Sansevieria
Evergreen "mother-in-law's tongue"
Also known as "mother-in-law's tongue," sansevieria is a tropical shrub adjacent to agave. Well removes residues of benzene, xylene and trichlorethylene. Growing Condition: Install it next to a window that lets in maximum light, but do not expose it to direct sunlight. It is undemanding to water, except in critical moments. Watering is ideal when the soil is dry at the surface. Don't wait too long, especially when it's hot, as the plant could be damaged. Sansevieria fears excess moisture in the soil much more than fleeting drought.
If the tap water in your area is limestone, choose any spring water or collect rainwater for irrigation.
What harm can dangerous compounds do?
Formaldehyde is a toxic, colorless gas. It stands out from chipboard and plastic. It leads to allergic reactions, has a detrimental effect on the respiratory, nervous and visual systems.
Trichlorethylene is found in household cleaning products. Negatively affects the liver and vision, causes skin irritation. Toluene vapors cause lethargy and disturbances in the hematopoietic system. And benzene, which is released from varnishes, paints and rubber, affects the respiratory system and the nervous system.
Therefore, by filling the room with various flowers and plants, you can reduce the amount of harmful substances in the room to a minimum.
Indoor plants that purify the air
Currently, it is indoor plants as natural natural filters that are the most faithful and safe helpers in purifying the air from various harmful impurities. The most effective of them are the indoor plants presented below.
DRACENA MARGINATA
This type of dracaena is very common and can reach a height of up to 3 meters. Dracaena itself resembles a miniature palm tree. This plant feels comfortable both in bright sunlight and in diffused lighting. The soil should not be soggy, but it should be moist enough. For dracaena, water in the pan is destructive.
PELARGONIA PLATUARY
Pelargonium (geranium) perfectly cleans, ionizes and disinfects the air. In addition, for many, it serves as a cure for headaches. Geranium requires high light and abundant watering. However, the plant rejects surface spraying, and in winter it needs a lower temperature.
HAMEDOREA HIGH
This plant is a palm tree capable of reaching a height of 1-2 meters. The plant releases moisture into the air, which makes it especially useful in dry air during the heating season. Despite the fact that this palm tree has a positive attitude to bright light, it is better not to place it in direct sunlight. The soil must be moist.
WALLIS SPATIFILLUM
This houseplant does an excellent job of purifying the air, and its extraordinary flowers also take part in this. Spathiphyllum does not tolerate bright light, loves shade and requires high humidity. The soil should be slightly moistened all the time.
EPIPRENUM GOLDEN
This is a vine, capable of being 2 meters or more in length. Epipremnum golden is considered one of the most effective plants that purify the air in the house. It grows in any light, but it is afraid of direct sunlight. Water it as soon as the soil begins to dry out. When the plant reaches a great length, it is recommended to remove the whiskers.
HEDERA HELIX
This plant is a climbing shrub that is easy to grow in hanging pots.Hedera is great for combating indoor allergens such as mold. This shrub is the plant of choice for low-light environments, but it needs to be watered abundantly, the ground is constantly kept moist. In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced.
AGLAONEMA MODERATE
Aglaonema is interesting in that it produces red fruits, which significantly increase its decorative qualities. The plant likes high humidity, well-drained soil and diffused light. You can place the aglaonema in a pan of water, positioning the pot so that it does not come into contact with the water. Make sure the topsoil is dry before watering, as the plant only feels comfortable with moderate watering.
CHLOROPHYTUM COOL
Chlorophytum is considered the most unpretentious indoor plant. The plant has long and narrow leaves of white-green color, as well as hanging airy whiskers with short processes. It grows well both in the light and in the shade. In the light, the leaves become bright. Watering is rare. Then chlorophytum will absorb moisture from the roots. With more frequent watering, it grows faster.
SANSEVIERIA THREE-STRIP
Sansevieria is considered a very hardy and durable indoor plant. It has long, tough leaves of a dark green color with horizontal stripes, lighter in tone. This plant loves bright light and prefers moderate watering during growth when the topsoil is already dry. In winter, the frequency of watering decreases, but it is not recommended to allow the soil to completely dry out.
FICUS ELASTIC
The leaves of this plant are usually broad, shiny, dark green or variegated. Its aerial roots have the ability to wrap around the trunk, forming the most interesting shapes. Ficus elastica grows in bright, diffused light and requires moderate watering when the soil dries slightly.
