Breathe Easier in Your Home with Houseplants
by Cindy Kerschner
Take a deep breath in. Hold it. Hold it. Now let it out. Phew! Carbon dioxide in. Oxygen out. Don’t panic. I’m talking to my Philodendron.
We spend a lot of time indoors and often with the doors and windows closed. There is little exchange of fresh air. Along with our loved ones we share the inside atmosphere with chemicals such as formaldehyde and benzene found in everyday items like pressed wood and fiberboard furniture, plastics, cleansers and personal care products. Fortunately we also share the air with our houseplants.
During photosynthesis there is a constant exchange of gases through the plant leaves. A plant absorbs everything in the air and filters out what it needs to survive. Some of the byproducts travel through the plant and are stored in the stems or released through the roots into the ground.
Interesting studies on this phenomenon were conducted in the early 1980’s by Dr. Wolverton and his team for NASA. Below is a list of the houseplants that topped the list. How many do you already own? I own four varieties listed but there is always room for more of these hardworking air cleaners!
1. Philodendron (heart leaf, elephant ear, lacy tree)
2. Green Spider Plant (Chlorophytum elatum)
3. Golden Pothos (Scindapsus aureus)
4. Chinese Evergreen (Aglonema modestum)
5. Aloe Vera
6. Mini Schefflera (Brassaia aroricola)
7. Peace Lily (Spatiphyllum)
8. Peperomia
9. Corn Plant (Dracaena)
10. Mother-in-law tongue (Sansevieria)
11. Oyster Plant (Tradescantia sillamontana)
Most houseplants don’t need a lot of attention this time of year. But we can help our natural air cleansers lead happy productive lives. Start by removing any dead or fallen leaves. Debris encourages insects, mold and fungal growth.
Next, clean winter dust off leaves with a soft, damp cloth. While you’re wiping, take time to examine each stem and leaf from top to bottom for signs of insects. Small discolored spots, curling or wilting are signs of piercing or sucking insects like aphids, whitefly or scale. Treat any infestation with alcohol wipes or soap according to the species tolerance. Always check labels for acceptable use list for your particular plant.
Placing houseplants on a windowsill with a south to south-west exposure will give them the most daylight opportunity. But, during cooler months, be careful not to close the drapes around them or let the plant touch the window pane. The air temperature can be considerably colder and shock or freeze your plants. Also remember not to place plants near entrance ways or heating ducts for the sake of more light or warmth. Drafts from open doors or gusts of uneven temperatures might shock your plant.
Remember, by taking care of your houseplants they’ll breathe a little easier. And so will you!
For more information on the NASA indoor plant study visit:http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/ssctrs.ssc.nasa.gov/hseplants_pollutants/hseplants_pollutants.pdf