|
Healthy
House Plants
13 September 2002
Traditionally house plants have been grown to
brighten rooms adding interest and colour. Now
you have the satisfaction of knowing that with
the right choice of plants you can make your
home a safer place to live in. There is a school
of thought where it is claimed that modern houses
and office blocks dont breathe. To conserve
energy and heat there is double glazing, less
ventilation, cavity wall and roof insulation.
In offices the air is recycled.
 This
is undoubtedly the age of synthetic materials
and nowhere are they more commonly used than
in the home and office. They all give off gases
and vapours undoubtedly contributing to a dramatic
increase in allergy and asthma cases.
If
we consider the world as a larger than life
example it is the plant life which is solely
responsible for cleaning the natural and man
made impurities. Whole forests worldwide are
working non stop to scrub the air,
leaving it fresh and clean for us to live in.
In homes and offices our house plants can carry
out the same function. Some
are better than others at tackling sick
building syndrome. Other plants carry
out specialist functions. Some of the worst
chemical emissions in the home are formaldehyde,
ammonia, benzene and alcohols. Ceiling tiles,
floor coverings, paints and wall coverings are
the worst offenders in the house. Office equipment
such as computer screens, printers and photocopiers
all add to the pollution.
Gardening is well recognised as therapeutic
and while I dont personally talk to my
house plants I do enjoy their company indoors.
For removing formaldehyde from the air grow
either the Boston fern or the pot chrysanthemum.
The Lady palm (Rhapis) absorbs large quantities
of
ammonia. The Peace lily (Spathiphyllum ) is
probably
the best all round cleaner especially
good for removing acetone, alcohol and benzene
from the atmosphere.
Gerbera daisies are the whole rage at present
and do a good job at removing chemicals. Mother-in-laws
tongue (sansevieria), the Prayer plant (maranta)
and Christmas cactus (schlumbergera) are of
little use but they are attractive and in the
fight for clean air every little helps.
Back
to John's index page
|