It should be noted that all these indoor plants are far from alone in their ability to release oxygen and purify the air from harmful substances. These are just a few examples of such plants. In addition, each of these natural filters represents one specific species of the same plant. So, for example, dracaena is also Tree-like, Fragrant, etc. But regardless of the type of dracaena, its ability to remove benzene and formaldehyde impurities from the air remains. The same goes for the rest of the plants. Therefore, the room can be decorated with the same plant in its various forms.
Air purification in the apartment
One way to clean your home air is to grow indoor plants. Which house flowers are more effective, which ones are less - information is constantly changing. Here is an example: a study by Korean scientists was carried out in 2006 and was presented at the 8th International Congress of Physiological Anthropology in Kamakura (Japan):
Two laboratories - sealed rooms 3.5 by 3.5 m, 2.4 m high, without ventilation, in which the sensors are placed. The first laboratory was filled with potted plants, the second, the control, remained empty. Harmful volatile gases were supplied equally to both rooms. An hour later, the readings of the instruments were taken - the changes in the levels of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and formaldehyde were measured.
To show the role of the quantitative influence of plants, the experiments were carried out twice: in the first case, such a number of plants were placed in the room that they occupied 10% of the total space, in the second - only 5%.
The experiment involved three plants:
- Aglaonema short-coated Aaglaonema brevispathum
- Pakhira aquatic Pachira aquatica
- Ficus benjamin Ficus benjamiana.
Surprisingly, all three plants undoubtedly purified the air, more efficiently, almost twice as good in those groups where the number of plants was 10% of the area of the premises.But Pakhira turned out to be more effective in neutralizing ethylbenzene and especially benzene - the decrease was 76.3% compared to the initial level - 15.7 mg / m3 was neutralized per hour. Aglaonema reduced the level of benzene by 44.7% - it neutralized 8 mg / m3, and ficus - by 40%, neutralized about 6 mg / m3 per hour.
For other gases, the efficiency of plants has changed: Aglaonema coped better with toluene. The picture looked like this: Aglaonema neutralized 45.6 mg / m3 per hour, ficus - 36.1 mg / m3, Pakhira - 31 mg / m3 toluene - this is 10% of the vegetation area.
In relation to xylene, Aglaonema and Pakhira showed the same efficiency, a little less - ficus. The reductions were 10.4-11.9 mg / m3. Formaldehyde was most effectively removed by Aglaonema - 330.8 mg / m3.
The experimenters Jeong-Eun Song, Yong-Shik Kim and Jang Yeul Sohn did not stop there, they tested the "work" of plants to remove harmful gases under different lighting conditions ... During testing, it turned out that the intensity of sunlight has a serious effect on air purification, but also depends on the type of plant. Compared were two groups placed under intense lighting and with light diffused light.
The results are as follows: Aglaonema and Pakhira purified the air much better under more intense lighting, Ficus benjamin is almost the same under any lighting conditions.
Recommendations for owners
If plants from the above list are already decorating your home, take a closer look at more exotic options. For example, laurel would be an excellent purchase. It also releases substances that fight germs. And laurel also has an excellent effect on human lungs, protects our body from respiratory pathologies. It will be useful for the lungs to have asparagus at home. People often call it "herringbone". And myrtle (very cute, by the way) helps with respiratory diseases and even relieves asthma attacks. True, you should not get carried away with such plants either, you do not need to move everything from the list home. At high concentrations, the pronounced aroma of the plants can lead to headaches.
For information on which indoor plants are the best for purifying the air, see the next video.
Washing and showering
Periodic showering is loved by all indoor plants that are not afraid of getting wet. For large-leaved crops that can be wiped by hand, one such procedure per month is enough, or at least washing during general cleaning. For small-leaved plants, showering or washing should be carried out much more often, since it replaces them with manual cleaning.
The most difficult part of any bathing procedure for indoor plants is to protect the soil from getting wet and contaminated. Even if they do not plan to use soap solutions, dirt and dust along with water will get into the soil and in the future may become an additional factor in the appearance of problems in the development of plants. It is impossible to completely protect the soil, especially in plants with dense bushes or sod. But it is quite easy to cover open ground as much as possible and minimize damage from getting wet. To do this, it is enough to cover all the soil around the perimeter of the pot with a plastic film or bag, bringing the film as close to the plant itself as possible. For small containers and compact plants, you can simply cover the soil with your hand.
