Celebrate Earth Month: With Cleaner Air

Earth Day is April 22nd and we are celebrating all month long by highlighting different ways to love our planet. Many of us take the air we breath for granted, unfortunately environmental factors and even our next door neighbors can affect how clean the air is around us. Indoor plants have health benefits you should not ignore.  A Nasa study in 1989 showed several indoor plant species reduce harmful chemicals for cleaner indoor air.  Additional studies show it’s a slow process, but every bit helps.

Indoor Plants Help Reduce These Common Chemicals

We are exposed to a wide variety of chemicals on a daily basis, but indoor plants have been shown to reduce levels of the following: 

Benzene - Naturally occurring in volcanoes and forest fires, also a natural part of crude oil, gasoline and cigarette smoke. Benzene is sometimes used to make other chemicals, then used to make plastics, resins and nylon or synthetic fibers found in everyday products.  

Formaldehyde - Common in building materials, furniture and paper products.

Toluene - Used in many industries and can be found in paints, dyes, solvents, fingernail polish and gasoline.

Carbon Monoxide - Gas stoves and heating systems release low levels of carbon monoxide. Check your carbon monoxide detector annually.

Easy Indoor Plants for Clean Air

Many plants are easy to care for, but research if they are suitable for where and how you live, because different species have different needs. Water, soil drainage and amount of sun are important considerations to keep your plants healthy. Also, ensure you are not bringing plants into the home that might be toxic for small children or animals. Do a little research up front and it will be enjoyable to watch your plants flourish as a fun family project. Shop our Garden Collection for these easy care, clean air, healthy indoor plants.

	English Ivy (Hedera helix) removes harmful chemicals found in homes. English Ivy can grow in full shade to full sun.
	Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema modestum) (can be toxic to pets) Easy care plant that thrives in low to medium light. Grows 1 to 2 feet tall. Maintains healthy air.
	Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata magenta) tolerates low light well for easy care and helps to purify air.
	Mass Cane/Corn Plant ( Dracaena fragrans massangeana) Removes formaldehyde from the air.
	Mother in Law’s Tongue or Snake plant (sansevieria trifasciata Laurentii) Hardy succulent and very easy to care for. It can survive in tough conditions including wide variety of temperatures and light conditions. Tip: Don’t overwater.
	Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum Mauna Loa) mildly toxic for people and pets. Clean formaldehyde and carbon monoxide from the air. Easy to care. Tip: Will droop when it needs water.
	Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum Vittatum) Easy to care for as it thrives in bright or indirect light. Removes harmful pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene. Tip: Dislikes soggy soil so let them dry out slightly between watering.
	Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica) absorbs and breaks down harmful chemicals in the air. Rubber Trees convert carbon dioxide to oxygen.  Tip: Needs well drained potting soil and water.
	Lemon Button Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia) remove toxins and cleans the air. They like indirect light and humidity.
	Pothos Snow Queen (Epipremnum aureum) Cleans the air from benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, carbon monoxide and exylene. Tolerates low light and is easy to care for. Note: This plant is poisonous if ingested by pets or children.
	Aloe Vera ( Aloe barbadensis Miller) Easy to grow succulent and cleans the air of benzene and formaldehyde. Tip: Needs a sunny spot and soil that drains well.
	Ficus (Ficus benjamina) Very sensitive to change in location or watering habits. Improves indoor air and removes formaldehyde and exylene.  Tip: Likes bright indirect or filtered light and  high humidity.

SHOP HEALTHY INDOOR PLANTS

 Show us your green thumb by posting a picture of your favorite garden!    Go to our social media pages Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and share.

Thanks for reading,

Savvy

We may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you from the links below and in the post above, but we think these companies are worth sharing.

Inspiring Reads - 

Fund literacy programs and protect the planet when you buy books from Certified B Corporation, Better World Books. Here are few that will help you style and care for your indoor garden oasis.

	Wild at Home: How to style and care for beautiful plants by Hilton Carter Take a tour through Hilton's own apartment and other lush spaces, filled with a huge array of thriving plants, and learn all you need to know to create your own urban jungle.
	How Not to Kill Your Houseplant: Survival Tips for the Horticulturally Challenged by Veronica Peerless Can't keep a houseplant alive, no matter how hard you try and how good your intentions are? This is the book for you. You need this book. Give plants a chance. Help your plant live with survival tips and learn the simple ways not to kill your plants.
	Living and Styling with Plants: Urban Jungle by Igor, de Graaff, Judith Josifovic Provides all your DIY ideas for styling and tips on how to plant Inspiration for seasoned plant lovers as well as beginners, providing the total package on the topic of living with plants.