PURIFYING WITH PLANTS Words by Lisa Blake
C
lean breathing means a clearer mind and
master air-sterilizers and crave medium to high
better sleep. Tap into nature’s healing
light and high moisture.
channels by bringing air-filtering houseplants into your living space.
Chinese Evergreen
NASA’s famous 1989 Clean Air Study calls
An excellent beginner plant,
out known carcinogens in the air we breathe —
this sturdy tropical beauty
pollutants that include benzene, formaldehyde
cleanses formaldehyde and
and trichloroethylene found in carpets and
benzene found in detergents
furniture. They recommend an air-purifying
and cosmetics and does well in low to medium
plant placed every 100 square feet to cleanse
light and humid conditions — perfect for
home and work spaces of airborne toxins, dusts
bathrooms.
and germs.
Bamboo Palm
A closer look at these toxins reveals some
scary, negative health effects: benzene can cause
Tall and exotic, bamboo
drowsiness, dizziness, headaches and confusion,
palms (also called reed palms)
while formaldehyde irritates the nose, mouth
can reach heights of five to
and
menacing,
seven feet. The purifying
trichloroethylene can spur headaches, nausea
throat.
Perhaps
the
most
plant pumps moisture into the air and requires
and vomiting.
medium light and moist soil. Palms can be
Fortunately, relief is accessible with an easy
susceptible to spider mites. Fight them off with
trip to your local greenhouse or garden center.
a spray bottle of biodegradable liquid soap
The NASA study named several no-fuss plants
and water.
that naturally filter out the nasty stuff and easily grow indoors. Using popular houseplants to
Snake Plant
convert carbon dioxide and toxins into fresh
The laid-back snake plant —
oxygen — it’s a good housekeeping no-brainer.
sometimes called mother-in-
Here, president of Mountain Greenery
law tongue — absorbs toxins
Plantscapes Inc. in Basalt, Jillian Kops, helps us
through its vibrant, sword-
choose the right purifying potted plants.
like leaves. It thrives with very little water and low light and is insect resistant, making
Philodendron
for a wonderful low-maintenance apartment
This dark green heart-
roommate. :
leafed plant is easygoing and virtually pest free. Philodendrons have low light
Call on Mountain Greenery in Basalt for plants
and low water requirements, but can be toxic to
sourced from their garden boutique, along with
pets and small children, if eaten.
indoor and outdoor gardening services. The family-owned Roaring Fork Valley nursery prides
Peace Lily Beautiful white calla-like blooms stretch on tall green
itself on a wealth of healthy annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees and exotics. Find them at 185 Southside Drive, Basalt, or mtngreenplants.com.
stems in this decorators’ favorite. Peace lilies are
SPOKE+BLOSSOM
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