I Just Wet My Plants!
I Just Wet My Plants!
By Danielle
When was the last time you wet your plants? I wet mine just a few minutes ago! 😂😂😂
Ahhhh, that joke never gets old.
The question is…do you have plants to wet? If not, you should!
Did you know that indoor plants can detox the air in your home?
🛑 Wait. Now even my air needs to detox, too?
Yep.
Crazy enough, according to the EPA, indoor air can actually be up to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air! Who saw that one coming? I know I certainly didn’t when I first began this journey.
Luckily for us, there are super easy ways to decrease the indoor pollution in our homes. But first, why is our indoor air so filthy?
Any guesses? Hmmmm…could it be… (think of the SNL “Church Lady” here) CHEMICALS?!
Why yes. Yes, it could! Indoor air pollution can come from a multitude of sources:
gas ranges/cooktops
mold
flame retardants in our furniture, drapes, and carpeting (see my Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep post)
stain resistant chemicals on furniture, drapes, and carpeting
paint
air fresheners & scented candles
dry-cleaned clothing
cleaning supplies
pet dander
cookware
cigarette & tobacco smoke
MDF used to make furniture and moldings in homes; the concern here is formaldehyde used in the construction of the MDF
the bottom of your shoes (your mom was right about taking your shoes off at the door!!!)
We are absorbing, ingesting, and breathing all of that—all day, every day.
After a while, those invisible vapors accumulate and start messing with your brain and your body and can cause a variety of symptoms:
anxiety, memory loss, fatigue, depression
headache
Worsening of allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions
sinus congestion, sneezing, and cough
So what’s a girl to do (or guy…no sexual discrimination here!! Thanks for being here, guys!!)?
Buy Plants!!!
Plants are one of the easiest, most affordable ways to detox the air in your home. Plus, they make your home look all cozy and grown up, and they’re even great for your emotional well-being!
One caveat…not all plants are “created” equal. Some plants have pesticides, such as Neonictanoids (aka Neonic’s) sprayed on them to keep bugs from gobbling up the leaves and making them unattractive to potential buyers. Neonic’s are also really great for repelling ALL creatures—even the beneficial ones like lady bugs and bees. 😱Bees are SUPER important for our existence on this planet. Without bees, we would not have the majority of the produce we have today. Could you imagine a life without apples, strawberries, and *gasp* coffee?!!! Be good to the bees!! We really, really, need them! Our Mocha Light Frappuccinos depend on them!!
But I digress…
Ok, so how exactly do plants detox our air?
Plants contain a natural way of removing toxins and toxicants in our air through pores on the surface of their leaves—hello! 👋 It’s me again, high school science. Those teeny tiny little pores facilitate photosynthesis!
Plants are total badasses at absorbing dangerous chemicals: benzene (adhesives cleaning products), xylene & toluene (solvents and derivative of benzene, which are often used to replace benzene but equally dangerous), formaldehyde (building materials, cleaning products, cosmetics), trichloroethylene (cleaning wipes, spot removers, aerosol cleaning products), and ammonia (cleaning products) from the air.
Now that we know the gist of how plants help us, which ones should we shop for?
These are the best plants for purifying the air from the chemicals referenced above:
English Ivy
Spider Plants (especially good to have in kitchens)
Mother-in-law tongue (I swear I didn’t make this up!)—aka Snake Plant. So easy to care for—even I can keep these guys alive
Cactus (absorbs EMF signals—good to put near wireless routers)
Peace Lilly (great for bedrooms)
Devils Ivy (pothos)
Bamboo Palm
Red Edge Dracaena
Cornstalk Dracaena
Aloe Vera (also good for cuts & burns)
Florists Chrysanthemum
Gerbera Daisy
Don’t be afraid to talk to your plants, either! Research shows that talking to your plants helps them grow faster!
Live in a dry climate? Plants are natures humidifier! Keep ‘em in the living room, bedroom, bathroom, everywhere! Go crazy!
Now…go ahead and scatter these babies in your house like glitter in a preschool!
And…don’t be afraid to wet your plants!! 😂