Looking for functional decor for your home? Why not try setting up indoor plants in different areas of your house?
Indoor air quality has taken a turn for the worst and who knows what toxins may be lurking in various corners of your house? And since most of us spend 80% of our time indoors, we are constantly exposed to these harmful pollutants.
The best way to purify the air while adding a decorative spin to your home would be to introduce some indoor plants into the house. Here are a few you can try out.
1. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is one of the most well-known plants in the Indian home. The gel of this plant contains medicinal properties and is used to treat a variety of skin conditions.
It is a highly-effective air purifier and cleans the air of chemicals and toxins released by household cleaning products. The aloe plant can also be used to check the toxin levels in your home as it starts to display brown spots when indoor air quality is poor.
2. Areca Palm
This plant tends to grow to 30 feet when planted outdoors, but indoors it grows to a maximum height of 6 feet.
Just be sure to plant it in a small pot, so the roots are restricted from spreading out too much.
This useful plant is effective in filtering two main pollutants - xylene and toluene - from the air. It also plays an important role in keeping your house cool by acting as a humidifier.
3. English Ivy
NASA claims that this tiny plant is perhaps the most effective air purifier you can invest in because it effectively removes formaldehyde from the air.
It is also incredibly easy to grow and can be set up from a hanging pot or on the floor. Just be sure that the English Ivy receives lots of sunlight as it tends to get infested by pests in the absence of sunlight. Also, avoid watering it too often; only water it when the soil looks quite dry.
4. Dracaena
This easy-to-grow plant does not require too much sunlight to grow and can grow to a height of 12 feet. So be sure you have adequate space for this plant!
Of course, you will have to trim it now and then to ensure it does not grow all over the place.
This plant helps to remove toxins like xylene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde, keeping the air in your home clean.
5. Snake Plant
This plant has a very strange nickname - mother-in-law’s tongue.
Its hardy and upright look will add a unique spin to the setting in your home, and what’s more? It is super easy to maintain. It does not require much water and can make do with indirect sunlight.
The snake plant is on NASA’s list of top air purifying plants and can work wonders on the air quality inside your home.
If you are placing this plant in front of a window, just be sure to rotate it by half a turn every week.
6. Spider Plant
This is perhaps one of the most commonly seen houseplants, and one of the easiest to maintain. Spider plants can survive even if not watered regularly (although it’s not recommended) and require moderate light.
The only thing you have to keep in mind is to fertilise this plant twice a month during the spring and the summer because that is when it tends to use maximum nutrients.
This plant removes benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and carbon monoxide from the air, making it the ideal air purifier for homes set up near busy roads.
Look for variety
When shopping for indoor plants, it is best to get a variety of species with which to decorate your home. This will give your house a unique look and clear the air of a variety of different pollutants.
By setting up potted plants in different areas, you can rid the air of toxins and stay healthy inside your own home. It’s the most natural form of air purification!
This article is contributed by RoofandFloor , part of KSL Digital Ventures Pvt. Ltd., from The Hindu Group
Published - November 15, 2017 10:00 am IST
