Plants can be a beautiful addition to your home, but they can also provide much more than mere aesthetic appeal. Certain types of plants have the ability to purify the air in your home by absorbing common toxins. Plants also release oxygen into the air, can boost your mental health with their pleasing colors, and may even provide medicinal properties in a pinch. Try out these ten plants for your indoor health.
1. African Violets
While you might find it fun to look at flowers of many colors, you probably didn’t know that certain colors can affect your brain chemistry. African Violets are purple, which can help to increase oxygen flow to your brain and stimulate adrenaline. They are easy to care for and grow well under artificial light.
2. Aloe Vera
If you seem to have a black thumb when it comes to caring for plants, Aloe Vera is very difficult to kill. It absorbs toxins such as benzene from the air to improve indoor air quality. Breaking open the leaves also releases a gel, which can be used on cuts and burns to help them heal.
3. English Ivy
Known to help people focus in the office, English Ivy also absorbs formaldehyde, benzene, and airborne fecal matter. This makes it a particularly good choice for anyone who keeps pets in the home. You can place this in a pot or use it as a hanging plant.
4. Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a particularly useful plant for good health. The leaves contain tannins, which can improve the air passages of your body by raising healthy fluids. Simply having the plant in your home and breathing in its scent may help reduce congestion and colds.
5. Ferns
Ferns have been around since the time of the dinosaurs. In addition to adding a wild look to a room, ferns can help absorb formaldehyde and restore moisture to dry air. Many ferns, such as the Boston Fern, require direct sunlight and plenty of water in order to thrive.
6. Peace Lily
If you are concerned about mold spores in your home, then you might consider getting a Peace Lily. This plant not only looks beautiful, but it is known to improve air quality by 60%. The plant absorbs mold spores and uses them as food. The bathroom is a particularly suitable place for this lovely plant.
7. Pothos
Often referred to as Golden Pothos, this plant is also useful for absorbing formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. This plant thrives well in low light and colder temperatures. The kitchen and the office are great places to grow a Pothos plant.
8. Philodendron
Philodendron can be toxic to children or pets, so it is best to grow it in homes without both. It is a climbing vine, so it can be a challenge to keep it out of reach as it grows. This plant is another excellent choice to help absorb formaldehyde in the home or office. It needs only a medium amount of sunlight and some water, so it is fairly easy to care for.
9. Snake Plant
While most plants release oxygen during daylight hours, the Snake Plant releases it at night. They do not require much light or water, which makes them an ideal choice for filling a corner of your home or office with additional green. The bedroom is an especially great choice for this type of plant.
10. Spider Plant
There are good reasons why Spider Plants are one of the most common indoor plants you’ll find. The decorative leaves are great for soaking up benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and xylene. This plant is known to rid up to 90% of the pollutants in your home after just two days. It is a great choice for your family members who suffer from allergies.
Improve Your Indoor Health
Homes and offices are filled with all kinds of pollutants that come off of equipment, furniture, particle board, and other items that make up either the building or the things used inside of it. Choose your indoor plants wisely to help purify the air from toxins you may not even realize are present. Also take into consideration other uses for the plant, such as the ability to be used in teas or ointments to treat other health-related issues. The right indoor plants can have all kinds of positive effects for your physical and emotional health.