Lately we have written a number of articles around the theme of plants that have other uses. These have included culinary and medicinal uses and have elicited a lot of response from readers. In this article we will look at plants that improve the quality of air in the home.

Everyone has heard of photosynthesis and you probably know that plants breathe. Some emit carbon dioxide and some actually cleanse the air. It is these that we will discuss.

Orchid (Cymbidium)
This works well in a bedroom, as an orchid is more active at night and will purify and re-oxygenate the air, while you are sleeping. Dendrobium orchids are also effective at removing Acetone, (which is an ingredient of plastic) and Formaldehyde (which is found in carpeting and pressed woods and also in most cleaning products).

Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina)
This plant will  work well in utility rooms, as it removes pollutants, but more particularly  Formaldehyde, (which is one of the most common indoor toxins) and Chloroform (which is found in dyes and pesticides).

Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus Lutescens)
The Palm works well in removing indoor nasties, such as Benzene (found in varnish) and other chemicals, mostly  found in plastic toys. This plant will therefore work best in a child’s bedroom. A large Palm transpires as much as 1Litre of water every 24 hours, which makes it most effective at releasing moisture into the air.

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis Exalta Bostoniensis)
When placed in the livingroom, it removes most common air pollutants, especially Formaldehyde (also found in drapes, paint and shelving) and solvents ( found in furniture and floor waxes. Ferns thrive on humidity, so be sure to spray often with water.

Tulips (Tulipa)
If placed on a kitchen table, it removes Ammonia (found in disinfectants and cleaning products) and Carbon Dioxide (produced by gas cookers). The Tulip also removes pungent odours from the air, by purifying the air through the process of Photosynthesis.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)
This is best placed in the bathroom. U.S technology laboratories found that a single Spider Plant enclosed in a room filled with Formaldehyde, removed 80% of all pollutants in one day. This also helps to clear Carbon Monoxide from the air (from a gas geyser). As a matter of natural process, this plant will absorb any form of toxic waste, while adding Oxygen and moisture to the air.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
This plant works well, when placed in an office setting, as it removes Acetone (plastics) and Benzene (in glues) and Trichloroethylene (found in printers) and Xylene (emitted by computers). It also removes tobacco smoke smells and cleans and fragrances the air.

So you see, plants are not only good for aesthetics, they work too. To avoid all the baddies in the air and to make your home and office a healthier place, use plants as described above. They look good and have other uses as well, like cleaning the air and removing various forms of toxin, to make the air that you breathe, healthier for you and your family.

Sally Robson is an up and coming, South African internet marketer, with a vision of empowering all fellow South Africans and non U.S folk, to have equal opportunity and success on the internet. She and her husband Derek, have started a string of sites, resources, courses and articles, as part of Dersalsites. She also has a passion for gardening.

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