Take care of the water temperature in advance. Most indoor plants of the ornamental-deciduous type do not like not only watering, but also spraying with water, the temperature of which is lower than the temperature in the room. But if only selected capricious species prefer watering with warm water, then it is obligatory for all plants to shower. It is better not to overdo it with heating: washing is carried out with water, the temperature of which is 5-10 degrees higher than the room temperature. The maximum temperature for showering plants is usually limited to 30 degrees.
For stubborn dirt, soap solutions are used.Using cosmetic soap for indoor plants is not the best option. Liquid soap without additives or regular laundry soap, baby soap, and baby shampoo remain optimal.
For showering or washing, it is better to put the plant not just in the sink or bathroom, but in a large bowl or basin. For plants that are not afraid of contact with leaves and are strong enough, you can shower with a shower. But for indoor plants, it is always better to carry out this procedure carefully, by hand, from a watering can, or strictly control the water pressure, making it the weakest.
Washing the leaves of indoor plants in the shower
The washing procedure itself is quite simple:
The plants are watered with warm water, gently wiping the leaves with a soft cloth or sponge, paying particular attention to heavily soiled areas and directing water flows where they are needed.
If it is necessary to treat heavily contaminated leaves with soapy water, the plant is gently tilted so that not a single drop of water falls on the polyethylene covering the substrate. The soap or shampoo is foamed and gently applied with a sponge to the contaminated leaves, trying to keep the contact time with the detergents to a minimum.
If soap solutions were used, they must be washed off with plenty of warm water (not individual leaves are rinsed, but always the whole plant).
When washing, special attention should be paid to the lower leaves: it is better to rinse them additionally or to make sure they are clean by additionally spraying the surface with a spray bottle.
Indoor air pollution is one of the top five health risks for people
Backfill question: where is the air cleaner and better - outside or inside? In 9 cases out of 10, the first option will be the correct answer.
Wherever you are: at home, in the office or in the gym, the air there will obviously be worse than outside.
Indoor air pollution is one of the five biggest health risks to humans.
Our brick and concrete houses continually emit toxic chemicals - formaldehyde, for example. Our air is also poisoned by bacteria, mold, dust, and carbon dioxide generated near a working stove.
Luckily, we have some houseplants. They solve some of the problems associated with poor ventilation of enclosed spaces. This list contains only the best air purifiers, given to us by nature - from among those that you can grow in your home or office.
Let's tell you more.
1. Chrysanthemum Garden Mom
This plant is a favorite of NASA. These flowers are used to purify the air in the offices of the space agency. They effectively absorb ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde and xylene from the air in any room. In addition, this flower is not very expensive, which makes it an ideal option for a flower bed in the courtyard of a private house.
2. Chlorophytum
This plant is known in the English speaking world as the Spider Plant. It is appreciated for being an ideal plant for beginners who want to buy home flowers for the first time. They bloom often, are easy to care for, and you will always know what to do with them.
Chloroffictum looks cool, is cheap and almost never dies in anyone. Effectively absorbs all chemicals you spray when you clean your apartment.
3. Dracaena
There are more than 40 species of this plant in the world. Therefore, you can easily find one that outwardly will appeal to you.
Dracaena is an excellent product for removing benzene, formaldehyde, trichlorethylene and xylene from the air. True, these flowers are slightly toxic to cats and dogs. So if you have a small apartment and pets live in it, think twice.
You will be interested in:
4. Ficus
Ficus is the most popular mini tree among all homeowners in the world. When placed in a large pot, it can grow to a really large size. But as a rule, their height is from 60 to 120 cm.And ficuses are a very powerful air purifier. In spring and summer they can be taken out into the yard.
Ficus cleans the indoor air from benzene, trichlorethylene and formaldehyde.
5. Spathiphyllum
Not only are these very beautiful flowers, but they are also very difficult to ruin. They bloom mostly in summer, preferring shady places and moist, but not damp soil. Ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde and trichlorethylene are removed from the air.
6. Fern Nephrolepis
This plant loves cool places with high humidity and reflected light. Bathrooms are the perfect place for these little friends. They clean the air from pollutants - xylene and formaldehyde.
7. Sansevieria ("Mother-in-law's language")
We see pots with her everywhere, and most often in offices and restaurants. And for good reason: this plant requires almost no maintenance. They need to be watered about once a month: they like dry conditions. They also do not need a lot of sunlight. They clean indoor air from benzene and formaldehyde.
8. Hamedorea ("Bamboo Palm")
It is the world's best air purifier for formaldehyde removal. For a normal life, they only need a lot of sun. They can grow up to three and a half meters in height. Looks amazing too.
