Purify Air

Did you know that some house plants can purify the air?

I know the new craze is to have essence oil in the air, but not all of us can handle that kind of attack on our sinuses. Not to mention the expense of that little bottle of oil. At some stores one bottle can cost up to $19 and only last about a month if you use it as directed, not to mention the diffuser you'll have to buy which runs about $50 or more. An all natural way of purifying the air without the smells and large cost, is to grow certain plants in your own home. Side note: for those who call themselves "black thumbs", all of these are almost impossible to kill!

The Gerber Daisy is not only one of my favorite flowers, but it removes benzene and carbon dioxide from the air. Benzene and carbon dioxide can cause you to feel light headed, dizzy, even cause headaches and nausea. But Gerber Daisies remove those toxins and can help you sleep, by giving off an extraordinary amount of oxygen at night. Drawback: they do have pollen when they bloom that can cause allergies to act up. So once they bloom either cut the flowers or plant them outside.

The Bamboo Palm can remove formaldehyde from the air and acts as a natural humidifier. Formaldehyde is found in every home and can make you feel worn down and sick in high doses. This palm cleans the air and humidifies at the same time, helping those with colds and people who get frequent bloody noses. Drawback: they can grow up to 12 feet tall.

The Mum can remove ammonia benzene, formaldehyde and xylene from the air. These air pollutants can cause you to feel run down, gloomy and depressed. This plant is the powerhouse of air purifying plants. Mums are inexpensive and are carried in every garden center; also, when they bloom they give you tons of seed, so replant those and start the cycle over again. Drawbacks: they are also a blooming flower and can cause allergies to act up. That's why they are good in the house until they bloom, then move them outside as a border to your garden, where they also work as a natural pest blocker.

The Peace Lily can remove ammonia benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and mold spores from the air. Peace Lilies love the shade, and with their mold removal ability these are normally kept in a bathroom. Drawback: they again are a flowering plant and can cause allergies to increase.

The Snake Plant or Mother-in-Law's Tongue can remove benzene, nitrogen oxide, formaldehyde, and xylene from the air at night, and produces large amounts of oxygen which can help you sleep better. So plant them near you in your bedroom. It's an extremely hardy plan and very hard to kill. This plant only needs to be watered occasionally and prefers to be in a drier area. Drawback: it's hard to find in stores, but it can be bought online.

P.S.

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