Interesting Facts About Plants

Houseplants are a beautiful addition to any home decor. They add color, they’re great for filling in empty spaces and they bring a little bit of the outdoors inside. But did you realize that they fight pollution indoors?

I don’t know about you, but how many of us actually have real houseplants in our homes or offices? Not all of us were born with a green thumb. Some of us go crazy buying plants when a special occasion arises to add ambiance. Only to have them die because we didn’t take care of them. Some of us have even received them as gifts which is nerve racking because honestly who wants to be responsible for killing a plant that’s also a present. But remember, just as outdoor plants are beneficial to the great outdoors, indoor plants are beneficial to our indoor environment.

Many studies have shown that houseplants fight pollution indoors. Our space program has been researching methods of cleansing the atmosphere in future space stations to keep them fit for human habitations over extended periods of time. Many common houseplants and blooming potted plants are reportedly able to absorb significant amounts of harmful gases out of the air through what they do naturally, photosynthesis.

We all know that not only do plants absorb carbon dioxide and release clean oxygen into the air but research has shown that they also absorb benzene, formaildehyde and trichloroethylene.

Some houseplants are better at removing certain than others. Unfortunately they don’t take care of tobacco smoke. But there are enough known plants that do a good job of removing pollutants from the air we breath to cause us to view houseplants as more than just an attractive feature in decorating the interior environment. Think of how this could be beneficial to stuffy offices and schools etc.

So it’s definitely worth giving real houseplants a try. The following plants are ideal for the home or office.

Hedera helix English ivy

Chlorophytum comosum spider plant

Epipiremnum aureum golden pothos

Spathiphyllum `Mauna Loa’ peace lily

Aglaonema modestum Chinese evergreen

Chamaedorea sefritzii bamboo or reed palm

Sansevieria trifasciata snake plant

Philodendron scandens `oxycardium’ heartleaf philodendron

Philodendron selloum selloum philodendron

Philodendron domesticum elephant ear philodendron

Dracaena marginata red-edged dracaena

Dracaena fragrans `Massangeana’ cornstalk dracaena

Dracaena deremensis `Janet Craig’ Janet Craig dracaena

Dracaena deremensis `Warneckii’ Warneck dracaena

Ficus benjamina weeping fig

Any of these plants are hearty year round and remember the bigger they get the better they work. To get them big don’t forget to water them. If this is something that’s easier said than done there are many watering systems out in the market that can help keep you and your family surrounded by plants.

Interesting Facts About Plants