Purify your indoor air... Naturally :)

Although we aren't all born with the "green thumb", some of us want to live healthier, and somewhat "greener" these days so making the attempt at a greener thumb may pay off. NASA actually discovered (with help from the ALCA) that houseplants can actually help to purify the air indoors.

While NASA was trying to figure out how to purify the air for extended stays in orbiting space stations, they learned that certain houseplants can purify common pollutants from the air- which was a huge tip for those of us still here on Earth! Whether or not your house is new or old there are several contributing factors to potential air pollutants- air conditioning, heating, and synthetic building materials, etc. With most new buildings/homes they are created air tight to be more "energy efficient". Although being energy efficient is spectacular, you are not getting the freshest, cleanest air possible. So give your green thumb a go, what a better way to purify the air for yourself and your family- and you will have some beautiful greenery inside to help you deal with the upcoming fall weather.

Here is a list of some of the common houseplants that are the most effective at removing indoor air pollutants...

1. Philodendron scandens `oxycardium', heartleaf philodendron

2. Philodendron domesticum, elephant ear philodendron

3. Dracaena fragrans `Massangeana', cornstalk dracaena

4. Hedera helix, English ivy

5. Chlorophytum comosum, spider plant

6. Dracaena deremensis `Janet Craig', Janet Craig dracaena

7. Dracaena deremensis `Warneckii', Warneck dracaena

8. Ficus benjamina, weeping fig

9. Epipiremnum aureum, golden pothos

10. Spathiphyllum `Mauna Loa', peace lily

11. Philodendron selloum, selloum philodendron

12. Aglaonema modestum, Chinese evergreen

13. Chamaedorea sefritzii, bamboo or reed palm

14. Sansevieria trifasciata, snake plant

15. Dracaena marginata , red-edged dracaena

*For an average home of under 2,000 square feet, the study recommends using at least fifteen samples of a good variety of these common houseplants to help improve air quality. They also recommend that the plants be grown in six inch containers or larger. (But I think starting out with one or two to get the hang of having plants is a great start- your collection of plants can then grow from there!)