How to Improve Your Health and Home with Houseplants

Plants are one of the finest gifts we have on this planet. We can use them for so many things to enrich our lives that it not only makes sense to include them in our homes, but almost a necessity. Houseplants are not only great for decorating your space, but are the best natural air filters around, and are also wonderful for helping to reduce stress, headaches and sore throats, as houseplants are known to give off oxygen and absorb toxins.

NASA Studies Pick Top 10 Plants for Reducing Indoor Air Pollution

A recent NASA study has determined the top 10 plants for reducing indoor air pollution. Dr. B.C. Wolverton, researcher and author of "How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office" (1997, Penguin paperback), conducted plant studies for NASA that determined that plants can clean pollutants in homes, offices, factories and retail outlets.

Toxins in the Home

So just a couple decent sized houseplants can purify an entire room, and with all the toxins lurking in the average home (like Trichloroethylene, Formaldehyde, and Benzene- which are very commonly found in cleansers, carpeting, furniture, appliances, and even perfume) they might be your ticket to better health too.

Asses your Space

First, choose the right houseplant for your space. This may seem like a daunting task but there are many wonderful plants that can acclimate to your surroundings no matter if you have a dry, humid, sunny or dark room. Choosing the right one isn't hard when you know where to look. Asses your home by looking around to see where you would like to place a plant and note if its a sunny area or a dark area;(i.e. if it's in the north, south, east or west part of your home, next to a window or in a dark corner).

Use Your Style and Tastes to Help Choose the Perfect Houseplant

Take into consideration your style and tastes of decor as well. There are many, many choices when it comes to plants and why not make it something that accents your taste? If you're an unusual person, than choose and unusual plant such as a pilea moon valley, or rex begonia, or an angel wing. If you are a romantic choose something like a rose, orchid, begonia or geranium.

Good Houseplant Choices for Most Spaces

One of the most durable and easy to maintain houseplants is a philodendron. Others that might do well in a home are ficus, ferns, rubber plants and certain palms.

Shopping Tips for Houseplants

Go to your local nursery or even Lowes, Home Depot or anywhere they sell houseplants and ask a salesperson to help you pick one that will suit your space. You have many choices to suit your style such as a blooming, tropical, succulent, romantic or architectural types.

Taking Care of Your Houseplants

After you get your plant home and put it in place, be sure to take care of it on a regular basis. Check the directions on the tag or label, the conditions it requires and make sure to follow them. (i.e. If it needs to be dry before being watered or if it needs to stay moist). Also don't forget to use a fan every once in awhile as plants need air circulation and make sure they are far away from any heating sources or cold drafts.

Most of all, love and enjoy your plant!
By using all these tips, it will insure that you have a healthy plant and a healthier you!

Resources

Ehow ARTICLE;

http://community.ecoseed.org/_Plants-are-not-only-for-displays/blog/1823757/29468.html

How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office

more on houseplants; http://homeideas.howstuffworks.com/growing-houseplants

GUIDE to HOUSEPLANTS ;