7 Best Houseplants to Grow That Will Help the Environment
The industrial revolution and population explosion have caused ongoing environmental deterioration. While the scale of this degradation is alarming, people are finding sustainable ways to mitigate the damage. One such solution is growing more plants that can improve the environment by releasing oxygen, providing animal nutrients, absorbing carbon dioxide, and regulating the water cycle. These factors are crucial for ensuring a sustainable future on Earth.
Incorporating plants into your home is an excellent way to improve your well-being and positively impact the environment. Not only can they filter pollutants and clean the air, but they can also bring joy and a touch of natural beauty to any indoor space. If you’re looking for innovative ideas to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home, check out decorhomeideas for some inspiration. Read on to discover some of the best houseplants that offer environmental benefits for your home.
1. Snake Plant
The snake plant is among the easiest plants to care about. These plants have sword-like leaves with stiff foliage of white and yellow stripping. They are resilient and tolerant of most unsuitable growing conditions and are an attractive choice for homeowners looking for an easy-to-grow houseplant.
Snake plants also contribute to eliminating toxic air pollutants and are known to be natural air purifiers. They effectively remove pollutants or cancer-causing toxins from the air, such as benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and toluene, while improving humidity levels. With the removal of such harmful toxins, snake plants decrease the possibility of airborne allergies from spreading. Snake plants prefer warm conditions and thrive in areas of limited light.
2. Moon Cactus
Moon cacti are an excellent environmentally-friendly option to add color to your garden. They come in various hues and require little watering, making them easy to maintain. Additionally, they do not need to be repotted, which results in minimal waste production. Per some traditional beliefs, moon cacti absorb sound energy.
When mature, moon cacti are typically one to two inches wide and covered in small, sharp spines. As houseplants, moon cacti are usually mutants that lack chlorophyll, which explains their vibrant colors, ranging from hot pink to neon yellow. This is why you’ll always find them grafted on top of greener cacti.
Moon cacti are small and compact and take less space to grow. They can be grown in small pots or arranged in groups to create a visually appealing display. Less space translates into reduced waste produced when the plants are harvested or die off at the end of the growing season, making them environmentally friendly.
3. Spider Plant
Spider plants are best known for their air-purifying qualities. They have long, leafy, grass-like foliage that effectively eradicates harmful elements from the air, such as carbon monoxide, xylene, formaldehyde, and toluene. Additionally, these plants can remove irritants like pollen, mold, and dust mites to keep the environment clean and the air pure. They are also effective in repelling pests, including flies and mosquitoes, making them a safer alternative to harmful insecticides that can harm the environment and human health.
Spider plants are low-maintenance, meaning they can survive in many soil types and remain firm in place, preventing soil erosion. Besides, they do not require frequent watering, making them a sustainable home gardening option as they can help conserve water resources. You can even grow them in containers without drainage holes!
4. Bamboo Palm
Bamboo palms, native to Mexico, enjoy warm temperatures and humid environments. These are excellent options to minimize your carbon footprint as they can thoroughly filter out and absorb common air pollutants, such as formaldehyde, benzene, chloroform, and carbon monoxide. In addition, these palms grow excessively without much water and fertilizer requirement, making them an eco-friendly option for gardening. They are also home to various birds and insects that help create a more balanced and natural ecosystem.
Bamboo palms do not demand a lot of time and effort on upkeep and are an attractive choice to enhance the aesthetic value of your outdoor space. Also, like all plants, bamboo helps reduce greenhouse gasses in the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide.
5. Dracaena
Dracaena is a large leafy plant that offers significant benefits to the environment. These effectively filter pollutants from the air, making the air cleaner and healthier to breathe. Also, the plant is said to release more than half of the water it absorbs back into the air, providing natural humidity control. Additionally, these plants require minimal resources to grow, meaning there are fewer needs for artificial chemicals or pesticides that could pollute indoor air quality.
Note that by improving air quality and regulating humidity levels, dracaena can reduce the need for energy-intensive air conditioning or heating systems that, in turn, reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Dracaena also gives a stylish flare to your home while reducing the amount of plastic or synthetic waste used in creating fake ones that later end up in a landfill.
6. Echeveria
The succulent plant known for its flower-like shape is found in various species. It is a sustainable plant that can be grown globally and is particularly common in the US, and its low-maintenance nature and minimal need for water make it an excellent eco-friendly option. Additionally, these plants are crucial in serving as a host to the butterfly population, controlling the average decline rate of 2% per year.
Echeveria is also highly drought resistant, as it can store water in its leaves and stems. This reduces their water consumption, saving more water resources. Echeveria plants have an established root system, stabilizing soil. They can also help restore degraded landscapes, as they can grow in poor soil conditions and prevent erosion.
7. Cast Iron Plant
The cast iron plant is characterized by its broad, dark green leaves. It is a hardy species with easy-to-care-for nature that boosts its ability to thrive indoors. These plants can remove common pollutants mentioned earlier, such as formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene.
Formaldehyde is a common indoor air pollutant present in many household products such as furniture, flooring, and cleaning. Benzene and xylene, also present in many household products, can be dangerous in high concentrations. The cast iron plant can absorb these chemicals through its leaves and roots and convert them into harmless substances, improving the air quality of your home or office.
Also, cast iron plants reduce the need for cooling systems because of their ability to regulate indoor temperatures. Note that such plants undergo transpiration – a natural cooling process that releases moisture into the air through an opening called stomata in the leaves. This water evaporates from the leaves and cools the surrounding air, making the environment feel cooler. This plant can survive with minimal watering, making it an excellent choice for water-conscious households.
Endnote
Plants play a vital role in regulating our environment and promoting sustainability. By growing environmentally friendly plants, you can positively impact the environment. Researching and choosing the appropriate plants for your space is essential to ensure their effectiveness.
If you prioritize an environmentally friendly approach and want to enhance the aesthetics of your garden, this article provides valuable information. By choosing the right plants, you can improve indoor air quality and reduce the risk of respiratory issues. You can also reduce your energy consumption and costs on electricity bills by not having to use exhausts to maintain air quality, which translates to a smaller carbon footprint.
Additionally, growing these plants can help mitigate the risks of climate change by absorbing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Incorporating environmentally friendly plants in indoor and outdoor spaces can promote a healthier and more sustainable environment. By consciously growing these plants, you are playing your part in preserving the planet for future generations.
