The world has become engulfed in technology, and it is refreshing to see some greenery rejuvenating our minds while keeping the air fresh.
Ever since the pandemic has started, all of us have been stuck in our homes. Since we live in a closed space for so long, we should make sure that our home’s air quality is healthy. And houseplants do the exact job.
Houseplants remove all toxins from the air; thus, cleaning it and refreshing our interiors. They can remove several pollutants like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. They can also protect you from airborne toxins, germs, and insects.
Some household plants also have medicinal properties. They can add humidity to the air.
Besides cleansing, plants look good in all kinds of environments so that you can add them to your home décor.
Some plants or plant parts may be toxic. So, you need to make sure that you choose the right variety and are not harmful to your kids or pets.
To help you out, we have brought the top 10 best houseplants to refresh your home.
Peace Lily
Peace lily, also known as Spathiphyllum, is known as one of the best air purifying plants out there and can filter out a range of impurities from the air. Unmatched in its abilities, this plant also has a great and unique look which is a great option if you consider buying décor for your home.
This plant does not even require much maintenance. You need to keep it in indirect sunlight and keep the soil moist. The plant will last longer if you live in an average humidity area (25-49%). Try to keep it in average temperatures ranging from 65 to 75-degree Fahrenheit.
Despite all of its advantages, the peace lily is toxic for humans and pets if ingested. So, make sure that you keep it in a place well out of reach of pets and children.
Air Plants
If you want to own a really unique houseplant, plants from the genus Tillandsia are the best options. These plants do not need any soil, making them one of the unique plants out there. All you need is to dunk them in some water. These air plants have special scales that can hold moisture on their leaves.
Since you do not need any pot or soil, you can design air plants in any way you want. You can keep them in glass globes, mount them in driftwood or keep them on teacups.
Some of the air plants’ varieties are also flowering; thus, adding more colors to your room. All you need to do is to water them weekly.
Bamboo Palm
Add a tropical touch to your home with bamboo palms, also known as Chamaedorea erumpens. These plants have no relation with bamboo, but their design makes them one of the best floor plants.
The palm leaves make it catchy. Keeping one or two of these will add a tropical vibe to your room. These plants are great air purifiers, cleaning out harmful chemicals like benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde from your air.
These plants like low to medium light. So, you should keep them away from direct sunlight. Ensure that the soil is dry when you water it, as adding too much water can be harmful to its roots.
Bamboo palms are well-suited for areas with average temperature and humidity (25-49%, 65-75-degree F). These plants are not harmful, so it is entirely safe to keep them anywhere you want.
Citronella
If you live in a warm area, you are aware of how annoying mosquitoes are. Besides being vectors of lethal diseases like Dengue and Malaria, these sneaky parasites bite and suck your blood at the most unexpected places. They leave an itchy sensation on your skin after biting, and you end up scratching the area for quite some time.
Having a houseplant that can help you get rid of these mosquitoes is really necessary if you live in warm areas. And citronella (Cymbopogon nardus) is the best plant for this job.
The leaves have a soothing citrus fragrance that can keep your room fresh all the time. Citronella themselves do not repel mosquitoes. Crush some leaves and rub the oil on your skin. The fragrance masks your smell, keeping mosquitoes away from you.
The lacy design of its leaves makes it a great addition to your home décor. All you need to maintain citronella plants is keep the soil moist (do not overwater) and feed it water-soluble plant food.
These plants are easily available. However, if you do not want to go out in this pandemic, some websites deliver the Citronella Plant right on your doorstep.
English Ivy
It is not just your living rooms and bedrooms that need cleansing. Your bathroom also needs to be fresh, and not many plants can survive in the moist rooms.
English Ivy (Hedera helix) is well suited for this job. These vines can effectively reduce airborne fecal particles. They can also control mold levels in your home.
These plants can be a good addition to your bathroom décor, keeping a detoxified, healthy environment in your bathroom.
Plants like English Ivy do not need much maintenance. All they need to protect your home are generous watering and 4 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Snake Plant
Here is a houseplant that you can keep for a good night’s sleep. Snake plants, also known as Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, can release oxygen at night. This keeps a fresh environment at night, helping you breathe better when sleeping.
These yellow-tipped leaves can also filter harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, and toluene. All of these features make this plant a must for homes.
These roots rot in moist soil, so make sure that you do not add too much water.
Chrysanthemum
Here is a plant that can add a burst of soothing colors to your home among all these greens.
Chrysanthemum, also known as Chrysanthemum morifolium, cleans out lots of toxins like ammonia and benzene. These pretty blooms can light up your bedroom and kitchen and keep your room fresh.
Besides its beauty and purifying properties, chrysanthemum also has medicinal properties. You can drink chrysanthemum tea as it can help in digestion, relieve nausea. It can also lower fevers and clean up colds.
These health benefits are packed in these small flowers; these plants do not require much maintenance. You need to water them regularly and keep them in direct sunlight.
Aloe Vera
Talking about house plants and not including this miracle plant is a sin. These plants love sunlight; so, you can keep them on window sills or balconies.
Besides the beautiful design of its leaves, Aloe Vera’s gel (Aloe barbadensis) leaves have healing properties. It can soothe any kitchen burns. The gel is also good for your skin; all you need to do is peel out the leaves and apply the clear, crushed gel to your skin.
These plants can filter out formaldehyde and benzene from the air, making them a great addition to your home.
Spider Plant
Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are popular houseplants that look great in modern-day homes. These plants are non-toxic, so that you can keep them anywhere. They can filter out carbon monoxide from the air.
These plants do not require much maintenance. So, if you are a newbie to gardening, you can start with the Spider plant.
It would help if you kept them in indirect sunlight. They can thrive in average temperature and humidity.
Weeping Fig
We are concluding our list with a plant popular since the Victorian era. Besides their beauty, these plants can filter out your room from chemicals like formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene.
All you need to do to keep these plants healthy is to regularly put them in indirect sunlight and water. These plants are trusty purifiers and can be a great addition to your house.
