I look out my sliding glass doors and see tall redwoods and stately oaks, but on the inside I enjoy the green and sometimes flowers of houseplants. I learned long ago to group them where they get enough light to do well. Recently I lost my cat Archer who never nibbled on plants, but I’ll need to be more careful when I get a new cat. It might be a nibbler. Here is some info on what houseplants can do for your indoor environment.
It’s been known for a long time about the beneficial effects of indoor plants. In addition to providing a natural, soothing environment, houseplants clean the air in your home of pollutants. Toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene can be released from furniture upholstery, carpets, cleaning products, paint, plastics and rubber. Carbon monoxide from the incomplete burning of wood and nitrogen oxides from cigarette smoke, vehicle exhaust and smog can also be present in indoor air.
With people spending more than 80% of the day indoors, air quality is a priority. Since Covid-19, improving environmental quality has become a global issue and a top priority for scientists today. The average concentration of pollutants indoors is 5 to 10 times higher than outdoors.
A recent study published in Scientific Reports on the ability of indoor plants to purify the air gave the highest rating of effectiveness to one of the easiest plants to grow—Spathiphyllum or Peace Lily. The highest purification per unit of leaf area award went to Sansevieria or Snake Plant and Aloe arborescens, a close relative of aloe vera, was one of the strongest absorbers and purifiers. But it’s not just the leaves of our indoor plants that clean the air.
Plants absorb indoor chemical pollutants into their bodies through stomata on their leaves and lenticels on their branches. These pollutants are then neutralized into non-toxic substances by the plant. So either exited through the root system or accumulated and stored in organs, the process is an effective means of cleaning our indoor air.
Some of the easiest houseplants to grow are some of the best to have in your home. Any of the plants listed above would fit the bill. If you have a cat or dog that nibbles, however, it’s best to stick with spider plants, palms and orchids, African violets, aluminum plant, bromeliads, peperomia, cast iron plants, Christmas cactus, chenille plant, creeping Charlie, false aralia, tradescantia, piggy back plant, maranta and succulents like donkey’s tail and echeveria.
Houseplants toxic for dogs and cats, according to the ASPCA, are asparagus fern, lilies, cyclamen, jade plant, aloe vera, azalea, begonia, ivy, mums, coleus, sago palm, kalanchoe and rubber plant. Keep your pets safe by keeping toxic plants out of reach.
With a little planning you can clean the air in your home while keeping the pets safe.
Jan Nelson, a landscape designer and California-certified nursery professional, will answer questions about gardening in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Email her at ja******@ao*.com, or visit jannelsonlandscapedesign.com.
