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Benefits of Houseplants

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Many houseplants absorb toxic substances such as formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene, found in man-made materials that are known to “off-gas” pollutants into the air in your home, school, and office. In addition, a study done at Virginia Tech led researchers to conclude that houseplants can reduce indoor dust by up to 20%. In effect, houseplants are efficient air cleaners.

NASA has done extensive studies of the role of houseplants in cleansing the air, hoping to capitalize on these benefits for future space stations. Their studies have shown that certain houseplants are exceptionally good at cleansing the air. NASA recommends having 15-18 houseplants for a 1,800 square-foot house. While not all of us have room for quite that many plants, even just a few can be effective. Dr. Virginia Lohr, a professor of horticulture at Washington State University, suggests that filling as little as 2% of the room with plants will make an impact.

Indoor plants improve air quality in other ways as well. Plants release water vapor into the air, which increases humidity, and this can help improve respiratory and skin health by offsetting the drying effects of heating systems. This can be an incredible benefit to those with respiratory issues, headaches, and allergies.
Plants also increase oxygen levels in the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen during photosynthesis. According to a Seattle Times article, you can maximize your benefits by placing plants “in your ‘breathing zone,’ within 6 to 8 square feet of where you normally sit or lie.”

A positive effect of this increased oxygenation can be to improve our mood, energy, and mental focus. In fact, studies have found that when people were allowed to have indoor plants in their office space, their work performance improved! No wonder so many new tech offices are including indoor spaces reminiscent of forests and tropical oases. Not only are they beautiful, but they also help people feel better and work better.

Indoor plants are beautiful to look at and they can have a significant, positive impact on our health. Houseplants improve indoor air quality by adding oxygen and humidity to the air in our homes and offices. NASA scientists have found that many also remove harmful gases such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from indoor air.

But which ones do it best?
NASA came up with a list of indoor plants that cleaned the air most efficiently.

Here are the 18 standouts (in no particular order):

  • English ivy (Hedera helix)
  • aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis)
  • spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
  • golden pothos (Epipiremnum aureum)
  • peace lily (Spathiphyllum `Mauna Loa’)
  • Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)
  • bamboo or reed palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)
  • snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)
  • heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron scandens `oxycardium’)
  • lacy tree philodendron (Philodendron selloum)
  • elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum)
  • red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)
  • corn plant (Dracaena fragrans `Massangeana’)
  • Janet Craig & Warneckii dracaena (Dracaena deremensis `Janet Craig’ & `Warneckii’)
  • weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)
  • gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
  • pot mum (Crysanthemum morifolium)

So, what are you waiting for?

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