Indoor plants for air purification and low maintenance

Air-purifying indoor plants not only help create a pleasant atmosphere in any home, but they can also remove chemicals from the air, which may only boost your mood-and many plants require little maintenance.

In fact, a NASA Research Some familiar indoor plants can absorb pollutants into their leaves, roots, and soil through a process called phytoremediation, thereby removing harmful and toxic chemicals from the air.

“Indoor plants…have demonstrated the potential to improve indoor air quality by removing trace organic pollutants from the air,” Clean air research Discovery published by the agency.

We have reviewed the common pollutants and summarized the best air purification indoor plants for air purification and low maintenance.

Air pollutants

According to the survey results, indoor plants found in American homes may help to absorb and take away the main chemicals in the air including benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. NASA scientists.

Benzene is used to make detergents and is found in inks, oils, paint plastics and rubber. The chemical has been proven to “have mutagenic effects on bacterial cell cultures.” It has been shown to be “carcinogenic” in some tests, and long-term exposure even at low levels can cause headaches, loss of appetite, lethargy, nervousness, mental disorders and blood system diseases, including anemia and bone marrow diseases, according to reports. data Obtained by NASA.

Researchers found that formaldehyde “exists in almost all indoor environments.” The main sources include household cleaners, urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) and chipboard or pressed wood products. UF resins are used as waterproofing agents, flame retardants and adhesives in floor coverings, carpet backings and permanently ironed clothes. Exposure to this chemical can irritate the upper respiratory tract and eyes and cause headaches.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a commercial product widely used in paints, varnishes, varnishes and adhesives. In the home, it can be found in cleaning wipes, aerosol products, and carpet cleaners. National Cancer Institute It is believed to be a potent liver and kidney carcinogen.

Mother-in-law’s tongue

This hardy yellow-tip succulent can grow up to two meters tall. According to most gardening guidelines, this plant thrives in dry conditions and does not like over-watering, so the risk of ignoring this plant is small.

Some people believe that this plant has the unique ability to convert CO2 (carbon dioxide) to O2 (oxygen) at night because it is capable of a type of photosynthesis called sedum acid metabolism (CAM).

Kamal Meattle is an environmental activist and chief executive officer of the Pahapur Business Center in New Delhi, India. He was originally in 2009 Ted Talk “How to grow fresh air” suggests that homeowners need six or eight waist-high plants per person to discover any benefits.

“Mother-in-law’s tongue is most effective in converting carbon dioxide into oxygen indoors,” Mettle said Weekly newspaper“It absorbs toxins such as nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde.”

When describing the CAM photosynthesis process, Meattle said that the plant developed a unique carbon fixation pathway to adapt to drought conditions.

“In plants that use full CAM, the stomata in the leaves remain closed during the day to reduce evaporation, but open at night to collect carbon dioxide,” he explained.

Aloe

Even novice gardeners will find aloe plants very easy to maintain at home. Succulent plants are believed to help purify formaldehyde and benzene in the air.

Due to its natural anti-inflammatory properties, it also provides great herbal healing benefits for any home remedy. Learn Suggest.

Good Housekeeping suggests that all that is needed to keep this plant vigorous and flourishing is bright indirect light and watering every two weeks.

Barberton Daisy

Barberton daisy is an effective formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and benzene cleaner, NASA two years Learn disclose. The beautiful orange, red and yellow petals of this flower also add color to any family.

Although this daisy prefers a warm climate and direct sunlight, it is versatile and can adapt to various conditions.

English ivy

This easy-to-grow plant is believed to be particularly effective in reducing fecal particles in the air and helping fight mold. Country Living recommends that, for these reasons, it is the smart choice for the bathroom.

According to NASA’s research, in terms of air purification, British ivy is one of the best indoor indoor plants.

Peace lily

Peace lily is a popular choice for many office lobbies. It is both beautiful and practical. It is one of the few indoor plants that bloom. Urban Agriculturist Bonnie Grant writes that it is also a good choice for low-light spaces because it can thrive in the shade, and can even let you know when you need water by sagging slightly Gardening knowledge.

The plant can decompose and neutralize toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.However, it may be slightly toxic to pets, so it is best to keep it out of their reach, Dr. Jerry Klein, chief veterinary expert at the American Kennel Club, told Weekly newspaper.

Boston Fern

This popular plant comes from ferns, which contains some of the oldest plants in the world, and has been thriving in various environments for 300 million years. According to estimates by the American Fern Association, there are approximately 12,000 species of ferns in the world.

Most of them are adapted to the dappled sunlight on the forest floor, so they need to filter light to thrive. According to reports, the Boston fern has been an elegant houseplant since the Victorian era. Better homes and gardens.

According to NASA’s “Indoor Landscape Plants to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution” study, Boston ferns remove more formaldehyde than any other plant.

Rubber factory

This plant is not only suitable for almost all home aesthetics, but also has large, thick, shiny green leaves, cold-resistant and low maintenance costs. Rubber plants can grow well in most households and require very little care.

Rubber plants need a lot of bright diffuse light, but they should be removed from strong direct sunlight, as this will scorch the leaves. Jon VanZile, author of “Indoor Plants for Healthy Homes,” writes that plants with insufficient light will become soft and dull, rather than bright and vibrant. Spruce.

Monstera

Known as the Swiss cheese factory due to its unique perforations and deep-cut leaves, this popular household additive is very easy to grow, adaptable and able to thrive in most climates.

Give this plant enough room to grow because it naturally expands the tree by attaching itself with long aerial roots. According to reports, the length of a single vine can exceed 70 feet. National Tropical Botanical Garden.

There are many things to love about indoor plants, and their benefits are just beginning to appear in the scientific literature.

Horticulturist Marc Hachadourian is the head of the Nolan Greenhouse at the New York Botanical Garden. He believes that plants are good for people’s physical and mental health.

“In fact, there is a lot of scientific evidence that adding plants to any work space or living environment does help reduce stress,” Hachadourian told Business Insider. “Caring for plants and gardening has obvious therapeutic effects. It has been proven to lower blood pressure and reduce stress, so the benefits don’t stop there. […] Help purify the air and increase oxygen. “

Can plants really purify the air? Bill C. Wolverton, one of NASA’s first researchers, certainly believes this.

The researcher detailed the ways in which plants have a positive impact on human health and well-being in his book “Plants: Why Can’t You Live Without They” published in 2010. “Just getting close to plants can relieve stress, relax and accelerate the healing of the body,” he said wrote.