🌿Plants for Skin, Air, & Your Bedroom 🛏️

Ooh! Spring is here and you know what that means... PLANTS!  🌱 🌱 🌱
But while you're out scooping up new green friends, why not pick up a few that are kind to your skin AND filter your home air? 🌟

It was actually NASA who helped us realize that our houseplants can have a major impact on our indoor air quality. Storytime! 📙In the 1960s, a scientist named “Bill” Wolverton was working at a test center in Florida 🐊where the local waters were polluted with toxic Agent Orange. One day he discovered that the natural swamp plants were cleaning it out! 🌿

Based on this, 🔬NASA funded further research, hoping that Wolverton could find information that would help design sustainable living environments for long-term living in space (think The Martian movie). NASA tested the concept by creating the BioHome, a building designed to test organically based life-support experiments👨‍🔬Results showed that “plants were helpful in removing toxic chemicals from the air! 

(And for those who aren't blessed with a green thumb, don't worry-these 5 are almost impossible to kill 🙃)

1. 🌼Garden Mum In NASA's book, this plant won the gold medal in air purification. Popular and inexpensive at garden stores, they can be planted outside after they're done blooming and need more space! 🏅Out of all the plants listed, these mums actually bloom flowers!
Pollutants removed: ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and xylene

2. Spider Plant 🌟Spider plants are one the easiest houseplants to grow (aka cannot kill them with your black thumb), making them a great choice if you’re on-the-go and always traveling 👩‍💻

They flourish in bright, indirect sunlight so they're also a go-to option if you're seeking an office plant! 
Pollutants removed: formaldehyde and xylene

3. Aloe Vera 🌵While purifying your air, this succulent's leaves also contain a clear liquid full of vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, and other compounds that have wound-healing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. ☀️

They're pretty nifty to have growing since you can snap off a piece and apply on a sunburn. Another great pick for an office desk companion since they can be bought at a teeny tiny size. 🌱
Pollutant removed: formaldehyde

4. Snake Plant If you’re looking for a low maintenance air purifier, look no further. Although it does need to be watered occasionally, it generally prefers drier conditions and some sun. 🌱

 

If you forget to water them and they dry out, no sweat- a few consistent days of TLC will revive them back to life. 

5. Bamboo Palm 🎍Growing as tall as four to twelve feet high, this palm can filter air at scale. Find a sunny spot for them, as they thrive in full sun or bright light. The chillout, vacation vibes of the bamboo palm is a beautiful addition to any room. 

Pollutants removed: benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene