Moving into an apartment in a vastly different climate from what my allergy-prone airways had been used to, plus an unexpected health issue that was discovered purely by chance, meant I had to take charge of the air I was breathing. What indoor plants would be beneficial was my question.
The climate is very different from the humid coastal air I've been used to. Much colder, on higher ground, and very misty at times. There is a problem with mould, but dehumidifiers do help.
I knew about the Spekboom's (Portulacaria afra) ability to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This was the very first plant I would put on my trolley at a local plant nursery; in fact, I bought two! This plant also has medicinal properties and is quite delicious in salads, has a tart flavour, and is rich in Vitamin C. Spekboom can also be applied topically to soothe all kinds of skin conditions.
I will naturally not be harvesting my indoor plants, though, there are a couple already well-established outside my small apartment!
Moving from a large home with every window looking out onto lush greenery, to a smaller apartment where some windows look out onto the apartment building with only low-growing plants has been quite a change. This is a section of my little garden, and I'm starting to fill the bare patches with herbs.
Yet another beautiful Bush Lily (Clivia) flowering at the moment.
My brother, who lives in an eco-estate where there are a variety of buck, has Spekboom planted around the edge of their lawn, and had to install a small fence to stop the buck from eating it.
Back to my indoor 'garden', another plant that is a natural air-purifier and humidifier is the graceful Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens). It is also said to incease the oxygen levels in a room; good for those freezing cold days when every window is closed.
The Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) also is an air-purifier by removing toxins and adds to the decor. It is a nice plant to hang, and as it matures, it makes off-shoots with baby plants at the tips.
I've always loved the Peace Lily, so was happy to hear that it's also a good air-purifier by filtering household chemicals, and it also reduces mould spores. It adds to the decor, and for sure worthy of its name!
The Marble Queen for now is sitting in a corner of my verandah, placed on a long plant-stand. Yes, it is outdoors, but I'm still busy moving stuff around while waiting for my living room couches. I am sure to move it indoors once I get a nice plant for the verandah. The plant will eventually cascade down, and also is beneficial indoors as it purifies the air.
Onto herbs; I had a herb garden outside my kitchen in my old house, and have started planting herbs in between peace lilies and other plants to fill the bare patches outside my verandah; Lavender, Rosemary, Origanum, Thyme and Parsley are already planted and are doing well in the rich soil. Sage, Mint and more Rosemary still have to be planted out soon.
I'm looking forward to sharing how my new indoor 'air purifier arsenal' grows and when my herbs start flourishing. I've already cut a few sprigs of Thyme and Rosemary for cooking, but have to go slow and give them a chance to grow!
Happy gardening everyone!
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