Buds and Blooms: Air cleaning houseplants
By Medicine Hat News on February 24, 2018.
Here we are in the middle of February and with the weather being quite wonderful it is making us all get a little itchy for spring. We can’t really do much about it just yet but while being stuck inside our houses for a while yet, we could add a few house plants which will bring a little green and colour and something living until we can get outside and play. And if you do get a house plant you may as well make it useful and clean the air of toxins and all other compounds from the building materials, cleaning products, furniture and synthetic materials. Given that more than 90 per cent of people spend their time inside, air quality matters. Indoor air pollution can also be caused by pollen, bacteria, molds and exhaust. Living inside with all this bad air quality also causes dizziness, headaches, nausea and eye and ear irritations. So come on people, let’s add a few plants and let them go to work. The good news is that it is easy and affordable to combat the presence of the yucky stuff we are breathing in. It has been proven that house plants absorb some of the particulates from the air at the same time that the plant is taking in carbon dioxide which is then processed into oxygen through photosynthesis. Micro-organisms associated with plants are present in the potting soil and these microbes are also responsible for much of the cleaning effect. Plus plants make us feel happier. Here is a list of a few easy house plants to try. Spider Plant — bright to indirect light. It removes formaldehyde and xylene. Boston Fern — high humidity and indirect light. Also removes formaldehyde and xylene. Snake Plant — likes dry conditions and low light. It removes benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and xylene. Ficus — bright to indirect light. Removes benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. Peacy Lily — low light and blooms white. Removes ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. Bamboo — likes bright light and grows to 12 feet. Removes benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. Aloe Vera — likes dry conditions and bright light. It is a healing plant. Removes formaldehyde. So there are a few and you can see that they all remove the same compounds from within the four walls of your home. Sorry but if you wish to see the latin words for the above you can Google them. Do not forget the healing plants like the aloevera for cuts and burns etc., lavender helps with sleepless nights, sage for peace of mind, rosemary for better memory, peppermint and parsley for a good breath cleaner. All herbs have many uses for good health life. Joyce Swaren is the owner and head horticulturalist at Blondie’s Gift and Garden 16-15
