Be Green All Year Round

One of the easiest ways to improve the living quality of your home is to get some houseplants. Live ones, not the silk ones!

They do not need to be exotic or high maintenance plants. Even the unassuming Spider plant is known to be a champion of helping with air quality. In addition to helping clean the air, they also improve the humidity and provide the visual pleasure of watching something grow even in the coldest darkest days of winter.

Furthermore, do not be fooled into thinking that a bright sun fed room is necessary for healthy plants. Some plants prefer shade to bright light. Also, any necessary light can be provided with a light bulb specially designed for plant growth. By choosing the right plants, and strategically placing a light, I was able to get house plants to thrive in a basement apartment.

Asking questions and trial and error is probably the most important component of success with houseplants. Give some thought to where you could put a plant in your home, what kind of light the area receives, if there are any drafts [such as windows or doors], whether you want a plant that requires daily attention such a misting, or one that can go for a month in between watering.

With this information in mind, go for a stroll through your local plant store. Look at plants that are appealing in look and shape especially for the location you have in mind. Make note of the name and start asking questions about the care. Depending on the price of the plant, you might pick it up on an impulse buy or you might want to do more research.

Regardless of the type or number of houseplants you end up accumulating, each will provide benefits not only to the air quality of your home, but also the ambiance of your living space.

Here are some helpful links for more information on houseplants:

Guide to Care Free Houseplants

Plant Care.com

Top Houseplants for Improving Indoor Air Quality