Barren walls and empty spaces at home could be a very boring or lonely sight. A house without any plant is surely missing something from its decoration and air quality. But why should you have them in your home?
House plants are a great way to improve the air quality in your home, and they can also be a beautiful addition to any room. But keeping your plants alive can be tricky, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing.
So, to help you get started, here are the basics of houseplant care, including watering, light requirements, and types of indoor plants that can improve your home’s indoor air quality (IAQ).
The Basics of Houseplant Care
Different houseplants have different air-cleaning abilities, but all of them are great air purifiers. So if you want to live in a cleaner, greener, and healthier house but don’t have the space to add a big tree in your home, opt for houseplants instead.
They’re not just air purifiers — houseplants are also great for adding color, texture, and variety to your home. They can also help fill any empty wall spaces. Plus, they can be excellent sources of air-purifying oxygen that’s good for your health.
With these benefits in mind, it’s no wonder so many people keep houseplants in their homes. But how often should you water your plants? How much light do they need to grow well? Which houseplants are best for air purifying and indoor air quality improvement?
How Often Should You Water Your Plants?
All houseplants have different watering requirements. First, you need to know the signs that your plant needs water. Some plants, like cactus and succulents, can survive without water for months or even years, which is why you don’t need to water them too often.
But not all plants are not cacti. So how often should you water your non-succulent houseplants? The answer to this question depends on various conditions, including air humidity level in your room, air temperature outside your house, the light exposure of the plant, and more.
Basically, you should water your plants when they need it. The best way to know if a plant needs water is by checking the soil moisture. If the topsoil looks dry, it’s time to water your plants.
How Much Light Do They Need to Grow Well?
One of the most common problems with houseplants is insufficient lighting. Some houseplants need bright light to thrive, while others only need moderate or low light levels. Optimizing air quality in your home is important, so it’s best to keep houseplants that are great air purifiers in rooms with a lot of natural lighting.
Also, air circulation is another factor that contributes to air quality improvement at home, so keep your houseplants away from air vents or air conditioning units that may cause dry air and lower air humidity. Plus, make sure that you conduct regular air duct maintenance to reduce the risk of harmful pollutants.
Which Houseplants are Best for Purifying and Improving IAQ?
If you want air quality improvement in your home, several houseplants are good air quality enhancers, such as:
1) Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is one of the most popular air-purifying plants that can improve the IAQ in your home. You can use the gel of this plant to treat burn wounds, but you should know that this air-purifying plant is also toxic and should be kept away from pets and children.
2) Golden Pothos
Golden pothos, which is also known as devil’s ivy, can also help improve your home’s indoor air quality. This air purifying plant has vines that can reach around 10 to 15 feet (ca. 457 cm) long, so keep it in hanging baskets or trellises.
3) English Ivy
English ivy can help remove air pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene from your home. English ivy is also a popular air-purifying houseplant because it has low light requirements.
4) Peace Lily
The peace lily is effective in removing air pollutants like benzene and trichloroethylene from your home, which often come from paints, varnishes, and insecticides.
5) Garden Mums
Garden mums are air purifiers that also contribute to air quality improvement in your home. They’re also great for air-conditioned rooms, as they don’t wilt even in air-conditioned environments.
6) Spider Plant
The air-purifying houseplant known as the spider plant can help clean the air inside your home. It’s also easy to grow, which is why it’s one of the air purifying plants that are often used in air-purification experiments.
You don’t have to have green thumbs to take care of your houseplants. By nailing the basics of houseplant care and how it can help improve your home’s indoor air quality, you’ll be able to run a healthy household in no time!
