CasaSugar

Top 10 Air Purifying House Plants

CasaSugar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:00:00 -0800

Chemicals are fairly prevalent in our homes, but house plants can help! A 1989 study by NASA (get the PDF here) concluded that certain "low-light-requiring houseplants, along with activated carbon plant filters, have demonstrated the potential for improving indoor air quality by removing trace organic pollutants from the air in energy-efficient buildings." The study identified 10 plants that purify indoor air of dangerous toxins, including trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, and benzene.

Luckily, by adding some good-looking plants to our homes that are proven to purify the air, we can greatly reduce our exposure to these scary chemicals. Want to know what the top 10 air purifying plants are?

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Plants That Purify: English Ivy

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:00:03 -0800

We all could benefit from a cheap and beautiful way to improve a home's indoor air quality. That's why I'm bringing you an ongoing series on houseplants that are particularly good at purifying air.

Next up in our series is English ivy.

To find out more about this hardy houseplant, just read more

English ivy can be found in close to a hundred varieties and has been known to also help remove benzene from the air. It is considered an invasive plant outdoors, since it spreads so quickly and can smother wildflowers and other native plants. However, it's a great plant if kept indoors.

To control growth, pinch leaves off of your English ivy plant. Also, make sure that your plant has sufficient humidity. Keep it away from heat registers or changes in temperature, and if your house is dry, it might help if you keep your ivy plant on a tray of pebbles that can have water added to it daily. Ivy likes indirect light, and its flexible stems allow it to be trained in predetermined shapes. In the home, plant diseases are very rarely a problem.

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Plants That Purify: Chinese Evergreen

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:00:50 -0800

We all could benefit from a cheap and beautiful way to improve a home's indoor air quality. That's why I'm bringing you an ongoing series on house plants that are particularly good at purifying the air.

Next up in our series is the Chinese evergreen.

Calling all black thumb gardeners! To find out about this black thumb-resistant plant, just read more

This tropical foliage plant is one of the most durable houseplants. It will forgive you if you put it in a poorly lit corner, blast the air conditioning, subject it to dry air, and even forget to water it for a few weeks.

Keep your Chinese evergreen out of direct sun and grow them in a standard soil mix with extra humus. If you can remember, try to keep the soil moist. Varieties include Emerald Beauty, which is rich green with pale green markings; Parrot Jungle, which has silvery markings on dark green leaves; Queen Julienne, which has silvery feathering on dark green foliage; Silver King, which is heavily silvered and grows 24 inches tall; and White Rajah, which has bold white markings. Warning: This plant is toxic, so keep it away from kids and pets!

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Plants That Purify: Peace Lily

CasaSugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 09:00:56 -0800

Next up in our series is the peace lily.

Peace lily, which is also known as the friendship plant, produces an abundance of long, dark leaves and, if it receives proper amounts of sunlight, fertilizer, and water, the lily will produce a beautiful bloom that looks like a small ear of corn covered by a white hood. Most peace lilies grow between 1- to 4-ft. tall and wide.

The peace lily will tolerate low, interior light but thrives in bright, filtered light. But like fair-skinned folks, the peace lily will sunburn if placed in bright light. This plant prefers well-drained soil and minimal fertilizer. Wipe the leaves with a damp, soft cloth to remove dust. If your plant isn't flowering, try placing it in brighter - but not direct - light to encourage floral growth. If the edges of the leaves turn brown, you can reverse the problem by either watering more regularly or reducing fertilization.

Make sure to check out Sgdish's beautiful peace lily that she posted in Su Casa.

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