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Indoor houseplants to purify the air in your home this winter

  • Plants Décor
Nov 15, 2024
Living room with indoor plants – Beautiful Homes

The founder of Garden Up, Dr Ekta Chaudhary takes us through some indoor plants that help with air purification, while suggesting how to maintain and style them

There's already a slight nip in the air, a sign that winter is coming. While it makes most of us excited, it's also concerning because this time of the year brings with it pollution that impacts our health. In turn, people prefer staying indoors.

 

But here's the deal, household air pollution is as bad. As per research by the World Health Organization (WHO), it can be caused by a range of pollutants, including small particles that can go deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.

 

In that case, purchasing an air purifier has become one of the most obvious solutions. But there's another way to deal with it, and that's by having indoor plants that can help clean the air. At the same time, they can enhance the visual aesthetic of your home? We think it's a win-win!

 

Our expert, Dr Ekta Chaudhary, the founder of Garden Up, a company dedicated to creating a green haven for landscapes, homes and offices, tells us all.

 

 

The Best Air-purifying Indoor Plants

To begin with, Ekta points out that growing indoor plants is not dependent on the season, since the temperature inside is largely maintained. So, take your pick accordingly.

 

Here are some of her suggestions:

Pink Aglaonema: 

This plant is one of the prettiest and low-maintenance plants to place indoors. According to research, it also keeps indoor pollutants at bay, ensuring the air stays fresh inside. Aglaonemas can be found in a variety of colours, including bright shades like red and pink. That's why it's also known as the ‘lipstick plant’.

 

It can instantly add warmth and colour to any space, making it a preferred option for many home projects. While it grows well in direct sunlight, it can also flourish in light that's bright enough to read a book

Pink aglaonema plant – Beautiful Homes

Pink Aglaonema

Chinese evergreen plant – Beautiful Homes

Chinese Evergreen

Chinese Evergreen:

This bushy plant is a great choice for those who are looking to add a green touch indoors. Traditionally, in Chinese cultures, this plant signified good luck. Today, it's popular since it grows well in low light and can rise up to two feet! It has large glossy leaves in varied shapes like oval or pointed, with short stems.

China Doll:

Don't go by its name because the plant is anywhere but dainty! It can grow up to as much as 10 feet, which means your home can be covered with green foliage without any hassle. But here's an interesting fact, this variety is also called so because it looks like a doll house tree. China doll is quite easy to maintain, purifies the air, and can be used as decor in balconies too!

China Doll indoor plant – Beautiful Homes

China Doll

Pothos indoor plant – Beautiful Homes

Pothos.

Pothos:

This variety may have an exotic name, but it's the good old money plant (we all have got them at some point). This low-maintenance plant is great for beginners, because it's easy to grow. Pothos can have several variations but Ekta has a soft spot for the marble pothos. Its glossy leaves with white and green hues makes for a stunning addition to any home. Plus, it removes toxins like benzene and formaldehyde from the air.

Milky Dew Dracena:

Ekta highlights that not many people talk about this plant but it's one of the best varieties to have at home. It's affordable, low maintenance, and something that never fails. It adds a pop of colour to any space and is highly versatile, making it the go-to choice for everything from vertical gardens, landscaping sites to home projects.

Milky Dew Dracena – Beautiful Homes

Milky Dew Dracena.

How to Maintain Indoor Plants

Here are some helpful tips that Ekta shares to keep these indoor plants in good shape:

 

  • It's important to maintain the humidity in the house, especially in the case of tropical house plants like aglaonemas, Chinese evergreen or China doll. While certain places have naturally high humidity, others may be dry. In the case of the latter, one can invest in a humidifier to maintain higher humidity.
Living room with indoor plants – Beautiful Homes

Image courtesy, Weespaces

  • Ensure there's enough sun, says Ekta. If you are growing edible plants, a window sill is a good idea to get some sunshine. There are also lots of flowers one can grow in winter like petunias, marigolds or clusters of stars. But if someone wishes to bring them indoors, the condition is for the plant to get at least 3-4 hours of sunlight.

  • Apart from the ambient humidity, it's essential to be mindful of the moisture content in the soil. Ekta suggests always touching the soil—if it's dry, only then water is to be added. One must ensure that plants are neither standing in water nor are they completely dry. Medium watering for indoor plants works well.
  • For beginners, starting with plants like pothos is simple. Eventually, they can graduate to a fiddle leaf fig or similar varieties once they've gained some confidence.

 

 

How to Style Indoor Plants

While maintaining indoor plants is important, so is styling them well. After all, they can amp up the aesthetics of any home in an instant.

 

Here are some tips:

 

  • If someone wants to get tall plants, investing in rotomould pots is a smart idea. Ekta has been using them for her indoor styling projects and has always received a good response. There's another advantage—these pots do not get as heavy for big plants.

  • Also, never use a ceramic pot to grow a plant directly. If you've to use ceramic, use a liner pot, which means a regular plastic pot goes into the ceramic pot. This is because if one has to move the plant, it is easier to separate the pot which is ceramic and the plant with the plastic one. It's much lighter in weight.

  • In case a pot doesn't have drainage holes, Ekta advises making some and having a drainage plate to collect extra water.

  • One must have a mix of varieties, both tall and short bushy plants. Aglaonemas and Chinese evergreen works for a bushy short look, while calatheas are ideal for a tall, lean look if there's good light in the house.

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