Black Homeowners Guide To The Power Of Houseplants

What item can cost you pennies a day, but raise the value of your home by hundreds or even thousands of dollars? And at the same time improve the quality of the air in and around your home? And here's one more benefit, the cost of maintenance? Almost zero.

What is it? It's plants! Yes, plants. That simple greenery used to decorate and liven rooms for centuries.

Back in 1980 NASA performed an intense study on the benefits of plants. They found plants such as bamboo palms and spider plants not only make rooms more comforting and attractive, they also help clean the air.

As homes become more air-tight in the name of energy efficiency, the need to pay attention to indoor air quality will multiply as well. In addition, many modern day construction materials contain pollutants and gases that can produce headaches and other ailments when trapped inside small areas. Especially, when no fresh air comes in.

A new condition known as Sick Building Syndrome is turning up in more and more doctors offices. The term "Sick Building Syndrome" (SBS) describes a condition people inside buildings for long periods of time experience. For example, headache; eye, nose, or throat irritation; dry cough; dry or itchy skin; dizziness and nausea; difficulty in concentrating; fatigue; and sensitivity to odors.

Because of energy saving building construction of today, most buildings remain sealed tightly from fresh outside air. That's why it's important to find more ways to improve indoor air quality.

Plants have proven to help meet the need to improve indoor air quality, for the least cost.

The NASA study also discovered plants remove such indoor pollutants as carbon dioxide, benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene as well as other cancer causing pollutants.

You'll find good plants not only improve the inside of your home they improve the outside too, not only the appearance, but in dollar value. Plants are the low cost and low upkeep way to improve the atmosphere of any home.

To save and conserve water, consider using drought resistant plants that are native to your specific location. Consult with your local Nursery for drought resistant plants.

A tree could raise the value of your home as much as 6% to 9%. According to Seila and Anderson Research (1982), newly built houses command prices that are 7% higher when located on tree-planted lots rather than on bare ones. Gives a new meaning to the phrase money tree doesn't it?

Trees also produce cool air around your home in summer months, which in turn lowers your summer cooling bill.

The Top Indoor Air-Cleaning Plants (According to NASA study)

The following plants did the best job at fighting indoor air pollutants and contaminants according to the NASA study.

1. Heartleaf Philodendron
2. Elephant Ear Philodendron
3. Snake Plant
4. English Ivy
5. Spider Plant
6. Bamboo or Reed Palm
7. Golden Pothos
8. Peace Lily
9. Chinese Evergreen

These top ten plants not only scrub the air in your home the best, they're also low maintenance. They require little more than an occasional watering and moderate light to thrive. So, even if you're not blessed with a green thumb - you can still have the best of both worlds.

Do yourself and your lungs a favor. Picking good plants for your home will help you and your family breath easier, knowing your plants can help give you cleaner air.