Absolutely you should get Indoor House Plants. Besides adding a pop of green (or whatever color) to your home, they do wonders for your mood and overall wellbeing. Owning a houseplant can reduce stress on the mind and body, as well as promote concentration and enhance productivity. In addition, house plants purify indoor air, making them similar to natural air purifiers.
Most of us suffer from pollen allergies. That’s just part of living in the south, with all of our pollinating trees. All of that pollen has left all of us with allergies begging for relief. While creating your landscaping plan, you can reduce your exposure to pollen at your home by reducing the number of trees that are the worst pollen offenders. Tree pollens are dry and lightweight, so they can travel great distances in the wind. Some of the worst tree allergens include:
- alder
- ash
- beech
- birch
- box elder
- cedar
- cottonwood
- date palm
- elm
- mulberry
- hickory
- juniper
- oak
- pecan
- Phoenix palm
- red maple
- silver maple
- sycamore
- walnut
- willow
While that will help with the outside of your home, on the inside you can do many things to improve your indoor air quality. Let’s talk about houseplants. Water them when the soil is dry. Don’t put them in front of air conditioners or heating units. Also, check out Healthy Tips To Help You This Pollen Season.
You can plant indoor plants that assist with humidity and purify the air. Some recommendations from Zyrtec.com are:
1. The Areca Palm
The most efficient air humidifier. You can count on the Areca Palm to keep your home moist when it’s dry, like in winter.
2. The Lady Palm
This versatile air-purifying plant thrives in dry or humid climates and resists most types of plant-eating insects.
3. The Bamboo Palm
A little higher maintenance than the first two on this list, the Bamboo Palm thrives when kept moist (but not wet) in indirect sunlight, and is a great air purifier.
4. The Dracaena
Nicknamed the “Janet Craig” after a prominent nurseryman’s daughter, the Dracaena is beautiful and versatile, with shiny deep-green leaves. It is renowned for trapping allergens in its leaves.
5. Other Options: Colorful House plants
There are some bright, colorful plants that produce pollens that are heavier and stickier. Plus, they are less likely to cause allergic reactions. Consider the Peace Lily, Marginata, or English Ivy.
How do I get rid of gnats in my house plants?
Having house plants can lead to gnats, but caring for them properly can keep them from breeding. Moisture attracts gnats, so overwatering your plants can create a breeding ground for them. The fastest and simplest solution is to use a gnat spray or sticky traps to eliminate the nuisances.
You will also want to dust more frequently, get your air ducts cleaned. We offer full-service duct cleaning options as well as other air system additions to improve your indoor air quality. Give us a call to schedule your indoor air quality survey today!
