Powerful Air Purifying Plants

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Powerful Air Purifying Plants
by Muskan Priya \| 07-12-2018 12:26 0
Ever thought that the air inside the house is five times more polluted than the air outside. In fact, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside the average home is up to five times more polluted than the air outside. While moderately alarming on a certain level, it’s really more of a catalyst for making positive changes in one’s life that not only freshen up the air, but also allow us to more intimately connect with nature—not merely when we’re outside, but in the comfort of our own living and working spaces. The remedy? Air purifying plants, of course. Mother-in-Law’s Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) Long, tongue-like leaves with sharp pointed tips earn Sansevieria trifasciata the endearingly euphemistic name of Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, although certain varieties also resemble the geometrically patterned scales of a snake. The sturdy leaves of Sansevieria shoot upwards majestically, with beautiful twists and turns that resemble a mobius strip. One of the top air purifying plants identified by NASA, Sansevieria removes at least 107 known air pollutants, including carbon monoxide and nitrogen monoxide, formaldehyde, chloroform, benzene, xylene, and trichloroethylene among many others. Sansevieria also produces copious amounts of oxygen throughout the night, making it an excellent plant to keep in the bedroom. Best of all, Sansevieria is an extremely resilient species that can go for weeks without water and seems to thrive in just about any climate, including those with low light, although they do appreciate direct sunlight and fresh air on occasion, which is characteristic of their native habitat of Madagascar. MoneyPlant (Epipremnum aureum) Native to Australia and Asia, the money plant earns its common name from its traditional use as a wealth and prosperity booster in the Chinese system of feng shui, which is the ancient art of harmonizing indoor spaces via the strategic placement of furniture, plants and other common household objects. Whether or not it brings you greater material abundance, Epipremnum aureum is a powerful air purifying plant that will clean the air in your house very effectively, due to its particular affinity for volatile organic compounds (otherwise known as VOCs) most commonly in the form of off-gassing from synthetic paint or carpets. With long, wandering vines, don’t be surprised if your Money Plant slowly takes over your room, with vines reaching up to 30 to 40 feet. You can, of course, trim them if you want to keep your plant more modest. Epipremnum aureum does best in rooms with indirect light and requires regular watering. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) The Peace Lily is a deep, forest green plant with beautiful (although fickle) white flowers. It’s a great general cleanser and air purifying plant that effectively removes all common indoor pollutants generated by furniture, electronics and cleaning products, so much so that it is one of NASA’s top-ranked plants for this purpose. The Peace Lily does well in indirect light and requires minimal watering with the general guideline being once every four to five days. In hotter climates it may need water more frequently, and you’ll know it’s overdue when the leaves begin to weep. Bamboo Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) Also known as the Butterfly Palm and the Areca Palm, the Bamboo Palm is another hardy plant native to Madagascar that does an excellent job as an indoor, air purifying plant, with a particular penchant for formaldehydes, benzene and carbon monoxide. As an added benefit beyond air purification, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens is also a natural humidifier, producing a liter of ambient water every 24 hours, making it a well suited plant for dry climates or those with breathing troubles. Bamboo Palms grow rapidly and can become quite large (up to 20 feet in height), but you can limit their vertical reach by keeping them confined to smaller pots. They prefer bright, filtered light and enjoy being watered frequently when growing, however, in the winter months they tend to need less. Thanks for reading! Source: www.consciouslifemag.com

Dormant user Muskan Priya