Go Green!

If you are living in a small space, such as a one bedroom apartment or a studio, sometimes it can start to feel a little stuffy. During the cold winter months when everything outside is dying, you might start to feel a little low. Then you should consider the advantages of keeping plants in your home.

One of the most basic benefits of plants is that they are natural air purifiers. Instead of filling up your air with “deodorizers” or “purifiers” that are really just adding more chemicals and buildup to your air, try keeping a few plants around. Actually, plants are capable of absorbing some pretty nasty stuff, such as trichloroethleyne, a chemical found in lacquers, varnishes and adhesives—and a known carcinogenic. This isn’t saying that your recently refinished armoire is going to give you cancer, but why have those potentially dangerous chemicals floating around the air if you don’t have to? Plants can also help with the build-up of naturally occurring irritants such as molds and bacteria. Of course, some plants are better purifiers than others. A few that are particularly good are spider plants, chrysanthemums and ficuses.

Going back to elementary school science, plants also give off oxygen. The addition of plants can help you feel more energized and add a spark of life to your home, especially during the long winter months.

If you have no plants, a spider plant may be a good place to start. They are very easy to maintain, and grow incredibly fast, allowing you to start enjoying their benefits sooner. They also do very well as hanging plants, good if you are working with limited table or counter space. And they don’t need to be watered everyday. Plus, they’re fun to watch grow! They grow upward and outward, and well, look like spiders. Personally, I am also a fan of bamboo plants; they are exotic looking, low-maintenance and are supposedly lucky.

So if you don’t have any plants, try one! Not only will your air quality improve, but living things can brighten up and add a more positive energy to any living space. And if you take good care of them, they could last years. I have had one my bamboos for more than four years, and I plan on having it around for many years more.

For more information about the benefits of plants, try these sites:
http://www.groupgp.com/plantscape/benefits.htm
http://www.cityandsuburbs.com.au/benefits/