Plants are not only ascetically pleasing but they also provide health benefits we may not even be aware of. Did you know that plants can purify the air by removing harmful toxins? Every day we come in contact with harmful toxins that can be found in the air we breathe, our household furnishings and even our clothing.

One important benefit of indoor plants is their ability to increase humidity within an enclosed space. This can help with itchy eyes, runny noses and dry sore throats. While most of us are familiar with the Aloe plant known for its healing properties, did you know that Spider plants and the Rubber tree are great air purifiers? English ivy removes the harmful chemicals benzene and formaldehyde from the air and Boston ferns have been known to act like humidifiers. There are plants that thrive in low light such as the Chinese evergreen and the Parlor palm. Philodendrons are another good low light plant that can act as a good purifier and humidifier.

The scent of the lavender plant is known to help give a good night’s sleep and relieve tension. The scent of the jasmine plant has been known to help with breathing and asthma. The snake plant helps to improve air quality and is one of the special plants that convert carbon dioxide into oxygen at night making it a good candidate for placement in the bedroom.

Plants are not only beneficial to our health but they also look good and make us feel good. So when you are in discussion with your builder Alair Homes Calgary, be sure to include indoor plants as part of that discussion especially as it pertains to your day-to-day living space arrangements. And remember, indoor plants have even been known to help us fight the common cold.

A good guide to indoor plant selection is the book by John Evens The Complete Book of Houseplants: A Practical Guide to Selecting and Caring for Houseplants available through Amazon. Another is Indoor Plants: The Essential Guide to Choosing and Caring for Houseplants by Jane Courtier. There are many online blogs you can find, too.

While thinking green, if you have family pets you’ll also need to consider their well-being. Some indoor plants can be toxic to animals such as the jade plant, philodendron, ivy and aloe plants. Signs of poisoning can be mild to severe so stay away from plants that can be harmful to your animals if ingested. Otherwise, do your research and have fun with it—find plants that have eye-appeal, colours and size you like that harmonize with your rooms. The greenery you add will be worthy additions to your family living environment.