OK, we’ll probably have to file this blog post in the shameless self-promotion category, but I wanted to share a link to my Home &Garden cover story on houseplants that came out yesterday — just in case you missed it.
It turns out houseplants don’t have to be lame and ugly.
In fact, thanks to inspiring advice from garden designers such as Jon Carloftis, they can be stunning home accents.
You can check out the story and photo gallery here to learn how to use plants effectively in your home without creating a funeral-parlor vibe.
Of course, you’ll also get the added bonus of cleaning your indoor air, as mentioned earlier this week by our health columnist Dr. Elizabeth Smoots.
Though all plants produce oxygen and moisture and help clean air, some are particularly skilled at taking specific chemicals out of the air.
Here’s a quick look at plants to look for at the nursery or your favorite big box store for better indoor air quality.
Philodendron, spider plants and golden pothos are known for removing formaldehyde molecules, typically released by carpet backing and particle board.
Other air-cleaning plants include Chinese evergreen (aglaonema), aloe vera, bamboo palm (chamaedorea), ivy, musa (banana), peperomia, snake plant (pictured and also known as mother-in-law’s tongue), umbrella plant (schefflera), peace lily (spathiphyllum), arrowhead plant (syngonium) and many dracaenas, including the Janet Craig, Warneckei, corn plant and the Madagascar Dragon varieties.
If you’re new to house plants, I recommend dracaenas or the ZZ plant, which are beautiful and easy to keep alive.
Have a good weekend!
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