Plants That Can Decrease Your Indoor Humidity
On average, 93% of our time is spent
indoors, which means that maintaining an ideal humidity level indoors is
essential for healthy living - a moist environment acts as a breeding
ground for mold and bacteria, and too much moisture can cause extensive
damage to the structure of your house.
If the humidity inside our house is too
high, it can lead to a number of unwanted symptoms such as watery eyes,
sneezing, coughing, itching, fatigue, dizziness, congestion, and
respiratory infections.
That damp smell, mildew, mold or rotting frames do not make for ideal
surroundings, and they can even put you in a poor mood, leading to
depression. One study has found that there are "significant negative
relationships between relative humidity and mood scores, which represent
a measure of happiness." Other studies have concluded that your levels
of health and happiness can both be influenced by the humidity levels.
Many people don't know why they get sick
regularly, but it could very well be because of high humidity levels in
their home environment. However, there is thankfully a natural and easy
fix to high humidity levels - plants. Back in the late 1980s, NASA,
which wanted cleaner air in its space stations, carried out some
research on house plants. It found that there are a number of plants
that can purify the air and decrease indoor humidity.
Who would have thought that by doing something as simple as buying some
house plants that you could decrease indoor humidity levels and improve
your health and well-being? Next time you're at a garden store, be sure
to pick up one or more of the following plants:
1. Boston Fern
This attractive, exotic plant thrives in
moist climates, naturally absorbing the humidity that is in the air. It
helps to balance humidity levels to make your home more comfortable, and
it even removes dangerous toxins such as xylene, formaldehyde, and
benzene from the air. These plants look stunning hanging in baskets
anywhere in the home - just remember to keep the in direct sunlight and
mist them with water regularly to keep them looking pristine.
2. Spider Plant
This beautiful plant, with its long, arching leaves, is said to remove
as much as 90% of the toxins in the air in just 48 hours. Since the
leaves of this plant grow so quickly, they are very helpful at absorbing
harmful substances like mold, and can help balance humidity levels too.
3. Peace Lily 
This lily helps to reduce humidity levels as it absorbs the moisture in
the air through its leaves. It is very easy to grow and requires very
little sunlight to thrive, making it ideal for those who aren't good at
looking after plants. In addition to lowering the humidity levels, it
comes with the added benefit of purifying the air of toxins and
pollutants. You should consider keeping these plants in your bathroom,
as they help to keep the shower curtain and tiles free from mildew.
4. English Ivy
This plant is fantastic for those who have pets as it can decrease the
amount of airborne fecal matter. It can also help absorb formaldehyde,
which is more common than you think as it is found in carpeting
treatments, furniture, and household cleaning products. It can also
remove molds that are common in humid places. Caring for this plant is
simple - it needs minimal sunlight, and all you need to do is keep the
soil moist. It's best to keep it in a hanging pot, so that it can absorb
the humidity that rises.
5. Palms
Palms thrive in humid areas and also absorb moisture through their
leaves. Whether you choose a reed palm, lady palm, bamboo palm, or areca
palm, it does not matter as they are all very good at getting rid of
indoor air pollutants, particularly formaldehyde. Furthermore, they're
all easy to look after. The reed palm may be the most ideal one when
compared to the others, as it can survive in lower light, meaning it can
thrive in most home environments. All you have to do is keep the soil
moist.
6. Tillandsia
This plant thrives when they're placed indoors in front of a sunny
window. They live off the moisture and nutrients in the air by absorbing
them through their leaves, which means that they're a great natural
humidifier. Just to be sure though, it's best to give it some water 2-3
times per week.