3 Must-have Air Detoxifying plants at home

 3 Must-have Air Detoxifying plants at home

It is finally that time of the year with October chills and breezes. However with the festival of lights and hay burning falling simultaneously, Delhi NCR and many parts of North India have poisonous air quality. Now let’s be honest, not all of us are happy buying an air purifier, so why not turn to nature itself for help? Plants may just be the best detox you need from life in general (XD). So here are three, very refreshing, detoxifying and low maintenance plants to help you through this difficult time. 

1. Peace Lily

I know, I know, a pretty basic plant right? But trust me on this one, it’s one of the best purifiers to bring home. 
Though it is a very poisonous plant itself, it purifies almost every toxin you might sense floating in your house. Carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde, alcohols, acetones, etc. are all absorbed by the leaves which are sent to the root and broken down in the soil. Much needed against the firecracker gases prominent in the air at this time. Moreover it maintains the air humidity in summers and monsoon. 
This brings us to the next point, low maintenance. It can be kept indoors, watered once in a week and doesn’t require any type of extra fertilizing. Pretty self adjusting and independent if you ask me :) 
It is also super easy to divide it further. The simplest way is to take it out of the plant, cut the soil ball into two and it's ready to be planted into new soil. Some roots will be cut but again, it is self adjusting so it will grow right through the damage effortlessly. They are seasonal bloomers but leaves stick to the stem throughout the year. 
Let peace lilies bring peace to you this October!

2. Basil

Delicious, smells divine AND purifies your air! 
Basil has the ability to absorb dust (flying in the air because you didn’t clean your house for a year but it’s Diwali now ;)) and releases a lot of oxygen. In India, basil is considered as a form of Tulsi which already has so much importance amongst the people with all the Ayurveda benefits, of course it is going to help you detoxify your air with its effects against respiratory problems!
Not an indoor plant but if you too are asthmatic like me or prone to any respiratory problem, seriously, don’t think much and just get one. 
Basil is super easy to propagate at home. You can start with buying a stem in the market, leaving 4-5 leaves on top and taking off the rest from the stem. Put it in a bottle/container full of water with the leaves outside the water. Make sure you do not change the water during this period. Leave it under indirect sunlight. Dark brown roots should grow out of the stem in 2-3 weeks. Here's the trick part, stem propagated plants usually face problems supporting themselves after having grown a lot, so make sure you attach it with proper support if you think it is bending along its weight. 

3. Jade

Let’s get away from herbs and to bonsai now. Not only is this considered a sign of prosperity, money and good luck, it cleans your air like a pro. They absorb high levels of toxins like Xylene, Toluene, Formaldehyde along with carbon dioxide to give equally high levels of oxygen. Get possessive with their care, but do know where to draw a line! ;)
Super low maintenance plant that can go weeks without watering (it is a succulent, duh!) Yet it needs a lot of sunlight so you should keep it on the balcony at all times. It can be propagated in the same way as basil, yet the cutting needs to be dried a little in sunlight first to ensure the roots do not rot.