National Indoor Plant Week

Every year during the third week of September, National Indoor Plant Week is celebrated across the country. This week was established by individuals who are committed to the value of live indoor plants. Their goal is to increase awareness of the value of plants and their many attributes.

Some of these beneficial elements of indoor plants include:

• Reduce stress and create a feeling of well-being. Being surrounded by greenery can help us feel more at ease with our surroundings. We experience less stress when there are plants around us.
• Improve air quality. Interior plants reduce carbon dioxide levels, increase humidity, reduce levels of certain pollutants (such as benzene and nitrogen dioxide, reduce airborne dust levels, and keep air temperatures down.
• Lower background noise. Research has shown interior plants can help to reduce background noise levels inside buildings. Their leaves absorb, diffract, or reflect background noise, thereby making the environment more comfortable for the occupants.

Spruce up your home or office with these 5 indoor plants:

Snake Plant – These plants are excellent for filtering out trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene, benzene, and formaldehyde. They also give off oxygen at night. Snake Plants need only minimal direct sunlight and water once or twice a month, less in the winter. This interior plant is best for bedrooms. Toxic when eaten.

Pothos – Pothos plants filter out xylene, benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, and trichloroethylene. These plants don’t mind artificial lighting, so they would be perfect for a cube or office! Check soil before watering, if the top layer of soil is dry, go ahead and water.

Peace Lily – Peace Lilies are at the top of the list for removing formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and benzene. They can also combat toluene, xylene, and ammonia. These plants prefer medium, indirect sunlight. Keep the soul evenly moist and water every week. They are toxic for cats and dogs.

Spider Plant – The Spider Plant battles formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, toluene, and xylene. This is a perfect window plant, as it prefers bright light! However, it will still grow in semi-shade. They require lots of water in the summer, and less in the winter.

Dwarf Banana – The Dwarf Banana plant provides the air with moisture and filters out formaldehyde. They needs full sun to semi-shade. This plant needs to be fertilized often and turned periodically. Keep the soul evenly moist and keep the plant out of drafts.