Having plants in your home is one of the best ways of completing your house: they add to the decor and put a touch of nature in your home. But they can also add to your well being and health.
Here are ten of the best houseplants that can refresh your home.
1. Boston Fern
Nephrolepis exaltata Bostoniensis
The Boston Fern has numerous benefits. It can remove formaldehyde and acts as an air purifier, with a reputation for being one of the best.
Care
This plant prefers bright light and damp soil. However it is flexible enough to sit in partial light on a shelf in your sitting room or on a coffee table.
2. Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum
One of the more popular house plants, and for good reason, the Peace Lily is to known to remove the chemical benzene, which is often found in the typical household.
It’s also said to be great at removing mould spors, so look to put it in a bathroom or kitchen.
Care
This plant wants loads of water and indirect light – perfect for bathroomsand kitchens, really, where there’s access to a lot of water!
3. Snake Plant
Sansevieria trifasciata
This hero of plants has been found by NASA to absorb toxins in your home such as formaldehyde and nitrogen oxides.
Care
The Spider Plant can tolerate low light and irregular watering (but do remember to actually water it occasionally!) For the best effect, try putting it the corner of a living room or in the hallway so guests see it as they come through the door.
4. Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosume
NASA also likes this houseplant, as they’ve deemed to be one of the top three types of houseplant for fighting formaldehyde, as well as carbon monoxide.
Care
Our spindly saviour houseplant needs lots of bright but indirect sunlight and watering regularly. For the full effect, place it centre stage on a kitchen or side table.
5. Devil’s Ivy
Epipremnumaureum
Despite its devilish name, this is an excellent houseplant for cleansing the air in your home. NASA put it as in the top ten houseplants for air purifying as the pores of the leaves absorb harmful elements in the air.
Care
Devil’s Ivy requires little care; water only if the soil feels dry. Due to its being poisonous if eaten, keep it well out of the reach of children and pets. The best places would be high on a bookshelf or in your own office next to a printer so it can do what it does best out of harm’s way.
6. Red Edge Dracaena
Dracaena marginata
One of the more beautiful houseplants with its red tipped leaves, the Dracaena removes benzene and formaldehydefrom the air in your home, including xylene.
Care
The Dracanea prefers bright light but never direct light. Likewise don’t water it too much otherwise its roots will rot.
7. Aloe Vera
Aloe barbadensis
This beauty has been populating people’s houses for years and for good reason. As you might have gathered, Aloe Vera is used to treat burns. It’s also a great deterrent against formaldehyde.
Care
Keep in well drained soil and allow for drying between watering. Aloe Vera prefers full sun but suffers from overheating so try a bedroom or kitchen for sunny patches.
8. Golden Pothos
Epipremnum aureum/Scindapsus aureus
NASA has claimed this houseplant as one of the better ones for fighting against formaldehyde. It can also remove carbon monoxide and increases the quality of the air around it.
Care
This plant needs less water than you’d expect but keep it in partial light; a good place would be a landing for the bigger ones or a corner of a room.
9. Philodendron
P. cordatum/P.scandens/P. Selloum
One of the best plants for removing formaldehyde in higher quantities, the Philodendron can last a good many years under good conditions.
Care
Make sure to put this houseplant on a high surface out of children’s reach as it is poisonous if eaten. Try brightening a bookshelf or a filing cabinet with it.
10. Rubber Plant
Peperomia obtusifolia/Ficus robusta
The Rubber Plant is a great one for clearing the air in a home, byreleasing a high level of oxygen. This makes it a natural air purifier.
Care
Filtered light will work best and infrequent watering in rich soil. For the best look, try a study or sitting room corner.
Conclusion
There are so many varieties of houseplant that there’ sure to be one to suit every room in your house. As well as adding a touch of the greenery to a home, they also add health benefits, so the more the better!