Meg’s Favorite Fall House Plants that Clean the Air

House plants have a number of benefits. They help promote healthier living, and are great at cleaning the air in our homes and offices. The three main toxins in our air are formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide. House and tropical plants are great for removing these toxins and most are relatively low maintenance, making them a great option for improving the air quality and your overall wellbeing.

Anthuriums:

Anthuriums need a well-drained soil, a mix of half potting soil and perlite, should do the trick when keeping these plants indoors. Water only when the soil is dry to the touch. These plants do best in bright, indirect light. The best option is to place this plant near a window where the sun doesn’t shine through directly. An East facing windows is typically the best option for bright, indirect light.

Chinese Evergreens:

Chinese Evergreens are one of the easiest plants to care for. They like a mix of potting soil, perlite and sand that drains easily. These plants adjust well to your home’s conditions, but do best in medium to low light, with no direct sunlight. This makes them great for areas away from windows or other natural light sources. Water moderately; letting the soil dry out between waterings works well for this plant. Fertilize your Chinese Evergreen once to twice a year, and trim any overly long pieces as needed.

Bamboo Palm:

Bamboo Palms do best in moist, not wet, soil. Be sure to empty any excess water from the saucer below the pot, as this will cause leaves to brown. Best practice is to allow the top half of the soil to dry out before watering. Finding the right lighting for your palm should be easy. Most can grow in any lighting condition, aside from direct light or dark corners. To maintain symmetrically growth, rotate your palm towards the light by ¼ turn every week. To avoid mites, wash your palm’s leaves with soapy water once a month.

Peace Lily:

Peace Lilies should be potted in all-purpose soil and fertilized twice a year. Peace Lilies can do well in most lighting conditions except direct light. The leaves will actually get sunburned if exposed to too much direct sunlight. Keeping these plants away from windows will stop the leaves from browning. As a general rule, water your Peace Lily once a week. Check soil moisture by pushing your finger into the soil about an inch. If the soil is damp to dry it is time to water.

Pothos:

Pothos is also an extremely easy house plant to care for. They can grow in either water or soil, but cannot switch between the two. Pothos will continue to grow in a jug of water as long as there is water in the container. They also tolerate dry soil for longer periods of time then most plants. Pothos do great in almost any light condition. This plant is great for bathrooms and interior office spaces, but it should be kept away from direct light. Be sure to keep your Pothos plant out of reach of animals and children, as the sap from this plant can be toxic.

For more information on caring for your house plants, visit any of our English Gardens locations to talk to one of our experts.