Get These Plants Indoors; You Wouldn't Need Air Purifiers

The alarming levels of pollution has led to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) putting a ban on all construction activities in Delhi and the national capital region for a week. Moreover, the NGT also asked all the five states, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana to hold a coordination meeting with Delhi's chief secretary if need be. 

Delhiites have been bearing the brunt of the rising air pollution levels since Diwali and have been gasping for a breath of fresh air.

While many of us have been resorting to installing air purifiers in our homes, not many find this financial viable to have. A more easy-on-pocket and green way to counter air pollution is to have indoor plants. Moreover, these plants also keep the air in the home cool, along with creating a de-stressing environment.

Here are a few common indoor plants that work as natural air purifiers: 

• Tulsi: It has been said in the Hindu scriptures that Tulsi is the favorite plant of Lord Vishnu and was created from the ashes of his devotees. While this is a mythological tale, what is true to Tulsi is the fact that its various properties make it one of the best plants to plant in courtyards, or terraces. In addition to purifying and adding fragrance in the house, Tulsi leaves can be used to prepare various drinks, especially green tea. Tulsi plant easily grows inside the house in a small pot.

• Golden Pothos or Money plant: If you do not have enough time to tend to your potted plants, grow a money tree. These plants grow in no time and even reward efforts of people who complain to not be green-friendly. The best place to grow these plants is the around the edge of the window as they can form a neat little canopy within a fortnight after planting. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes and even colors. Choose the right one that you would like to grow on your window. Want more reasons to plant Golden Pothos? They also clean up toxins in the air like Formaldehyde.

• Aloe Vera: The succulent cactus can be your friend especially if you live in a locality with a lot of construction underway. Paints and other chemicals release harmful organic gasses like Benzene, which can be soaked by this cactus family plant. Aloe Vera plants occupy very little space indoors and can serve various other medicinal purposes. The gel can soothe cuts and burns in addition to being a time-tested skin and hair moisturizer. The plants can also serve as pollution indicators, say experts. If there are too many harmful gasses in the house, the color of these plants can turn brown with spots in light green. Make sure you have your own pollution meter in the house.

• Snake Plant: What makes snake plants different from others is their ability to convert carbon dioxide gas to oxygen overnight. Most of the plants carry out this activity in the morning. Snake plant is the best bedroom plant. It can save a lot of money on air purifiers and hardly needs any light to grow. So, go ahead and place it in any corner of your house.

• Bamboo Plant: Bamboo made it to the best of NASA's list as air purifiers. They need no other recommendation to be inside your house! However, they might need a little extra care than other plants in the list, as they absorb more water than others. The plant should be placed in the shade without direct sunlight. It can clean up the air of the gases that emerge from a number of popular but toxic organic solvents.