Plants that help you detox and breath cleaner air

Human beings pollute their life through various household and office items, these objects are every day objects, which then proceed to poison us, through the chemicals used in their manufacture. Improve the quality of your life through plants that clean the air.

The following chemicals are probably present in your home or office:

• Carbon monoxide - produced by burning gas, oil, wood, coal.
• Benzene - produced by detergents, inks, dyes, petrol, cigarette and cigar smoke.
• Formaldehyde - produced by furniture, carpets, cleaning products, paper.
• Trichloroethylene - produced by inks, adhesives, dry cleaning, lacquers, paints.

  "Through an in-depth study sponsored by NASA, it was determined that indoor plants in a closed, controlled environment were able to extract pollutants from the air. The foliage of indoor plants was capable of removing low levels of pollution, while plant roots, assisted by an activated carbon filter, removed air pollutants at higher concentrations. Amazingly, these filters around plant roots removed and biologically degraded pollutants before they accumulated -- an advantage over advanced-technology carbon filters which removed pollutants from the air, but required proper, careful disposal. Indoor air pollution, a problem resulting from intense energy-efficiency in buildings, consists of particles and gases trapped in building air which is not circulated or filtered properly. The NASA research demonstrated that plants reduced air pollution from gases, such as formaldehyde and benzene. Further research is determining the efficacy of indoor plants in cleaning up larger particle common indoor air pollutants, such as asbestos; pesticides; carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other gases; chemicals from detergents, solvents, and cleaning fluids; fibers released from clothing, furnishings, draperies, glass, carpets, and insulation; fungi and bacteria; and tobacco smoke."

Sourced from http://www.ext.vt.edu

You can help to avoid these pollutants by using indoor plants, plants that recycle Benzene, carbon monoxide. and turn these poisons into fresh air.

The following plants will clean the air and are ideal both for home and for the office.

• Chinese Evergreens - glossy lance shaped leaves in shades of greens, greys with yellowish tints
• Chrysanthemum - bold and brassy, in a wide variety of colours and shapes, you either love flowers like these or hate them
• English Ivy – lovely dark green foliage, evergreen
• Gerbera Daisy – bright and colourful
• Peace Lily - Spathiphyllum Gioant – dark green foliage and large white flowers – great for a contemporary or minimalist look
• Bamboo palm - Chamaedorea microspadix – go for the jungle effect!
• Devils Ivy - Scindapsus aureus - large leaved climber with heart shaped leaves similar to Philodendron but with a yellow marbled variegation - toxic for cats
• Ficus tree - Ficus trees are rich in colour and can add interest to any room – big and quite expensive
• Philodendrons - elephant ear, sweetheart vine, Red Emerald
• Snake plant - Sansevieria trifasciata Prain – large variegated yellowy green foliage – great for the jungle effect
• Spider plant – Ok you’ve seen them everywhere but scientists estimate that they removes 96% of carbon monoxide from the air
• Gerbera Daisy – like Chrysanthemum - bold and brassy, in a wide variety of colours and shapes, you either love flowers like these or hate them
• Ribbon plant - Dracaena sanderiana 'Lemon Light' – nice variegated leaves

Before you rush out and buy any plants, consider the following:

• Aspect: How much light, shade will the plant get? How warm, cold is the situation?
• Aftercare: How often as you prepared to water, feed and clean the foliage?
• Size: How large, small does the plant get?
  

But don't take our word for it. Read some of these resources.

Plants for People is an international initiative, spreading knowledge of the benefit of plants in a working environment.

Introducing plants into the workspace, why you should.

Now take a deep breath!