9. Aloe Vera
It is a multifunctional plant. You can eat it in small quantities. It heals burns. And it also perfectly cleans the indoor air.
One Aloe Vera plant can breathe new life into any small apartment.
Scientists' research on air purification by plants
The oldest known document is dated September 1989, research was carried out to determine the usefulness of tropical plants in the event of a space station, observatory and residential complex on the Moon, and maybe on Mars. 50 plants were studied, mainly tropical and subtropical, some from temperate climates. The chemicals chosen for the study are benzene, trichlorethylene and formaldehyde.
Looking ahead, I will say right away that all 50 plants have shown the ability to neutralize harmful volatile compounds in the air, to varying degrees.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USA), Department of Tropical Plants and Soil Science, published in 2001 a paper on Using Houseplants for Indoor Air Purification. The work presents the most common interior items, household items, as well as building materials and the most toxic substances in them. The document also mentions that not all indoor plants are effective in terms of cleaning, but it is advisable to grow those that are most easy to care for, grow quickly and do not require much.
Here are just a few of what we breathe:
Pollutants can accumulate in confined spaces, especially high doses and toxicity of volatile substances from synthetic building and finishing materials.
Anthurium
Our anthurium
This flower has become an integral part of our apartments. Its bloom is wonderful and capable of lasting all year round. Moreover, it has the advantage of absorbing many chemicals such as ammonia. Ideal for decorating the kitchen or any other room in the house. The only thing that anthurium cannot withstand is dry air in our interiors. In winter, when the heating is on, the air becomes less and less humid, therefore, the plant needs to be regularly sprayed with water on the foliage.
Of course, this list of home cleaning plants is far from exhaustive. Ivy, azalea, or chrysanthemum are also good candidates for indoor air purification.
We create a favorable atmosphere in the room
Plants not only clean the room of harmful air compounds, but also prevent the appearance of fungal infections and mold. The vegetation contains phytoncides, which have the ability to kill dangerous viruses and pathogenic bacteria.Flowers are especially effective as purifiers during the flowering period. It was during this period that they actively begin to release phytoncides.
However, not all plants are suitable for growing as air purification. Therefore, it is necessary to have certain information before purchasing indoor green residents.
How the cleansing properties of plants were discovered
The cleansing properties of plants have always been discussed, but this hypothesis was officially and scientifically confirmed only in 1989 by NASA researchers.
Important! Scientists specially filled the chambers with various harmful volatile compounds: benzene, formaldehyde, trichlorethylene, xylene, etc. Various types of indoor plants were placed in these chambers.
Over time, the content of harmful compounds decreased, and the oxygen level increased.
Table of hazardous substances and plants that neutralize them
The air of an apartment usually contains five main compounds of harmful and harmful substances. Which compound a particular plant removes can be seen in the following table:
Harmful substance and where is it contained in the room | The plant that absorbs this substance |
Formaldehyde. It stands out from fiberboard, chipboard, carpets, furniture upholstery, tobacco smoke, household gas and plastic products. | Gerbera, chlorophytum, sansevieria, geranium, Benjamin ficus, bamboo palm. |
Trichlorethylene. It is released from chlorinated water, furniture and carpet cleaners, paint, varnish, printer cartridge. | Begonia, azalea, sansevieria, spathiphyllum. |
Benzene. It is released from tobacco smoke, household chemicals, rubber, plastics, paints and varnishes. | Gerbera, aglaonema, Benjamin ficus, bamboo palm. |
Ammonia. It is released from household appliances, tobacco smoke and household chemicals. | Begonia, geranium, Benjamin's ficus. |
Xylene. It is released from plastic products, varnishes, paints, adhesives, exhaust fumes, tobacco smoke and leather products. | Lily Flamingo, azalea, spathiphyllum. |
In addition to the harmful compounds listed above, the air contains: toluene, xylene, carbon, etc.
How many plants do you need to purify the air in a room
NASA scientists argue that to clean the air in an apartment, you need to have a small plant for every 5 square meters of the room. These calculations were made according to the results of the experiments carried out with indoor plants.
Important! You shouldn't put pots of flowers around the room in abundance. Some plants, on the other hand, secrete certain substances that can cause headaches or allergies.
Not all flowers are suitable for cleaning a room from air impurities.
The more plants in the room, the cleaner the air
In addition to purification, indoor plants disinfect the air from fungal infections and mold. It is enough to put a flower pot at each window in the room to feel an improvement in well-being and relief of breathing.
