We all know that clean air is important, but the air in your home is most likely more polluted than outside. Whereas a simple ceiling fan can be one of the most effective solutions - what about the energy of keeping ANYTHING on all the time? 

 Simple, obvious solution.. house plants. But which ones? The following came from an article in Associated Content (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/952779/top_ten_houseplants_for_controlling.html?cat=32)

 Since the average American spends most of their time indoors, indoor air pollutants like VOCs, mold, and dust are taking precedence over car exhaust and smog. What can you do to control indoor air pollution in your home or office? Typical approaches are to buy an ionizer or air purifier in order to improve indoor air quality. However, findings by NASA show that common houseplants are excellent at absorbing toxins and pollutants from the air. They have proven so effective they may even be used in the future aboard space stations as part of the life support systems [1]. Which plants are the best choices for improving your indoor air quality? Environmental scientist and former NASA employee Bill Wolverton writes about the fifty top air purifying indoor plants in his book "How to Grow Fresh Air" [2]. Below are his ten top choices.

-- Arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum): A lovely vining plant with green and yellow variegated leaves. The arrowhead vine likes medium light, high humidity, and soil with a lot of organic material.

-- Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea Seifrizii): This is a larger sized indoor plant; it can grow up to ten and twelve feet tall. They do best in medium light and high humidity.

-- Boston fern: These ferns have been used as houseplants since the Victorian era. Like all ferns, they don't like low humidity or high heat. However, make sure that they don't get wet feet - don't let the pot sit in standing water. 

-- Draceana `Janet Craig': Draceanas like medium light and it's best to let them dry out between waterings. This variety grows to about a foot tall and has lovely dark green leaves. 

-- English ivy (Hedera Helix): While it is better known for its use in outdoor landscaping, English ivy also works well as a house plant. This ivy does well in almost any indirect light, and can also adapt to artificial light conditions. 

reference link: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/952779/top_ten_houseplants_fo

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argam says:

Also make sure to keep your plants in good condition by using organic fertilizers.

posted 11/19/08 at 04:00 PM

 

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