House plants are pleasing to the eye but the benefits they provide go far beyond decoration.
According to Matt Stueck, Vice President of Suburban Lawn and Garden, "the effects that it has on people's mental health is probably just as big as it is on their physical health."
That's because people who fill their home with plants are probably breathing cleaner air than those that don't. As plants take in carbon dioxide they also absorb chemicals like formaldehyde and other toxins in the air.
"They do clean the air naturally and even if you have just one plant every 100 or 200 square feet you can actually see the benefits of actually cleaning the air," Stueck told 41 Action News.
He even suggests that if you're a new homeowner or looking to replace an old rug, plants can help.
"Anyone who has a new house or gets new area rugs or has new carpeting should strongly consider getting 5 or 6 house plants so that the off-gassing from the caret is mitigated by the house plants," Stueck said.
The best house plants at soaking pollutants out of the air are Sanservieria, Pothos and Chrysanthemums.
While that is a huge benefit to house plants, is it true they can cool your home as well? Stueck doesn't believe so.
"Cooling the house? I'd never tell people to come in and buy all these plants it's going to cool your house because that might work in a laboratory or a scientific experiment but all the other variables of how you live in the practical world, the effect of plants, while positive on your house, is not going to be a cooling of the house by 10 degrees," Stueck said.
Some plants can hep repel mosquitos. Plants such as lemongrass, lavender, rosemary and mint naturally produce oils that mosquitos don't like. These plants need to be planted every year. It may be worth it - just don't rely on them too much.
"People who want to use plants to repel mosquitos have to look at it as terms as integrated pest management approach. They still will need to wear repellents. They still will need to wear long sleeves and just be aware that the effect they have on mosquitos is limited to a very small area around the plants," Stueck said.
