It's time to grow houseplants again
Houseplants are back! Decades ago, many people decorated their homes with lots of them, macramé hangers and all. Houseplants are beautiful but today, folks are purchasing houseplants for more than just their decorative appeal. They are utilizing houseplants to improve the quality of the air in their homes and offices.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals used in common household products — like cleaners, paints, toilet paper, tissues and even furniture and carpeting — that are released into the air by off-gasses.
Houseplants absorb these pollutants through their stomata (microscopic openings in the leaves). They move down through plants to the roots where root microbes biodegrade the pollutants into food for the microbes and the plants. Finally, through transpiration, plants release water vapor back into the air.
Many of us, myself included, have a long history of killing houseplants, but we can all enjoy the beauty and reap the benefits of the air-purifying qualities of houseplants if we just choose the right plants. These are three of my favorite houseplants that are not only gorgeous, they are also very easy to grow.
Chinese evergreens (Aglaonema commutatum) are lovely foliage plants perfect for rooms with low to medium light conditions. These slow-growing plants can live for ten years or more. Their arching, lance-shaped green leaves are usually variegated with shades of silver, gray, pink or red. Chinese evergreens have caught the attention of hybridizers and many new varieties with brighter and more unique color variegations are now available.
Older Chinese evergreens may drop some outer leaves exposing bare stems. If plants get leggy, they can be repotted deeper in a larger pot to cover bare stems. This is one of the few plants, like tomatoes, that stems can be covered with soil and new roots will grow.
Sansevieria SPP. is a carefree, tough succulent that grows almost anywhere. Commonly called mother-in-law tongue and snake plant, it tolerates a lot of neglect. Many varieties have leathery, sword-shape leaves edged with yellow or white.
Snake plants are great for beginners, but experienced houseplant growers also love them for their dramatic foliage and form. They have also tickled the fancy of growers who are developing new cultivars, braiding their stems and shaping plants into hearts.
Sansevieria SPP. releases oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide at night so this is an ideal choice for the bedroom. Its rate of transpiration is very low and can go for weeks without being watered.
At the end of the list alphabetically but top of the list for ease of care is the ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia). It has thick, upright stems with dark green leaves so shiny they almost look plastic. It prefers to dry out completely between waterings and can survive months without water. A gorgeous, new, purpled-foliaged cultivar named Raven will be available later this year.
ZZ plants prefer bright, indirect light but grow quite satisfactorily in lower light situations. Direct sunlight burns their leaves. If leaves begin to curl, it is an indication the plant is getting too much light. ZZ plants grow slowly so buy the largest plant you can afford. They are more expensive than other houseplants but worth every penny.
Start with these three houseplants. They will clean the air and add life to your decor while proving that even those of us with checkered houseplant-growing pasts can join in the latest decorating trend.
• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist, garden writer and speaker. She blogs at gardenwithdiana.com.