Fight Pollution Indoors with Air Purifying House Plants

The harmful gases pollute the inside of our home whenever we cook using gas stoves and heating furnaces to warm our rooms. Carbon monoxide and Nitrogen dioxide are released when we use such apparatus. In addition, pollutants that we inhale do not come necessarily from indoors but while taking a stroll or going to office, we come in contact with airborne particulate matter and lead. Other pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone gases are created from combustion from vehicles which are again difficult to avoid.

Carpets and drapes that are treated with formaldehyde contain traces of it. Furniture made of pressed wood and particle boards are deadly too, use instead hardwood and metal furniture.

Boston ferns, Spider plants, English Ivy, Gerberas, Areca Palm, Sansevieria, Golden Pothos and many other indoor plants are excellent for absorbing indoor pollution and insidious gases.

A lot of factors contribute to home and office pollution. Air conditioners, inadequate air circulation, ventilation systems and synthetic materials used in building and furniture paints are source of poisonous gases. Our healthcare and medical bills can be reduced if we grow these house plants which also serve as a mood changer, ambience enhancer and spirit uplifter.

Plants go a long way to increase our life span by providing nutritious food and medicinal herbs to cure our ailments. An important part of earth’s eco-system, waste management and recycling  - what we would do without them? The beautiful palettes of green, brown, pink and grey and multi-coloured leaves are a thing to cherish, moreover they are a constant source of oxygen. Anyone would cheer up seeing the green foliage of the ornamental plants. Even without the flora, they brighten up the atmosphere and enhance the appearance.

In my list of house plants, ZZ – Zamioculcas Zamiifolia is on the top for the ease of maintaining, Propagating and multiplying this beautiful species is super easy. It looks awesome as a tabletop plant near your computer on study table or drawing room. The ZZ plant absorbs toluene and xylene from indoor air. It is also called Zanzibar Gem or Eternal Plant. It’s origin were found to be Kenya and it belongs to Aurum family. It is awesome for beginner gardeners. However; all parts of these plant are poisonous. Not to be consumed, this plant especially needs to be kept out of reach of pets and infants.

Spider plants(Chlorophytum comosum) are hardy and easy to grow plants. For reason beyond our understanding, they are best removal of air pollutants such as benzene,  trichlorethylene aka TCE and formaldehyde that come from domestic sources. Carpets, furnishings, chemical paints and treated wood are some of the known sources of these indoor pollutants.

Exactly how many plants are needed to purify the air is a point of debate. NASA conducted study in a close room space. Our homes and offices have several variants. Dust mites, mold and allergens are also some of the factors contributing to the quality of air indoors.  At least one plant per 100 square feet of floor space is excellent. If you can’t, don’t despair, put plants that have long and thicker foliage, they have a larger surface area and hence more capacity to absorb the long list of volatile organic gases.

The more plants, the better chances of purifying the air. One should remember to ensure healthy plants, it is necessary to keep them outdoors every alternate week or at least after a month for a period of 7 to 14 days depending upon their health and climate conditions.

Air purifiers are as good as their filters. They can remove dust and smoke from air but for very fine particles and allergens, the filters are ineffective. The quality of air again depends upon how much air they can purify and how effectively they are. HEPA filters were used to eradicate radioactive dust from atomic plants, but they can be expensive for domestic purposes. In nutshell, the plants inhale this minute poisonous particles and give out oxygen.