Cities with abnormal air pollution have always made the headlines. Burgeoning population, space crunch, multiplying petroleum driven vehicles, smoking, use of non-herbal paints, cleaners and penetration of plastic in our daily lives have made the situation unavoidable. Plants don many hats. They release oxygen and mop up the carbon dioxide. They emanate positive energies, and beautify the milieu.
Peace lily is the most common home plant. Peace Lilies have white flowers that bloom in early summer and then continue to bloom the rest of the year. Its soil needs to be kept moist without overwatering. Peace lilies enjoy medium to low light. According to NASA’s study, this plant removes the maximum number of toxins. It is however toxic to dogs and cats.
Pollutants purified - benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, ammonia.
It makes sense that indoor plants should improve air quality. After all, plants convert the carbon dioxide we breathe out into the oxygen we breathe in. It goes way beyond that, though. NASA (which has a pretty good reason to care about air quality in enclosed spaces) has conducted a study on how plants improve air quality. The study focuses on 19 plants that thrive indoors in low light and actively remove pollutants from the air. Way at the top of that list of plants is the peace lily. Keep reading to learn more about using peace lily plants for air purification.
Peace lilies are prized for their pleasing appearance, ease of growth and for their ability to clean the air. Peace lilies live on average from three to five years.
Peace Lily Excellent for removing alcohols, acetone, trichloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde, the Peace Lily also has a high transpiration rate to both purify and humidify indoor air.
But are peace lilies poisonous for humans? The answer is yes, if eaten in large quantities. Ingesting the flower can cause a burning sensation, followed by an allergic reaction. The effects can cause swelling of the tongue, mouth, and lips.
According to a NASA experiment, pollutants like benzene, xylene, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde are some that a peace lily plant can absorb. Therefore, by eliminating 60% of the pollutants, in return, it makes the air suitable for breathing by adding moisture to it.Peace lily repotting annually in the spring is good for the peace lily, as the plant will appreciate the refreshed soil. Eventually, the peace lily may grow too large for its pot, at which point it can be divided. Remove the plant from its pot and split it into smaller plants, being sure to leave several leaves per clump.
Peace lily repotting is a perfect time to divide a mature plant into new, smaller plants. Once you've removed the plant from its old pot, remove offshoots carefully and plant each one into a small pot filled with fresh potting mix.
Peace lilies are actually quite happy to be a bit crowded in their pots. You'll know it's time to repot when your plant begins to wilt more frequently. At that point, its roots will have begun to take up so much of the container that there's little soil left to hold water.
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