House Plants that make you Breathe
Believe it or not, plants can contribute a great deal to reduce our carbon foot print, increase oxygen level in air, minimize toxic gases and chemicals as well as trap particulate matter. All plants naturally release Oxygen and absorb Carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and in that capacity they are our natural support system to provide us balanced fresh air.
Also there are some intelligent choices which go an extra mile to handle the current levels of pollution in the air. So next time you go plant shopping to the nearby nursery, remember to pick up some of them that appeal you with their looks, suit your space, light conditions and ease of maintenance.
Trees Top the List
Due to their size and height, canopy, high emission of moisture and maximum surface area as trunk, leaves or stems, trees top the list in purifying the environment. A research team from Delhi University has zeroed down five trees that are most effective to fight pollution-Peepal, Saptaparni, Jamun, Devdar and Plumeria.
- A single mature tree can absorb carbon dioxide at a rate of 48 lbs. per year
- On average, one tree produces nearly 260 pounds of oxygen each year, sufficient for two persons.
- Remove gaseous pollutants by absorbing them through the pores in the leaf surface. Particulates are trapped and filtered by leaves, stems and twigs, and washed to the ground by rainfall.
- So let’s try and accommodate at least two trees in your homes and you shall enough oxygen for a family of four. A generous green cover around city roads and highways can balance the huge amounts of pollutants generated by urban living.
- Some trees like Neem and Peepal release oxygen even at night and become real oxygen boosters
Best Choice for Houseplants
For those of us who lives in small spaces or apartments and cannot accommodate too many trees, a NASA study suggests several common house plants that can neutralize common toxins as well act as our natural oxygen cylinders. Luckily when I turn and look around the house, I find most of them plenty. Hmm! I take a deep breath! So let’s make some space for them as vertical arrangements, pots around the patios, balcony trails, hanging baskets or creepers up the boundary walls. They shall promise to make your living spaces come alive as well as give you a puff of fresh air.
Boston Fern
Ferns are champions and remove more formaldehyde than any other plant and are highly efficient at removing other indoor air pollutants, such as benzene and xylene that can migrate indoors if you live in heavy traffic areas. They love shady verandas and like to be watered regularly. Thrive during wet months and need regular watering during dry summers.
Palms
Palms seem to be particularly good at removing indoor air pollutants, specifically formaldehyde, and they’re relatively easy to care for. Dwarf Date Palm, Bamboo Palm or Areca Palm all are superstars of filtering toxins. They filter good amounts of air as they can grow to be pretty big, as tall as four to 10 feet high, making them exciting outdoor as well as indoor additions.
Chrysanthemum
Mums are a gardener’s favourite and the first among winter blooms. They have a perfect timing with Diwali when quality of air is expected to worsen. Chrysanthemums are perfect air-purifiers for removing ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and xylene and bring a touch of colour to home gardens and balconies.
Sansevieria
Sansevieria or Snake Plant is also called ‘The Bedroom Plant’ as it produces oxygen even at night when most of the plants release Carbon dioxide and is this sense a great booster of Oxygen. It also removes benzene from the air. This easy growing is the best choice for non gardeners to balance their air at home. Grows well even when neglected and performs photosynthesis both in bright and dim light. Six of these well grown plants are sufficient to provide enough Oxygen to one person. So it’s a good idea to plant as many of these in the most neglected side of your garden or patio so as to accommodate plenty of them. They are a hardy choice for roadsides or wastelands as they hardly ask for much care or water.
Spider Plant
Spider Plant is one of the easily propagated plants and a very giving source of oxygen as it can perform photosynthesis in bright as well as dim light. It absorbs toxins like carbon mono oxide, gasoline, styrene and formaldehyde. So grow it in baskets beds or pots and place them in any kind of light conditions, they will simply multiply on their own and be at your service to clean up the toxins from the air.
Pothos
This common indoor vine in anything from whisky bottles to ceramic containers occupies the kitchen windows or heads up on the fridge in many homes for its obvious belief in feng shui. The easy growing money plant is an absolute friendly soul that is happy even in just a water arrangement and grows all over if in a pot or basket. Cannot say if it will brings you greater wealth and prosperity but Money plant surely is a powerful air purifying plant that will clean the air in your house very effectively. It has a particular affinity for formaldehydes and other volatile organic compounds most commonly in the form of off-gassing from synthetic paint or carpets.