Houseplants for Clean Air

Particularly during cold and often sunless winters, having plants around the house will alleviate the winter blues often triggered by cabin fever. Green plants purify the air and bring promise of a bright spring thaw, a great mood reliever. Any local greenhouse or the big box stores have garden centers full of potted tropical plants, which are a calming, healing delight around the house.

Many house plants are inexpensive and easy to care for, and can be chosen to complement any interior color scheme. Grouping plants of varied colors at different heights can create a garden effect in any room, a constant reminder of the great outdoors.

When bringing houseplants indoors make sure they are in containers with proper drainage, as keeping plants in water can promote fungus and other problems. Plants need the wet and dry cycle of their natural environment. Plants that live well with minimum lighting, such as Philodendrons and Chinese Evergreen, and the are best for small spaces with limited sun exposure. Plants bought at store garden centers usually have a tag with care instructions.

For best air cleaning effect, a potted plant for every 100 square feet is best. According to NASA, there are several plants that can purify indoor air and help people with allergies. Among the most effective air cleaners is the Peace Lily, an attractive plant that is hard to kill and easy to grow, and is often seen within shopping malls.

The Aloe Vera plant is well known for medicinal benefits, but is also quite effective at ridding the air of formaldehyde, a harmful chemical commonly used in manufacturing.

Chrysanthemum is another attractive houseplant which has been proven effective at cleaning Benzene from the air. Tobacco products contain plenty of Benzene, which is linked to cancer. Anyone with children or pets needs to be careful, as Chrysanthemum is poisonous if eaten or by skin contact, so handle with care.

The rubber plant provides moisture while cleaning the air, using bacteria that grows on it's leaves that break up and eat airborne toxins, and cleans more effectively as the plant grows.