One Small Thing: Buy a House Plant

Okay, this is embarrassing to admit, but since it’s just us here I’ll go ahead and share. I kill plants. Not intentionally. I just have a black thumb. I mean, I’ve even managed to kill cacti. Do you know how hard that is to do? Apparently not that hard because I’m a Serial Cactus Killer.

I have the best intentions; I just have a problem with either under- or over-watering. And too much – or not enough – sun. And plant food? Forget about it. I console myself with the fact that I have been able to give Z the correct amount of water, sun, and food – usually.

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that having houseplants is probably good for your home – after all, we all learned in grade school that plants take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen (think back with me…. way, way back…). But what your middle school bio teacher didn’t tell you is that actual rocket scientists (hello friends at NASA!) have been doing some experiments with houseplants and what they found was pretty interesting.

Plants in your home can actually remove VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) from the air. VOCs are harmful chemicals and are found in paints, varnishes, paint strippers, aerosol sprays, new carpets, glues, hobby supplies and dry-cleaned clothing. In other words, in (almost) everything.  The bad news? They can cause a wide range of health problems for you and your pets. The good news? Simply getting houseplants can help. Plants remove VOCs from the air by taking the bad air in through small pores in their leaves, cleaning it and sending it out again as oxygen. Magic!

Have I sold you? OK, here’s the best part: it’s easy to get your Green Thumb on.

In order to make a noticeable difference, you should have six inches of plant to every 100 square feet of interior. So, big room = big plants. Small room? Maybe one of those cute terrariums every one is doing nowadays. You can even make the repotting and pot selection a fun project to do with your kids.

Speaking of kids, make sure you get kid- and pet-friendly plants because we all know that anything in your home will eventually wind up in their mouths. I’m told African Violets and Ficus are good choices. In fact, NASA’s study says Ficus, in particular, is the Cinderella of houseplants, working hardest at removing harmful chemicals.

And if you have a Black Thumb, look into bamboo. It grows quickly, will thrive in any light conditions and survives in both humid and dry air. Hey, it may even survive me.

Do you have any houseplants? Which ones?

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