Indoor Plants For Healthy Home

Plants are kept inside houses as part of interior decoration, style and fashion. But plants inside the house, if treated well remain healthy providing the inmates a pollutant free atmosphere.

Plants have the ability to filter the harmful impurities from the indoor air. In several places, indoor plants are mainly meant for indoor air cleaning.

What plants actually do:

Plants normally perform the phenomenon of photosynthesis, to respire and for metabolism. During the process, plants take in carbon dioxide from the air and return all the important oxygen and water vapor to it. Recent studies show that, plants can even remove toxic gases in the air.

During the plant’s respiration cycle, it absorbs most of the gas through the tiny openings on the leaf surface, the stomata. The rest is soaked up by the plant through the roots and through the moist soil in the pot.

Modern construction methods follow tightly sealed, super insulated structures which easily trap and keeps pollutants, which include formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene and ammonia.

These are present copiously, especially in new homes and office buildings. Here air cleaning gains more importance.

Plants that purify:

Certain scientists after rigorous research concludes that, some plants have better ability than others. Areca palms, bamboo palms, lady palms and dwarf date palms are in the top position.

Rubber plants get rid of formaldehyde in the air very well. Spider plants are well known for its ability to remove formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. Dracaena plants are effective filters of trichloroethylene from the air.

English ivies, Boston ferns, philodendrons, Gerbera daisies, pothos, Spathiphyllum, Chinese evergreens and chrysanthemums also prove to be top-quality air purifiers.

Even though they are being told to be effective air purifiers, studies are being conducted by the U.S. Environmental Agency to make sure that, whether plants can reproduce the effects in a home environment, as they do in a sealed tight capsule room.

Studies so far indicate that, a well functioning ventilation system cleans the indoor air in a modern home or office building, more effectively than even a roomful of plants.

Possible risks:

Bringing in of plants inside our home brings some health risks also along with it.

1. The damp soil in which the plant grows, can hold a lot of microorganisms including molds. They can be irritating, especially to those who have allergies.
2. Plant leaves are attractive to dust, which may act as a major reason for respiratory annoyance.
3. While pesticides are used to control insects, they indirectly pollute the air around.
4. Some plants may be toxic to humans and animals.
5. Aphids, white flies, mites, etc. may become regular visitors.

Precautions:

1. Children and pets should be kept away from the plants and the cut out flowers.
2. Before choosing an indoor plant, make sure about its toxicity and the possible hazards they may pose.
3. The children should be made aware that, these plants are never to be bitten or tasted, however tempting they may appear.
4. Use soap solutions (liquid soap diluted in water) to spray on plants, instead of insecticides.
5. The dust magnets or leaves of the plants should be wiped or washed once a week to avoid dust build up.

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