After a disaster there may be all kinds of toxins and vapours in the air thanks to the destruction of local industries and business or recovery efforts. Here is a list of plants that you might want to have in your home or shelter because they have the effect of purifying the air that you breathe.
Areca Palm – Also known as the yellow palm or butterfly palm it is one of the world’s most popular and graceful air purifying plants. It is a series of shooting leaves that spring from a cluster of canes. It releases moisture into the air and removes chemical toxins. It is also one of the faster growing palms.
It is such an effective humidifier that it will release a quart of water into the atmosphere every 24 hour. NASA rated this plant at being the best at eliminating all of the indoor air toxins tested.
Lady Palm – This is one of the easiest houseplants to career of because it is highly resistant to disease. This is a large palm with fanned out leads that are about a foot wide. Each fan consists of four to five leaves and connects to a brown hairy main trunk. It is the second best plant when it comes to removing chemical vapours from a room.
This is a lush plant that produces clusters of slim canes with shoots of leaves that have a graceful lacy appearance. It can grow to be about six feet tall.
Bamboo Palm -They are efficient at removing toxic vapour and it is one of the best plants for exchanging oxygen and emitting water into the air. It is the ideal plant for offices that become too dry because of indoor heating systems. It is also top rated by NASA for the removal of benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene.
Rubber Plant – This tough plant with its attractive, broad shiny leaves survives in less light then most houseplants from the focus family. It can also survive cooler temperatures (down to forty degrees.) It is very easy to grow and known for its ability to effectively remove all of the types of toxins but particularly formaldehyde from the air.
This plant is easy to care for but if it gets too dry it is vulnerable to infestation from spider mites, scale insects and thrips. To take the best care of this plant that thrives in India and Malaya you should fertilize it regularly during the summer months only. It grows well in most kinds of soil.
Having these plants on hand can help you improve the air quality of a cramped small space like a shelter or help you if you are returning to a rebuilt home or a to an area strewn with toxic materials as the result of a hurricane or storm.