Indoor plants: grow for a cleaner home environment and environment

Poor air quality can be responsible for various health problems within the home. Sources of indoor air pollution include cleaning products, mold and dust, and emissions from gas heaters and stoves. Even the pressed laminate of your furniture and accessories can emit a nasty gas called formaldehyde.

This is where indoor or house plants can come to the rescue. Indoor plants serve a dual purpose, not only do they beautify your home but they have the ability to absorb a variety of environmental toxins. They can remove arsenic and heavy metals from the soil and new research has found that they are very efficient at removing and neutralizing harmful substances from the air.

After it was first realized that plants had the ability to absorb toxins, researchers found that certain species performed this function better than others. It was also discovered that it was not just the plant itself that was doing the writing, it was a general process involving the combined effects of the plant itself, the growing medium, and the natural bacteria in the soil. Therefore, it is a complete mini ecosystem that performs the toxin absorption process.

Leaving aside the healthy atmosphere that is created by having plants in your home, the main reason most people opt for plants in their home is the wonderful atmosphere they create. A beautiful vase of flowers is something we all love, but they don’t last that long, whereas a potted plant will last long. For example, I have a beautiful “African Queen” Anthurium that lives on a side table in my breakfast room producing a prolific display of deep burgundy flowers month after month. This is better than a flower vase because all I have to do is remember to water it. Of course, it also gets the right amount of light and is happy with its special charcoal, coconut fiber, and orchid mix potting mix.

With most other popular houseplants such as the peace lily, bamboo palm, Zanzibar gem, philodendron, and even mother-in-law’s tongue, an old-fashioned but indoor classic, my rule of thumb is one month indoors and two months outdoors in a sheltered position, to maintain a healthy plant. This also means that I am rotating my plants like changing the paintings on the walls. Also, when my orchids are in bloom, they have a chance to impress and enjoy entering.

African violets are a very popular houseplant and will provide you with a lovely display of flowers for most of the year, but they can be a bit more demanding than the average houseplant. Don’t be discouraged though, if you get the potting mix and lighting situation right, you’re in heaven.

For me, one of the joys in life is having a lot of plants in my house.