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Edge and live velvet on the leaves
Plants with a beautiful leaf texture are afraid of even the slightest drops of water. And wiping, and even more so washing, is unacceptable for them. The purity of the greenery of such decorative deciduous and flowering crops is maintained by completely different means.
The main method for removing dirt from pubescent leaves is gentle manual cleaning using a soft velvet flap, a soft brush or special brushes with a delicate natural bristle.
In emergency situations, for example, when plants have suffered from irregular maintenance in the kitchen, their leaves are covered with a greasy bloom, were in the room during the renovation, even the pubescent leaves have to be washed. True, we are not talking about soulfulness: with the help of soapy foam and delicate washing, the pollution is removed, and then the plants are allowed to dry thoroughly, protecting them from bright light and low temperatures.Such washing is always very serious stress and rarely ends with the return of the decorative effect of old leaves to the original. Before washing the pubescent leaves, you should always carry out the usual dry cleaning from dust and dirt, and only then carry out a careful washing.
Cleaning the leaves of indoor plants from dust and dirt and shine
Indoor flowers that purify the air
Recommended options:
Pelargonium
Indoor geranium (pelargonium). These are the favorite flowers of our grandmothers. They can be white, pink or red. In almost every apartment there was a geranium on the windowsill; now the hostesses prefer to grow other flowers. It is difficult to say which other flower has such a healing effect.
It doesn't matter what color the geraniums are, they equally help to clean the apartment of staphylococci and streptococci, their leaves have a bactericidal effect. Ancestors believed that pelargonium protects against evil spirits, studies have shown that the plant ionizes and purifies the air.
For many people, geranium helps to cope with migraines and bad moods. Geranium does not require special care, tolerates low temperatures and takes root well in any soil. The only thing is that the flower does not like very much when its leaves are sprayed, it needs to be watered at the root;
Gerbera
- Gerbera. A bright flower that loves the sun and warmth. It not only cheers up with its iridescent appearance, but also cleans the air well from benzene, trichloethylene and formaldehyde;
Begonia
- Begonia. The flower is easy to care for, perfectly cleans the air in rooms in which household chemicals are often used. Begonia is ideal for cleaning the room from fungi and bacteria, it has antimicrobial properties, it attracts dust perfectly. The plant can protect against radiation from electrical appliances.
The best location for begonias is the east or west windowsill.
Should be considered! Begonia is very fond of space, so close proximity to other plants is unacceptable for her.
Useful indoor flowers
Screening of indoor plants for air purification from volatile organic pollutants was carried out by Dong Sik Young, Stanley J. Keyes and other group of scientists. They tested twenty-eight of the most common indoor plants for the effectiveness of air purification of aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene and toluene), aliphatic hydrocarbons (octane), halogenated hydrocarbons (trichlorethylene - TCE), and terpenes (a-pinene).
Here are the test results:
As you can see, Hemigraphis alternata, Ivy Hedera helix, Hoya beautiful Hoya carnosa, and Asparagus densiflorus have shown the highest removal efficiency of all pollutants. Tradescantia pallida has been shown to be very effective in removing four of the five volatile compounds (benzene, toluene, trichlorethylene, and a-pinene).
As you can see, some plants are more effective at removing some carcinogens, and less effective against others. Therefore, the more diverse the plants on your windowsills, the more of them, and the healthier they are, the cleaner the air in your home. The number and health of plants are important because the air-cleaning capacity of plants is related to the large number of stomata on the leaves.
Recommendations in order for the air in your house to become significantly cleaner, you need at least three medium-sized plants (in a pot with a diameter of 20 cm) for an apartment with an area of about 55-56 sq. m. If your apartment is recently renovated or new furniture purchased, you will need about 20 indoor plants (4-5 per room) to neutralize harmful fumes, which will be actively released for another 6-12 months.
Returning to the NASA study, I consider it necessary to draw your attention to the following point.The first studies proved all the usefulness of indoor plants, but during the tests, scientists were interested in the question of defoliation of leaves, is it really only plant leaves that purify the air? Therefore, NASA scientists conducted a second study and received very interesting results.
Dracaena marginata participated in the experiment:
- ordinary plants in pots, with a developed crown
- potted plants (with leaves) covered the soil with a thick layer of gravel
- dracaena cut off all the leaves, left hemp up to 5 cm tall, the soil in the pot is not closed
- control pots with soil (no roots)
The results of the experiments showed that the roots of plants, and related microorganisms, as a mini-ecosystem, are the main reason for chemical cleansing, at least in this study! This is not surprising, because the cut plant continued to function - after a week it already grows new shoots, and after three it has a small crown.
