Plants serve several ornamental and practical purposes, and you can choose the plants you want to adorn your home or garden based on your personal tastes. There are also plants that are particularly beneficial to our health since these are plants that clean the indoor air and make it healthier for your entire family. This is great to keep in mind if you have children or relatives with allergies or breathing difficulties or have just welcomed a new baby into the family. Many of these plants are also visually appealing, so they can easily become part of your home’s décor.
Boston Fern
The Boston fern is considered one of the best plants to have in your home when you want to purify the air. Since the leaves are large and shaped like feathers, the plant looks especially attractive in hanging baskets. However, the plant can be challenging to maintain, since it requires constant humidity and moisture. The Boston fern removes formaldehyde from the air, which is commonly found in the glue that is sometimes used to make furniture. Studies also show Boston fern is beneficial for removing arsenic and mercury from the soil.
English Ivy
The English ivy is native to Europe and is an evergreen plant. It helps to balance indoor humidity and counteracts the effects of harmful chemicals in the air. The English ivy is usually grown in outdoor gardens and landscapes since it makes a great ground cover. It can easily be grown as a houseplant as well since it doesn’t require much maintenance. The plant thrives in cool temperatures, so it’s best to place it near a door or window. English ivy can grow up to 8 inches tall, and some plants will produce small greenish-white flowers during the fall.
Peace Lily
Peace lily also helps to purify the air inside your home and is one of the few plants with this distinction that produces beautiful flowers. The peace lily doesn’t require much light, but the soil must be moist for the flower to thrive. Therefore, it’s best to water it weekly. The peace lily blooms year-round and extracts VOC benzene from the air. VOC benzene is a cancer-causing agent that often in furniture polish and paint. The acetone in the air that is emitted by electronics and household cleaners is also soaked up by the peace lily.
Snake Plant
This plant has long, sharp leaves shaped like snakes. The plant grows well in low light. During the evening hours, the snake plant, which is also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, releases oxygen into the air while removing carbon dioxide. The plant also removes benzene and formaldehyde from the air, making it an ideal plant for the bedroom and main areas of the home.
Lady Palm
The lady palm may take a while to grow tall, but when it does, it boasts fan-like leaves that can improve the look of any room. This plant helps to make indoor air cleaner by filtering ammonia out of the air, which can come from household cleaning products, fabrics, and dyes. The plant tolerates light shade during the colder months of the year and needs to be watered often in the summer for proper soil drainage.