Indoor Plants make the Perfect Gift!

Consider a live plant for those difficult people on that holiday shopping list, or as a birthday or anniversary gift for the person who has everything. You can find a plant that will please just about everyone, from a small child to the most manly of men!

There are so many benefits to having indoor plants in homes and offices. Besides being one of the more obvious eco-friendly choices, a live plant also improves air quality and removes toxins from the air. When you consider the fact that, on average, we spend 90% of our time inside (90%!), and that almost two and a half MILLION people die each year from conditions related to air pollution, the toxin-removing benefits of living plants alone should make them a top gift idea on everyone's list.

While it is a well-known fact that most all plants produce oxygen during daylight hours, many people do not realize that plants actually absorb toxins. In particular, many tropical plants, like ferns or palms, have developed an incredible ability to filter toxins, and certain plants even "specialize" in removing certain toxins!

For example, if you are concerned about mold in your living space, you should consider the Peace Lily. Because this plant also specializes in absorbing alcohol and acetone - which are found in hair sprays, after shave and other grooming products - the ideal location for a Peace Lily in your home would be the bathroom, where these products are generally found and also where mold is most likely to grow.

While the Boston Fern is the best plant for removing formaldehyde from the air, the Areca Palm is one of the best tropical plants for removing formaldehyde (released by carpet, upholstery, and particleboard), as well as xylene (found in many solvents, cleaners, varnishes, etc.). Xylenes and formaldehyde are also found in cigarette emissions, along with benzene.

Under ideal temperature and humidity, an Areca Palm will pull 600-900 mcg of xylene and formaldehyde out of the air each hour! The more Areca Palms the better, but place them especially in living areas like family rooms and bedrooms. Lady Palms, Bamboo Palms and Spider Plants are also great formaldehyde removers.

Rounding out the top ten list of plants which remove the most toxins from our inside air are the rubber plant, philodendron, dwarf date palm, and the ficus.

Homes with small children or pets should take care with the types of plants they bring indoors. For example, philodendron, rubber plants and English Ivy are highly toxic to children and animals. Do your research before you buy living plants for your home!

Sources:

Wyndham City Council website, Environment & Waste page. http://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/home

Metaefficient website (indoor plants)

http://www.metaefficient.com/

50 plus website: How to Grow Clean Air

http://www.50plus.com/