Natures Air Purifier - Houseplants - Make Great Mothers Day Gift

We all think of houseplants as being a pretty way to spruce up a room but they can also rid your home or office of air pollutants. Houseplants are natures air purifier. Here are a few plants I have read about that will fill your home with healthy oxygen.

We have all heard of using Aloe plants on burns but did you know that Aloe can also be used to filter the air in your home. The Aloe plant can help filter formaldehyde and benzene, both byproducts of paint, stains, varnishes and caulking. So the next time you do some remodeling do not forget to add a few Aloes to the room.

For those of you that did not know, Aloe can ease the sting of a burn. Place some in your kitchen and the next time you are popped with bacon grease break a piece of the Aloe and spread on the burn. It really does help. I have done this many times.

Aloes are easy to take care of. They only need to be placed in a sunny window and watered once a week.

I have read that scientist in Switzerland have found that by placing a few cacti near your computer can help with the feeling of fatigue and even help with feeling achy. Cacti have compounds that counter the effects of radiation and electromagnetic pollution emitted from computer screens.

If you do not have a green thumb, no worries cactus are very easy to take care of and can live forever. One time my husband and I had a fight (when first married) and he knows how much my plants mean to me, so he knew he could get to me by hurting my plants. I had my cactus sitting on the kitchen window sill and when I was doing the dishes my cactus caught my eye because it did not look right. On further inspection I saw there was a fork sticking out of the top of the plant! Guess who did that? Well anyway, that cactus lived for a very long time after that attack. LOL

Just a heads up. This plant attack story has reminder me of another funny story about another one of my husbands plant attacks. Be looking for it in a new hub

Boston Ferns are not only a very beautiful houseplant but can help put moisture back in the air. Have you noticed your skin feeling dry? It may be from your indoor heating system. Boston ferns can help restore the moisture to your home by releasing water vapors back into the air.

The Peace Lilly can help fight allergy irritating molds. The leaves and the flowers of the Peace Lilly soak up the mold organisms and send it down to the roots where it is used for food.

Lillys do not need direct sunlight so would make a great plant to add to a bathroom. Give it a good watering once a week and dust the leaves once in a while.

The Snake Plant gives off more oxygen at night then it does during the day. If you put one in a bedroom or anywhere you like to nap you will breathe easier and sleep deeper. I read that studies show that higher levels of oxygen can increase sleep time by 10%. Yippee!

If you are like my daughter and kill most plants in your possession, the Snake plant can tolerate most environments and are very easy to care for. They do not need much light and need to be watered only when the soil is dry to the touch.

This is a photo of my Spider plant I have hanging in my kitchen. It is about five years old. It is said that Spider plants have microscopic openings in the leaves that absorb household pollutants that can cause drowsiness. Well it may be true. The plant hangs near my computer and I type away for hours!

Do not plant it in a big pot. Start out small. Then when it becomes root bound switch to a bigger pot. That is how the babies grow. Then you can snip the babies off and start new plants. They need to be watered around twice a week and do not like direct sunlight.

Plants make a beautiful addition to any room and now we know they also help to keep the air in your home healthy.