Houseplants Add More than A Touch of Green to the Home

Houseplants Add More than A Touch of Green to the Home

House plants have been a staple of the modern home for ages as they add warmth and aesthetic beauty to any space. However today's houseplants aren't just pleasing to the eye; many also serve a beneficial function such as purifying air. NASA has even executed studies on common household air pollutants and found that certain household plants filter a stunning amount of toxins.

AIR PURIFYING PLANTS

Ficus plants are at the top of the chart when examining air purifying qualities. Plants of this family include the Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) and Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina). Other beneficial plants that will thrive in New Orleans' climate include the Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia), Caladium, Spider Plants (Chlorophytum), ivy, and ferns.

If yourNew Orleans apartment gets little light, choose a plant with low light requirements such as an Umbrella Tree (Schefflera), Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema), or Mother-in-Law's Tongue also known as Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata).

BENEFICIAL FLOWERING PLANTS

For filtering and fragrance, choose a flowering plant to improve indoor air quality. Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum), for example, can filter toxic benzene.Persian Violets (Cyclamen), African Violets (Saintpaulia), andPaperwhite Narcissus (Narcissus Tazetta) perform similar functions, serving to sift dangerous chemicals from the air. Chrysanthemum, too, are excellent purifiers. A study by NASA in the late 1980s indicated that a single chrysanthemum filtered more than 60 percent of toxic formaldehyde from a small room in just 24 hours.

LET THERE BE LIGHT!

All photosynthetic organisms need light to live and grow, but some need more than others. This light can be measured in what are called foot-candles, with each foot-candle representing the light on a square foot of surface 12 inches from a single candle. A plant requiring "Low" light needs around 50 foot-candles, but "High" light plants require around 200 foot-candles of light to flourish.

PEST CONTROL TIPS

To keep pesky insects from snacking on, or living in, household plants, try an organic solution before rushing out to buy harmful chemicals. One way to keep the buggies away is to pack used coffee grounds around the base of a plant, as insects are deterred by the bitter but nutrient-rich waste. If you're not a java fan, mix Cayenne pepper and water in a spray bottle and spritz the leaves and stems of houseplants to keep pests away.

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