Use Your Green Thumb to Sleep Better

Photo by Ivan Obolensky from Pexels

Sleep. Every doctor advises a good night's sleep, but getting that is difficult for many.

Everyone always offers the usual advice on how to sleep well, but I've got a suggestion you may not have heard before: cleaner indoor air.

Fortunately, that's something to try that's relatively inexpensive and easy to implement.

Just add some real live growing plants to your sleep environment.

Researchers have found through several studies that houseplants can remove toxins in the environment which may help you rest better.

10 Plants That Clean the Air

Aloe Vera should be in every kitchen becaues there's nothing better to treat a burn with. Turns out it's also cleans the air, removing chemicals called VOCs (Volatile Organic Cmpounds).

Bay Laurel

Areca or Butterfly Palm (Proper name: Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) removes more toluene and xylene than any other plant. Toluene is found in formaldehyde and in paint thinners, nail polish remover, and glues as well as other chemicals.

Xylene is used as a solvent in printing, rubber, and leather industries. This palm also emits a lot of water vapor too which makes it excellent since air conditioning dries out the air.

Bamboo or Reed Palm (Proper name: Chamaedorea seifrizii) also removes formaldehyde as well as benzene, an ingredient used in dyes, lubricants, rubber, and detergents. It also removes the industrial solvent trichloroethylene.

Boston Fern (Proper name: Nephrolepis exaltata “Bostoniensis”) is one of the best in its ability to remove formaldehyde which seems to be in just about everything.

Photo by saifullah hafeel from Pexels

Chrysanthemum (Proper Name: Chrysanthemum Morifolium) is a personal favorite of mine. It's good for removing benzene from the air.

I usually keep a pot of them on my coffee table. When the blossoms eventually fade, I plant them in my garden. I have a rainbow of colored mums at my country house and my house in town.

Dracaena “Janet Craig” (Proper name: Dracaena deremensis) is one of the best in removing trichloroethylene from the air.

Dwarf Date Palm (Proper name: Phoenix roebelenii) removes airborne chemicals, especially at removing the common solvent ingredient xylene.

English Ivy (Proper name: Hedera Helix) is a beautiful pot plant that's also effective at removing mold spores from the air.

Ficus Alii (Proper name: Ficus macleilandii “Alii”) is effective in removing formaldehyde from the air.

Snake Plant by ehsan ahmadnejad - Pexels

Peace Lily (Proper name: Spathiphyllum "Mauna Loa") removes alcohols, acetone, trichloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde as well as releasing water vapor into the air.

Rubber Plant (Proper name: Ficus robusta) has been popular since the Victorian era and is effective at removing formaldehyde from indoor air.

For Those With No Green Thumb

I know some of you will say you have absolutely no horticultural talent, but there's a solution for you too. The Snake Plant, aka Mother-in-law's Tongue, is perfect for you.

The vertical knife-like blades are a deep green with variegated striations. They look attractive alone in a pot or with companion plantings.

The Snake Plant is about as low maintenance as you can get, and it's excellent at cleaning the air.

Do you have plants indoors? If so, what kind?

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Takeaway Truth

I'm a firm believer in trying natural solutions to problems. Try some of these and let me know if they help.