Another test showed that even within the same genus of plants, different species purify the air in different ways:
- Dracaena fragrant Dracaena fragrans "Mass Cane"
- Potted chrysanthemum
- Gerbera jamesonii
- Dracaena deremskaya variety Varnekey Dracaena deremensis "Warneckei"
- Ficus benjamin Ficus beniamina
Please note: Fragrant Dracaena is significantly higher than its sister Dracaena deremskaya in terms of air purification efficiency
Harmful substances and their effects on humans
The most dangerous to health, which are most often present in the house, are:
Formaldehyde. It stands out from adhesives, paints, carpets, furniture. Formaldehyde has a negative effect on the skin, eyes and respiration.
Benzene. It is distributed by plastic and synthetic products, lubricants, and rubber. In some cases, benzene compounds are formed when using a gas cooker. This substance is dangerous in that it increases the risk of developing anemia, leukemia, provokes diseases of the kidneys and liver, as well as the circulatory and nervous system.
Trichlorethylene. It is found in paint strippers, adhesives, and cleaning agents. This substance can cause skin problems, liver and nervous system diseases.
Ammonia. Industrial solvents, all kinds of detergents lead to the formation of harmful ammonia fumes in the room. These chemical compounds harm the respiratory tract and skin of a person.
The most natural air purifiers
Scientists have long and persistently sought to draw attention to the level of air pollution in our homes. According to recent studies, it is several times, and sometimes tens of times more polluted than even on city streets.
Dozens of factors are added to the harmful substances contained in the air that we breathe in the open space, which aggravate this problem.
Formaldehyde, benzene, phenol, toluene, trichlorethylene, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, staphylococci, spores of other fungi and pathogenic microorganisms, soot microparticles, combustion products, dust mites, pollen - all these substances are present in the air of any house and apartment. And even with a very strict approach and the choice of environmentally friendly materials and decor, the task of air purification does not disappear anywhere.
If the installation of humidifiers or air conditioners with filter function, special purifiers is not always possible, appropriate or desirable, then the simplest (and, surprisingly, the most reliable) way to fight for clean air is indoor plants.
Harmless, devoid of drawbacks and do not require much effort or cost, plants cope with the task of air purification, albeit slower, but much more efficiently. Plants do not just absorb carbon dioxide and actively enrich indoor air with oxygen. They effectively fight volatile chemicals, toxins, and organic compounds.
But do not think that to purify the air, it is enough to buy and put one plant in the room. On average, the radius of the phytoncidal, cleansing and antibacterial activity of plants covers an area of up to 5 m, and the effect of plants on fungi and bacteria is limited to a distance of 2.5-3 m. But the plant will perform the functions of cleaning from allergens at a greater distance.
In order for indoor plants to replace any filters and be able to improve and purify the air in the house, at least one indoor plant is placed for every 10 square meters. Grouping, displaying plants in compositions and collections enhances their filtering effect and improves the microclimate. It is better to place filter plants not on windowsills or around the perimeter, but inside the interior - this way they will more fully perform the cleaning functions.
And not all plants are the same. Some crops have a more pronounced ability to absorb harmful substances, others are more active in fighting allergens, and there are plants that saturate the air with oxygen better than others.
Plants dominate in the indoor assortment, the influence of which is favorable, but they practically do not have a filtering, purifying function. But there are also real natural filters. Such cultures are different:
- anti-inflammatory and immunity-enhancing, soothing, due to the release of essential oils;
- with antiviral and antibacterial activity, due to the release of phytoncidal substances into the air;
- absorbing harmful compounds from the air, absorbing, literally, absorbing them through the leaves.
Houseplants - live filters
Plants are still not a universal, "fail-safe" solution to the problem. They show the functions of air purification as much as possible during the period of active development, but at the dormant stage, their ability to purify the air decreases.
Young plants are better filters than old ones, and the leaves, but not the stems or flowers, act as a filter in plants. In almost every plant, the activity of absorbing harmful substances and photosynthesis changes during the day, depending on the air temperature and even lighting (for example, sansevieria produces the most oxygen at night, and chlorophytum during the day).
Very different plants are suitable for different rooms. In small ones, they place compact classic crops like aloe or peperomia, and in large ones, you can use large woody ones - Benjamin's ficus and even citrus fruits. Damp or dry air also plays a role.
Let's take a closer look at indoor crops that most actively influence the composition and characteristics of the air.
For a list of the best indoor filter plants, see the next page.