People often think that only outdoor air is bad for your health . But unfortunately, the air you breathe at home can be much worse. Living and working in contaminated environments can cause headaches, eye, ear and nose irritation, and even dizziness and nausea.
It is important to frequently ventilate the rooms where we spend most of our time, but sometimes this is not enough to eliminate all the accumulated pollutant residues . Hazardous substances such as formaldehyde and benzene cannot be easily removed even if the windows are left open.
Perhaps the simplest system for purifying the air is the use of plants. In fact, some plants absorb pollutants such as hydrocarbons and ammonia. The air will be purified and even transformed into oxygen thanks to photosynthesis.
In addition to decorating rooms, plants also become a natural way to purify the air where we spend most of our time. But be careful, not all plants are suitable for pets ! Let’s discover together the 9 useful plants for purifying the air.
1) Chlorophytum comosum
The Waldenses plant , scientifically called chlorophytum , is a perennial plant, very common in our homes.
The name comes from the fact that the stems of the plant, when touching the ground, look like a walking spider. This plant comes from southern Africa, to survive it needs a very bright place , but not directly under the sun’s rays. In addition, it should be protected from cold drafts and water should not be abundant. The soil should be dry between each watering. The plant is particularly effective in eliminating pollutants such as formaldehyde and xylene .
2) Bamboo
Bamboo is a perennial plant that is grown all over the world. This plant, valued as an ornamental, is also excellent for filtering formaldehyde . It can clean a lot of air because it grows very large and lives very well in apartments. Bamboo can reach 3 meters in height and likes full sun positions. This plant will help eliminate benzene and trichloroethylene from the air.
3) Mother-in-law’s tongue
Sansevieria Trifasciata , also known as mother-in-law’s tongue or knife tongue, produces strap-like leaves that grow vertically. They are green with dark green and yellow stripes. This plant is particularly hardy and great for growing in an apartment. It doesn’t need a lot of water or sun and is great at filtering the air of many harmful substances. It can remove benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and trichloroethylene.
4) Chrysanthemums
These flowers are also excellent for removing pollutants from the air. Since they are very hardy plants , once the flowers fade, you can transplant them into your garden. Chrysanthemums remove formaldehyde, xylene, benzene , and harmful ammonia gases from the air. You can find them in stores in a variety of colors, so they can beautify your rooms and purify the air at the same time.
5) Boston Fern
Boston Fern is a particularly suitable indoor plant. It does not like sun and prefers cool , humid places. The soil should not be dry and once a month soak it in a basin of water. This plant is capable of eliminating formaldehyde and xylene , which is a derivative of benzene.
6) To tread
Calla lilies are very easy to grow, but remember that this plant does not like cold weather or lack of water. To ensure that the soil is always moist, use a saucer. This plant comes from South Africa and prefers sunny areas. If placed in an apartment, it can remove ammonia, triolein, formaldehyde and benzene.
7) Ficus
The ficus is also a plant that can clean the air in your home. It does not need special care to become lush. It adapts well to very sunny areas but also to darkness and can reach between 2 and 10 meters. The pollutants eliminated by the ficus are: carbon monoxide , formaldehyde and trichloroethylene.
8) Dracaena
There are over 40 varieties of dracaenas that thrive in warm, slightly humid environments. This plant can remove benzene , formaldehyde , xylene , and triolein from the air. But be careful, this plant is toxic to pets, so don’t bring it home if you have cats or dogs.
9) Aloe vera
Aloe vera , in addition to being a natural solution for many skin problems, such as sunburn, is an excellent plant for removing formaldehyde from the air in your home. It does not require any special care to grow, just good exposure to light and plenty of water.
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