Use plants to improve the air in your home

During the colder winter months, you are obviously more inclined to turn up the heat in order to make your home more comfortable. Unfortunately, when you heat your home, it automatically dries the air. This means that your central heating system, fireplace, clothing dryer, hair dryer, and similar appliances all heat your home and sacrifice moisture in the air.

When the air in your home is dryer, it has a negative effect on your respiratory system. Your nose and throat both require a fair amount of moisture in order to effectively filter the air that enters your lungs and trap contaminants. Dry air dries out these passages and makes you more susceptible to sore throats and similar conditions.

Fortunately, apart from easing up on the heat and making sure that your home is properly sealed and insulated, you can also use plants to help keep the moisture levels of the air in your home at satisfactory levels.

Plants purify the air and improve the aesthetic appeal of any room. On top of this, house plants also release water into the air through a process known as transpiration. This is when the pores located on the underside of the leaves “sweat”.

Remember that there are also some types of plants that need particularly humid conditions in order to thrive. A good example of such plants is the orchid. Orchids love humid surroundings which is why it’s so important to invest in a humidifier or place you potted orchid on a bed of pebbles in a tray. Fill the tray with water and, as the water evaporates, it will add to the humidity levels.

Finally, don’t forget to ventilate your home daily. The best time to do so is first thing in the morning when the air outside is at its coolest and wonderfully refreshing. During the coldest months, you may only need to air your home for about 15 minutes. Once you have opened at least one window in each room and aired your home, you can then close them all and turn up the heat. The fresh air will warm up much faster and you will also be doing your overall health a huge favour by letting in fresh air.