10 Perfect Plants to Cool Your Home in Hot Weather
The hot season is here, and any and every action to cool the house is welcome. Therefore, in this article, we’re going to tell you about the indoor plants that will help you with this purpose. These specimens not only help to create a cooler environment, but also a healthier one.
In addition, some of them even contribute to the elimination of toxic agents that are usually present in the air, but are not visible to the naked eye. Not to mention that they have a decorative purpose, as they add color and life to your spaces. Let’s take a look at them.
Cooling your home is very easy with these plants
Introducing plants in the decoration of the house has interesting advantages. Not only do they make spaces more pleasant, but they also contribute to psychological well-being and the elimination of possible pollutants from the air. In addition, certain species are ideal for keeping the environment cooler on hot days.
Here, we’re going to tell you about 10 indoor plants that are very useful for cooling the house. We’ll also include some small ones for those apartments and studios that don’t have much space, as well as other large ones that are ideal for larger spaces.
Choose the ones that best suit your home and run to the nursery for them. It will be worth it!
1. Ribbon or spider plants
Ribbon or spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum L.) is one of the plants that not only helps to cool the house, but also favors the elimination of toxic agents present in the air.
This is because it takes formaldehyde and other compounds such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon oxide, benzene, toluene, cigarette smoke, and ammonia as a source of energy, which enables fresher and cleaner air.
However, this is a small plant variety, as it doesn’t usually exceed 60 centimeters in height. It’s quite decorative; its green leaves have light stripes on the edges that attract a lot of attention. On hot days, its watering should be more frequent.
2. Ficus
Another of the plants yo can use to refresh the house that you have to know about is the rubber tree or ficus elastica, one of those large species that can decorate very well the spacious interiors.
As with the tape, it removes formaldehyde and retains moisture in the environment. So it helps your home feel much cooler in hot seasons.
The best part? It’s quite hardy; these plants require abundant lighting, but not direct sunlight. Its watering is moderate, even in summer; twice a week is enough.
3 Pothos
The pothos plant (Epipremnum aureum) is an easy plant to care for, especially during the warmer seasons, as it requires a good amount of direct sunlight.
In addition to keeping the air cool by having a high transpiration rate, it’s noted for its ability to ‘bio-purify‘ the air by removing toxins such as formaldehyde.
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4. Sanseviera
Sansevieria Trifasciata, also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, is one of the plants we’re going to highlight for its high air purifying power. This is because it efficiently absorbs toxins present in the air, such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.
This process is done at night, so you will enjoy a fresh and healthy environment, especially in the mornings. Its care is minimal; it doesn’t require direct sunlight and watering is done every 20 days.
5. Aloe vera
Aloe vera has a great capacity to release oxygen, which makes your house feel fresher just by breathing. To ensure that this happens, it’s necessary to keep its leaves free of dust.
By having it, you will not only enjoy fresher air, but you will also have a medicinal ally for burns and skin hydration. This is a plant that appreciates light; watering is suggested every 15 to 20 days.
6. Bamboo palms
The bamboo palm is one of those plants that is recommended for homes with high ceilings, as it can reach up to 2 meters high.
This plant is on this list because of its beauty and because it helps purify the air and keep the environment humid. Its care is minimal, although it requires abundant watering in order to accomplish this task.
7. Ferns
There are countless species of ferns, but if there’s one thing they have in common, it’s their ability to generate humidity in the environments in which they’re located. In fact, they are recommended to contribute to the cleaning of the air. They favor the elimination of pollutants such as xylene and benzene.
They can be located in high areas and look great in hanging pots, as their beauty is best appreciated in this way.
8. Lemon trees
Among the plants to freshen up the house is the lemon tree, a tree that grows little when potted and indoors. It adds freshness to the home by producing a lot of oxygen compared to other plants and filling the air with a citrus scent.
For it to do its job well, the substrate must be well nourished.
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9. Spathiphyllum
The spathiphyllum or cradle mois is a houseplant whose flowers are highly prized. It has a high capacity to trap chemicals such as formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and benzene. But that’s not all, it also absorbs excess moisture and protects your home against mold and mildew.
Its exposure to a light source is recommended, although not direct. Ideally, its soil should be kept moist, so watering should be repeated 2 or 3 times a week.
10. Laurel
More than a plant, laurel is a small shrub that can be kept in a pot and indoors. It’s not only useful for flavoring dishes; it also keeps the air fresh and repels insects such as mosquitoes.
However, when it’s kept indoors, it should be watered regularly. The ideal is to find an illuminated space, but that does not receive direct sunlight. It requires a good drainage system.
Did you know these 10 plants can cool your house when it’s hot?
It’s no secret that vegetation helps regulate temperatures and purify the air, especially in large cities, permeated by large buildings and pollution from transport vehicles.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to have indoor plants. Besides refreshing your house, they also keep the environment free of toxic compounds that are harmful to your health. Choose one or several from this list we have given you! They will look great at home and you will start breathing fresher and healthier air.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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- Rosas, W. (2018) Eficiencia de la planta Lengua de Suegra (Sansevieria trifasciata)para la fitoremediación de los gases interiores (CO, SO2, NO2)presentesen la I.E.P Isaac Newton. Escuela profesional de ingeniería ambiental. [Trabajo de Grado Pregrado, Universidad César Vallejo].
- Velasco Santamaría, T. M., & Zúñiga Navarrete, M. D. (2020). Diseño de un sistema de biodepuración de aire basado en el sensado químico de compuestos orgánicos volátiles en ambientes interiores. Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE. Carrera de Ingeniería en Electrónica, Automatización y Control.
