
    
   Golden Pothos, Epipiremnum Aureum

   To remove formaldehyde, which is released by building materials including particle board and foam insulations, cosmetics, fragrances, cleaning solutions, and many, many other common household items, try planting:
   Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)
   Mother-in-law's tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)
   Dracaena warneckei (Dracaena deremensis `Warneckii')
   Peace lily (Spathiphyllum `Mauna Loa')
   Red-edged Dracena (dracaena marginata)
   Golden pothos (Epipiremnum aureum)
   Green spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

5. 
    
   Cornstalk Dracena, Dracaena Fragrans, in flower

   To remove other harmful chemicals, try planting:
   Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron scandens `oxycardium')
   Elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum)
   Cornstalk dracena (Dracaena fragrans `Massangeana')
   Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)
   Philodendron selloum (the botanical name is the same)
   Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)

Tips & Warnings

• Take your houseplants outside occasionally to bask in the sun. Peace lilies need sun to bloom.
• Some of your friends or neighbours may have extra plants and pots to give you. Spider plants in particular produce lots of pups.
• Keep cats away from some of these varieties as they may prove toxic.
• Minimize your use of non-natural fertilizers and pesticides.
• Pour out excess water. It will attract fungus gnats and mosquitoes. Don't overwater to reduce the possibility of mold.

Resources

• TED talk on houseplants and indoor air quality
• Learn more about the effects of toxins
• Books about houseplants and the NASA studies at Amazon.com

[raindroptexas]

on 11/28/2009 GREAT article- I love the concept of using plants to clean my local air! This meshes great with my use of essential oils to clean up ME!! (smile)

[ethoslogos]

on 3/3/2009 Very interesting info on how to improve your indoor air quality with houseplants. Thanks and 5*

[georgelarson]

on 2/17/2009 I did not know that indoor plants helps with so much. Thanks.

[kongluirong]

on 2/10/2009 Wow, these are great suggestions! And I've been wanting to get an air filter. Why when there are plenty of natural air filters at a nursery! 5*