House Plants for Air Purification Buying Guide

Thriving hanging plants in blossom can be a showstopping addition to your décor, but they do require special care because of their placement. Some hanging plants are heavy. Be sure to securely attach them to a ceiling joist or wall stud. Even if your new plant is replacing another one, you’ll need to verify that your ceiling can handle its weight.

The soil itself is heavy. Much of today’s bagged potting soil is composed of hefty peat. If you need to lighten the planter, try mixing perlite into the soil. Perlite will probably increase drainage, so you’ll need to take care when you water. You may need to water hanging plants a little more often than your other plants because air closer to the ceiling is warmer and drier than air near the floor. To protect your floor from excess water, put the plant in a small pot that fits inside a larger nondraining hanging planter. You can also get a planter that comes with an attached tray. Some of these trays run small, so look for a planter with a tray that’s large enough to catch excess water.

Because of their height, hanging plants are more difficult to water than plants on a table or set on the floor. It’s possible to set up a pulley system to bring them down to a comfortable level for watering. Most people use a step ladder or water them outside or in the bathtub.

Because tropical plants grow in warm climates and often spend a lot of time under the shade of trees, they’re not difficult to grow indoors at home. Overwatering is the number-one killer of tropical house plants. Keep their soil moist but not wet. Many tropical plants can tolerate being underwatered occasionally. Check the soil by inserting a finger about an inch deep. If it’s moist, it’s right. Tropical plants do well with general-purpose soil. If you sometimes forget to water, plan for those times by mixing in perlite or pumice into the soil to help it retain water. You might want to add a humidifier or mist your tropical plants to moisten dry air.

Different tropical plants require different amounts of light. Check the instructions on the plant at the time of purchase and pay attention to your particular plant. If your plant starts to turn toward a window, it needs more sun. If the leaves start to burn, it’s getting too much sun; move it to a shadier spot. Healthy plants tend not to attract bugs, but insects sometimes do attack. If you do see bugs, try organic neem oil, insecticidal soap or horticultural soap for organic pest control. Bring flying bugs to heel with yellow sticky traps or sticky stakes.

A tropical plant’s leaves can indicate health issues. Dull leaves often suggest your plant needs more light. Leaves that are brown or yellow can imply too little humidity, overwatering or underwatering. Weak, leggy growth is usually symptomatic of too little light. Drooping leaves often indicate overwatering or underwatering. These issues may also come from insect infestation. Treat as described above.

Native to Africa and the deserts of North America, succulents have thick, fleshy water organs, storing water in their leaves, stems or roots. This makes them ideal for surviving in dry climates. In their native environments, these sturdy plants withstand greatly fluctuating temperatures ranging from 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime and 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Two of the best-known members of the family are aloe and agave plants. Cacti are also succulents but need particular care.

Thick-leaved succulents need a lot of sunlight — ideally about six hours per day. If your plant is getting too much sun, its leaves may scorch or turn brown or white, so reduce the sunlight. If your plant stretches its stem and spaces out its leaves, it needs more light. Give it more sun and prune the plant to its original shape. Grow succulents in soil that’s specifically designed for succulents and cacti or add perlite to regular soil. It’ill provide better drainage. Porous pots like terra cotta and clay will also help draw moisture away from plant roots. While humidity tolerance varies somewhat, most succulents do well slightly above or below 80% humidity.

The amount of water your succulents need will shift with the seasons. In summer, succulents need a lot of water. Be careful of overwatering, however, since it’s the most common cause of death for succulents. Overwatered succulents may have yellow or white leaves or lose their color entirely. Fertilize succulents in the summer as you would with other plants. Succulents go dormant in the winter, so water them only once every other month in the wintertime. Avoid fertilizing succulents in the winter.

Succulents That Purify the Air

• Aloe vera plants are the source of the aloe vera gel that helps heal minor burns and cleans benzene and formaldehyde from the atmosphere. As a desert plant, it needs lots of sun and good drainage.
• The African snake plant filters benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, trichloroethylene and toluene. This hardy plant should be watered only when completely dry and needs good drainage.
• Native to Madagascar, the red-edged dracaena decreases the levels of formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, benzene, xylene and toluene. This striking plant is hardy and likes partial shade. Avoid getting frost or water on its leaves.
• Another Africa native, the Janet Craig dracaena goes after trichloroethylene and formaldehyde. It needs humidity and moderate watering.

Keep the air clean in your house with beautiful plants. They’re a warm, welcoming way to a better home environment.