Bringing plants indoors not only saves them from the chill outdoors during the cooler, wetter months but they also do double duty as home air cleaners.
Given that the average living room is approximately 20-25 yards with an 8 or 9 foot ceiling, about 10 to 15 plants in 6 inch pots or larger should work out very nicely. A good equation to remember is one plant per 10 square yards of living space. This can also include cut flowers, leaves and stems in a decorative vase.
Not all plants need an abundant amount of sunlight. Those of the tropical varieties that thrive under low light (think growing under the huge canopy of the rain forest) can grow in living rooms with dark corners. Balance light with ventilation as most plants prefer an equal amount of both.
Certain varieties are better than others working naturally as a personal home air cleaner. For example, english ivy, gerbera daisies, pot mums, peace lily and bamboo palm were found to be the best plants for treating air contaminated with Benzene. Benzene is a solvent used in items like gasoline, inks, oils, paint, plastic and rubber as well as in the manufacture of detergents, explosives, pharmaceuticals and dyes. The peace lily, gerbera daisy, and bamboo palm were very effective in treating Trichloroethylene (used in some printing inks, paints, lacquers, varnishes and adhesives).These plants are readily available at your local nursery. Here are the top recommendations for home air cleaners or indoor purification:
- Philodendron scandens `oxycardium’, heartleaf philodendron
- Philodendron domesticum, elephant ear philodendron
- 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
- Dracaena marginata , red-edged dracaena
We write about 2 to 3 per week.
How often do you write your blogs? I enjoy them a lot 9 5 5