Refuse to be a Black Thumb - Purify Your Air!

Study after study has found that ordinary houseplants are the most effective air purifiers. However, in conversation after conversation it has really struck me how many of my friends and acquaintences profess to be "black thumbs" and can't keep houseplants alive due to their busy lives. Well friends, the following plants are no-kill plants, they are all in my home and I vouch for their low maintenance. All of these hard working toxin reducers are also found to reduce anxiety, fatigue, headaches, asthma, eye irritation and stress levels. Best of all they can be purchased just about anywhere.

1) Snake Plant (Mother in Law Tongue) - Quite simply snake plants thrive on neglect. They require low light, little water and can even handle small pots. One of my bathrooms gets zero light and it is doing well after months and months of no light. This is a great basement or bathroom plant. It filters benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE), carbon monoxide & dioxide and formaldehyde with incredible results.

2) Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreens) - Simply gorgeous plant! Super easy to grow and does not require much light. This plant eliminates benzene, toluene and formaldehyde from your household air.

3) Golden Pothos (Devil's Ivy) - This heart shaped leaf vining plant can be kept alive from anyone. I have never been able to kill one. What I like best about a pothos is when the vines grow too long for you, trim them off and create roots on them in water or vermiculite. Voila! You have another plant.

4) English Ivy - Known as one of the best air purifiers for your home it reduced benzene a known cancer causing agent found in glues, solvents, paints, gasoline and art supplies by 89.8% in 24 hours. Also easy to grow.

5) Christmas Cactus - A must have plant on your bed table. While most plants release oxygen during the day, their respiratory cycle decreases at night. However, Christmas Cactus and Gerbera Daisies both powerful air purifiers continue releasing oxygen all through the night to help you breathe and sleep better. Christmas cactus require medium light and moderate watering (every 7-10 days).

6) Spider Plants - These are another one of the ultimate easy to grow houseplants. These plants seem to survive anything. Spider plants require moderate light and low to moderate water levels. Plus they grow additional spider plants. Filters formaldehyde, xylene and carbon monoxide.

8) Pony Tail Palms - This plant is the most beautiful plant I own and is so easy to grow. It requires medium light and not much water. Palms filter the air really well especially areca plams but not all palms are created equal and some are not easy to take care of. I have killed several palms such as sago palms and bamboo palms.

9) Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily) - Peace Lily, acts as a general air cleanser of many environmental pollutants, such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. Avoid direct sunlight to avoid burns and it can handle a shadier spot. Watering approximately once per week, only when the soil is dry. I have killed peace lilies from overwatering. 

10) Braided Money Tree - Very unique air purifier. Once a week is sufficient for watering and sometimes less will do. You can determine the amount needed to be applied if your leaves start to wilt and turn yellow then you have too much moisture. If the leaves become wrinkled or curled then the plant is not receiving adequate water.

Plant Tips

- Pollutants are absorbed through the leaves, so keep the leaves clear of dust by wiping gently with a damp cloth.

- To keep your home air clean the recommendation is one 6 inch plant per 100 square feet of interior.

- Do not over water!

Links:

TED Talk - How to Grow your Own Air -http://www.ted.com/talks/kamal_meattle_on_how_to_grow_your_own_fresh_air.html

NASA Study Air Purifying Plants - http://www.scribd.com/doc/1837156/NASA-Indoor-Plants

List of air-filtering plants - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_air-filtering_plants

* Pictured above Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreens)