As I begin to think about the winter season and the fact that I will undoubtedly spend more time indoors, it is a great time to think about indoor air quality. While commerce is pushing indoor air purifiers, which have their place, I would like to offer an alternative for you to think about. Purifying indoor plants, which are often easier to care for than you might think, can naturally increase indoor air quality.
But, let’s be honest, who needs one more thing to take care of? Full disclosure, I used to be a natural-born indoor plant killer. I would forget to water them, not fertilize them, and place them in spots that would ensure the lowest survival rate. With experience, I have learned some tips and tricks to help indoor plants survive, even if you do not necessarily have a green thumb, nor time to take care of one more thing.
Fun Facts:
Some ordinary household plants may remove benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene and toluene These are chemicals used to make plastic resins, rubber lubricants, dyes, detergents, composite wood, adhesives, paint etc. The list goes on and includes many ordinary items that we do not think about affecting indoor air quality. I consulted the following link, which is a NASA study on plant filtering capabilities. Beware, it is not light reading.