Green Air-Purifying Machines

While spring cleaning, don’t forget about what you can’t see—your air. Since many of us spend most of our timeindoors, it’s important to offset the junk we breathe in. By placing certain plants in your home or office, you’ll betaking in better air in no time.

"Oxygen bombs" are houseplants that help remove toxic air pollutants from industrial chemicals used to manufacture building materials and numerous household cleaners that may contain formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia, acetone and ethyl acetate. The plant leaves actually absorb these pollutants and convert them to harmless substances. As a bonus, they do double duty by beautifying your space.

In 80 square meters of space, you’ll need 3 to 4 plants. Make sure there’s one in your bedroom since you spendplenty of time in there sleeping.

Green Air-Purifying Machines

Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii) – bright filtered or indirect light, water sparingly in winter, neutral to acidic soil, minimum temperature of 61 degrees F

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’) - indirect to bright light, high humidity, minimum temperature 59 degrees F

Dragon Tree (Dracaena Marginata) – full light with shade from hot sun, water sparingly in winter, moderate humidity, minimum temperature 55 degrees F

English Ivy (Hedera helix) – bright indirect to low light, keep moist, grow as a topiary or in a hanging basket, hardy zones 5 through 10

Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii) – requires bright light, excellent drainage, plant crown 1/2 inch above surface of soil, keep the old leaves picked off, minimum temperature 60 degrees F

Elephant Ear (Colocasia esculenta) - bright filtered light, mist daily in summer, water sparingly in winter, support stems with moss pole, minimum temperature 59 degrees F