Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Journeys of Life is about the lives of people, any people. Most of us would love to tread that journey - however short or long it is - in a healthy environment. But sometimes it is made hard for us.
How many of you know that plants that beautify our homes, offices and other public places, can also help us get rid of bad smells? Like that cigarette smell left by the previous resident or your friendly neighbor? So even if you don’t consider yourself to have a green thumb, it might still be worth your while to go out and get one of these wonderful plants listed below - for they could give a boost to your home life!
The best plants for improving indoor air quality according to Mother Nature Network include the philodendron, spider plant, English ivy, peace lily, Chinese evergreen, bamboo palm and golden pothos. Some of the more effective plants to clear out formaldehyde include the Boston fern, dwarf date palm, bamboo palm, English ivy, weeping fig and lady palm.
Heart leaf philodendron (Philodendron oxycardium)
This climbing vine plant is toxic when eaten (so not a good option if you have kids or pets), but it works wonders when wanting to remove all kinds of VOCs. Philodendrons are particularly good at battling formaldehyde from sources like particleboard.
Heart leaf philodendron are very low-maintenance plants. They thrive with indirect light and very little maintenance, according to the University of Florida. The trailing vines can just fall from the container or can be trained to climb up a screen, trellis or pole.
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Even if you tend to neglect houseplants, you’ll have a hard time killing this resilient plant. With lots of rich foliage and tiny white flowers, the spider plant battles benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene, a solvent used in the leather, rubber and printing industries. Spider plant is considered a safe houseplant if you have pets in the house, and is easy to regrow. Just cut off one of the “spiders” and place it in a pot. Spider plants thrive in cool-to-average home temperatures and prefer dry soil. Bright indirect sunlight keeps them growing best, reports Kansas State University.
Sources:
https://www.mnn.com/health/healthy-spaces/stories/cleaning-cigarette-smells-with-plants (Mother Nature Network)