One of the best ways to have an eco-friendly “green” home is to do so literally! Having plants around your house has a lot of benefits that you would normally have to spend money or waste electricity on. Here are some examples:

Repel Insects

Given that there are a lot of insects that feed on plants, it’s no wonder that many plants have developed their own insect repelling properties. Some of these plants are nice and houseplant sized which lets them bring these benefits into your home! Basil, lavender, lemongrass, and mint have all been observed to repel a variety of common household pests.

Purify Air

While it’s a pretty well known fact that plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air, what most people don’t realize is that they also absorb a wide variety of gasses and compounds that are considered indoor air pollutants! Several types of ferns, aloe vera, spider plants, snake plants, and peace lilies are the plants that have been judged to be most effective by organizations such as NASA.

Help Fight Respiratory Illness

Plants re-release a large amount of water they absorb back into the air, raising the humidity of the air around them. Most people would wonder why one would WANT to raise the humidity, given the usual discomfort associated with humidity. For some people, however, humidity can be helpful as a higher humidity can help fight certain respiratory problems. It’s like a natural nebulizer!

Health and Healing

There are a wide variety of plants you can grow at home to help you out with having a healthier lifestyle as well! Some of the plants we already mentioned earlier, such as basil, lemongrass, and mint can be used in a variety of dishes and teas. Aloe vera can not only be turned into a healthy juice, but also used for emergency treatment for burns, skin infections, and skin inflammation.