One indoor plant can improve air quality, study finds

Australia is famed for its great outdoor lifestyle, yet as temperatures dive the appeal of curling up indoors to wait out winter is hard to resist for many. Fortunately, it’s easy to counteract the negative effects of spending hours in stuffy, air-conditioned rooms with indoor plants – which are nature’s air purifiers as well as beautiful accessories in any room.   [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="690"] After four years on the ABC’s Gardening Australia alongside Peter Cundall, horticulturalist Melissa King moved to Channel 7 to host the gardening segment on Melbourne Weekender.[/caption]

Increase air quality and your wellbeing

Horticultural expert Melissa King says indoor plants are very effective at removing nasty air pollutants. “Filling your home with greenery not only makes you feel good, but just a few plants can significantly increase the air quality in a room,” says the popular TV host and Northcote Pottery ambassador. As it turns out, the more plants the better, so creating an urban jungle in your living room means the benefits are tenfold. Plants around the home can also significantly increase your wellbeing, making you feel calmer, more focused and positive about life. “Just five plants in a room can increase your sense of wellbeing by a whopping 60 per cent,” says Melissa.   [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="690"] To prevent water leaking onto floors and other surfaces, indoor pots don’t come with drainage holes – so understanding how to water them is vital.[/caption]

As it does turn out, size matters

Size and diversity also matter, so opt for a wide mixture of plants, including ones with large leaves to help catch air pollutants. “Team favourite houseplants like calming Peace Lilies or Colourful Calatheas with decorative pots that are designed for indoor living to create the perfect showpiece for your kitchen or dining room.” Like many things, it’s a two-way relationship and your plants need to be nurtured and kept healthy, so they can function properly. To prevent water leaking onto floors and other surfaces, indoor pots don’t come with drainage holes – so understanding how to water them is vital. Planting directly into an indoor pot can result in unhappy, waterlogged roots. Instead, simply leave the plant in its plastic growing pot and sit it inside your indoor pot. When it’s time to water it, take your shrub outside or to the sink for a good soak, letting excess water drain away before popping it back in the exterior pot. This also makes it incredibly easy to update the look of your home each season, as Northcote Pottery offers a range of stylish indoor pots which are designed to fit standard size plastic growing containers. “Plants are nature’s air purifiers. In fact, they are very effective at removing nasty air pollutants, which have become a major health concern in homes,” says Melissa. “Recent research conducted by RMIT University and the University of Melbourne into the health benefits of indoor plants has shown that just one plant can improve your air by 25 per cent."