PLANTS WITH AIR PURIFYING BENEFITS
If you thought plants were just decorative objects to bring your house to life, then you would of course be right. Putting your feet up and watching your favourite film might well be the ultimate detox, but you have to be in good company. If you have ‘greened up your gaff’ with the Fiddle leaf fig tree, Money plant or String of hearts, to name a few, then you are one step closer to the gods, with your air purity levels hitting a high. We’ll introduce you to the plants that are powerful air cleaners and naturally remove pollutants found within your home, such as formaldehyde (carpets, upholstery, glues and paint), benzene (plastics, rubber and pesticides) and trichloroethylene (paint removers and adhesives).
Bringing flora into the home, if purifying the air wasn’t enough, is proven to also reduce stress levels. So if a good dose of English Ivy can’t fix the January blues, then I don’t know what will.
Not only are they one of the only trees to grow successfully indoors, highly stylish with deep, wide green leaves - they’re also wonderful for improving air quality by providing high levels of oxygen and cleaning the air of allergens. Remember to give it plenty of sunlight and a proper soaking without overwatering. Fiddledum, fiddledee!
ENGLISH IVY
NASA inform us that good old English Ivy is a turbo houseplant. Grown indoors it has incredible air filtering abilities and is highly effective when it comes to absorbing formaldehyde. Though slightly on the trad side Ivy is extremely versatile and adaptable, try pairing up with a brightly coloured geometric pot or hang from the windows in your bathroom for a more Midsummer Night’s Dream vibe. Ivy likes moderate temperatures and medium sunlight, oh Ivy.
Whether or not it brings you a greater fortune, this plant is a powerful air purifier that will clean the air in your house very effectively by removing chemicals and other pollutants. Keep it healthy and happy with medium, indirect sunlight and regular watering. Bring on the money!
BOSTON FERN
This dramatic looking plant was first popularised by the Victorians and has recently made a resurgence into the dwellings of the London Urbanite. With their feather-like leaves and curved fronds they look fantastic hung up and with their need for moisture and humidity a bathroom seems like a handy spot to admire these bushy beauties. The Boston fern is a formaldehyde obliterator.
ALOE VERA
The aloe plant over the years has made quite a name for itself and is probably rather smug at this point. This ‘do it all’ plant soothes burnt skin, heals cuts and being February is most likely in everyone’s fridge, cleansing our bodies and souls in liquid form. It doesn’t stop there as this plant helps clear the air of pollutants found in our everyday chemical cleaning products. Apparently, you will see brown spots starting to emerge on the leaves if an excessive amount of harmful chemicals are present in the air. Now I think that does deserve a gold star, our own personal nuclear alarm.
As well as being full of distinctive personality, this house plant helps to filter air making your home a cleaner and healthier environment to live in. It takes minimal care and has a high heat tolerance and light requirement. Show it some love by choosing the sunniest room of the house for yours to grow.
HEARTLEAF PHILODENDRON
The heart-shaped philodendron has long been a popular choice of house plant with its easy care attitude and awesome decorative vines. Like the English Ivy these plants are particularly good at absorbing formaldehyde. They like a nice shady patch and well-drained soil. If you allow their long stems to grow they will look very handsome sat on a bookshelf, their heart shaped leaves cascading oh so beautifully.
Air purifying plants work best grouped together, so there is no better excuse to turn your standard shelves, the ones you have been meaning to paint for years, into a ‘wow’ plant art installation. Create interest by mixing up your plant selection, heights and pots. Try experimenting, potting your plants in a variety of unusual vessels, mixed in with your favourite pile of dusty antique books, or placing them simply along a stand-alone kitchen shelf. Please drop into our East London Florist
for advice on APPs and plant decorating or of course just for the chats. We are pro’s at all three.