By Simone Butler
Improving the air quality in your home is a lot easier than you might think. You can turn your home into an oxygen-rich, indoor tropical oasis with everyday houseplants. These natural filters absorb a variety of harmful air pollutants and produce oxygen for easy breathing. Houseplants clean the air, soothe the senses by surrounding you with nature, and make great gifts too. The plants listed below are among the favorites when it comes to bringing the fresh air in.
Areca Palm
This is a popular palm that removes toxins from the air and serves as a natural humidifier. It is one of the best houseplants for improving indoor air quality. It thrives in direct sunlight, with the soil remaining damp most of the time. Misting the leaves regularly will keep this tropical plant happy.
Pothos Ivy
Also known as Devil’s Ivy, this plant is tolerant of most lighting conditions and prefers not-too-moist, acidic soil, meaning a little neglect won’t cause it to shrivel up. Regular pruning helps with growth, and the different variants allow for a pretty plant that does some heavy-duty air filtration.
Ficus Alii
A standard in the office plant realm, the Ficus tree is a gorgeous, low-maintenance plant. It likes direct sunlight, but does well in medium light too. This miniature tree can grow up to 10 feet tall.
Peace Lily
An elegant white flower marks this purification powerhouse, as the Peace Lily is known to remove levels of benzene, acetone and formaldehyde (along with other chemical impurities) from the atmosphere. Peace Lilies like indirect light, and well-drained soil kept moist. Fertilizer is also encouraged.
Boston Fern
This fern is normally seen in hanging planters, mainly because of its exploding attractive factor. Resistant to insects and fairly easy to maintain, this plant works well in the home or office. Medium light, and a regular schedule of watering and misting the leaves will keep this formaldehyde combatant satisfied.
This holiday season, while you are trying to find the perfect gift for the person who has everything, consider the gift of fresh, clean air—give a beautiful and beneficial houseplant. Then, once your shopping is done, surround yourself with your own indoor garden, grab a cozy seat on the couch, take a deep breath and relax.
