Breath with Green 🌴🍃🌸

Breathe with green; Indoor gardening for a cleaner breath…

If you are interested in indoor gardening, your curiosity is a part of an ever-developing fascination as old as human civilization. As Professor Catherine Horwood, the author of 'Potted History – a study of plants in the home' points out, indoor gardening started as a necessity of the household, grew into a status symbol, and finally blossom as both an innovative and a beneficial hobby.

If I’m to paraphrase Horwood, current individuals are much aware of the benefits of indoor gardening. With the support of a considerable number of new and old studies, released by the titans as such as NASA, dating as back as to the late 80s one such major proven benefit of indoor gardening is its ability to purify the air.

As we all know, plants naturally absorb air and eradicate carbon dioxide by consuming it to fuel the process of photosynthesis. As a side effect of this process, the plants also absorb other toxic chemicals which lead to air pollution. In fact, plants can absorb some of the smallest particles, particles that even the most advanced air purifiers can’t trap.

So ultimately, an indoor garden is a natural way to boost air purification and remove air pollution in your home. So, does this make indoor gardening a supplement to the air purifier? Well, not yet.

So, does this means that we have to wait a few decades for the manufactured pathos ivy to be available to make a hobby out of indoor gardening? Well, we still have plenty of nature given indoor plants that could purify the air while giving us health benefits. 

These purifying indoor plants would not only reduce the constantly increasing level of CO2 and remove the toxins in the air but also increase the level of relative humidity. In simpler words, they would remove the sour air and add moisture to the atmosphere which would in turn help in relieving from sinus congestion/headache, irritated vocal cords, dry cough, and the irritation to eyes, ears, nose, and throat.

The utmost thing is the fact that you don’t need green fingers to be a part of the indoor gardening club and battle against toxins. If I am to paraphrase Horwood again, fortunately, the indoor foliage that has got the best health-giving properties and are great mopper-uppers of air pollutants such as the peace lily, or spider plant are also the ones that are pretty easy to cultivate.

Let me introduce you to seven such low maintenance air purifying indoor plants you could pot in your indoor garden. These plants are so easy to care for and pretty hard to kill.

 

1.      Spider Plant

Spider plants are a fine selection for the beginners to the world of indoor gardening and forgetful owners as they are among the easiest air-purifying plants to grow. They send out shoots with flowers that eventually grow into spiderettes. Simply snip them and plant them in a pot of their own when you can see the little knob-like protrusions and tiny roots on the bottom of each spiderette. Now they are ready to be gifted or be added to your plant collection.

 

2.      Peace Lily

                                   

Are you someone who lives in a compact space but still thinks of indoor gardening? Then peace lily is the answer for you. This relatively small low light indoor plant is the definition of a low maintenance plant. Their glossy green leaves bring color and light to any room, even those spots with low light, so Just put it in a shady spot and keep the soil moist and you see flowers throughout most of the summer

 

3.      Snake Plant

                                 

If you think about indoor gardening but afraid of the commitment, the snake plant is the plant for you. The snake plant is crowned among the most tolerant plants as it is that hard to kill. They can survive low light levels, droughts, and have few insect problems. You can neglect them for weeks at a time and they would still look fresh and green.

 

4.      Aloe Vera

                                   

Here’s another dream plant of an indoor gardening enthusiastic. Easy to maintain, looks attractive, and truly useful. It grows well in artificial light and needs to be watered about every three weeks. The plant's leaves contain a clear liquid full of vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, and other compounds that have wound-healing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties which makes it a quick relief remedy for small burns and such. Simply break a leaf and apply the cool goo on the wound.

 

5.      Weeping Fig

This is the tree for you if you are an indoor gardening fan with a high ceiling. Expect this tree to grow up to 10ft tall indoors as this hardy plant is from the rain forest where they grow into majestic giants. You can keep this low-maintenance plant in the indirect bright light and see how it grows slowly but beautifully. Trimming is necessary if you want to make it smaller or shape it and the winter would be the best time for it.

 

6.      Garden Mum

This beauty is a popular plant type among indoor gardening enthusiasts for its top-performing air-purifying quality. They work well indoors but it is best to plant mums in an outdoor garden after they flower since indoor environments do not permit them to re-bloom. look for a place that receives a few hours of sunlight in the early morning or evening when they are to be planted outdoors.

 

7.      Devil’s Ivy

                                    

This is also a 'harder to kill than to keep alive' type of a low-maintenance tree which became a favorite among indoor gardening enthusiasts due to its ability to fight household toxins as well as the color it brings to the household.

 

However, scientists have developed a houseplant by genetically modifying the pathos ivy (which is still in the demo mode) with incredible results in air purifying and will bring indoor gardening to the frontline in the battle against toxins. It is also predicted that in the near future we might see plants that are a part of air purifiers in our houses and workplaces.