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Plants play an important role in purifying air by maintaining healthy levels of oxygen in the air. This same benefit of plants applies to in-house air purification as well. There have been systematic studies to prove that plants contribute substantially to indoor air purification. Several types of plants can filter out harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from the air. It is thus definitely a great idea to have plants in your home.

“House plants” are a special category of plants that are best suited for the indoors. These plants are characterized by their ornamental looks, easy-to-grow capability, and air cleaning ability. Thus, house plants offer “functional decoration”. Also, greenery brightens the room and helps in creating a relaxing and refreshing ambience. In 2008, a group of researchers from the Dutch University of Twente investigated and confirmed the stress-reducing properties of natural plants in a healthcare environment. They demonstrated how indoor plants increase the attractiveness of the room, thereby reducing stress.

Houseplants are easily available and can be potted into any container of your choice. Do make sure to ensure that there are one or more holes in the bottom of the container to allow the flow of water. Without holes, roots can drown, and the plant may die prematurely. For houseplants, special potting soil should be used. The regular soil from the yard can bring in insects and pests, which is most definitely undesirable. You will be surprised about the kind of innovations people have come up with to make houseplants easy-to-maintain. There are special time-release fertilizers and moisture retaining polymer crystals that minimize regular maintenance of your plants. Make sure to choose the right kind of plant, depending on the location. For example, choose a plant that does not need direct sunlight if you want to place it away from direct sunlight. Likewise, go for plants that survive with occasional watering (for example aloe vera) if you are gone a lot.

House plants can be placed on coffee tables, cocktail tables, or side tables. Balconies and patios are also excellent places to have houseplants. These places generally receive some amount of sunlight during the day, and can house many different kinds of houseplants. Some of the most common and functional houseplants are aloe vera, spider plant, Gerbera, Snake plant, golden pothos, Chrysanthemum, etc. Most of the houseplants are very resilient and are known to help filter out chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene.

Jump into your nearest gardening center, and bring home some of your favorite house plants and decorate your house green. Let the vibrant colors of spring paint your house in a truly natural way.