During the winter months, condensation and mould are common problems in Irish homes - but many people may not know that there are some houseplants that can help to deal with it.
Condensation is water beads that form when hot, moist air meets a cool surface. It manifests on windows in the colder months due to warm air from inside the home hitting the cold glass windows.
While it is mostly harmless, if windows aren't maintained, the moisture could develop into dangerous mould that can cause health issues like asthma, eczema and bronchitis.
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Experts say houseplants are not only good for decorating a room, but can also be great for decreasing humidity in it.
The key is to pick the type of plants that are particularly good for certain areas and don't need constant attention.
How good a plant is at reducing humidity is all to do with its ability to absorb dew, fog and other moisture through its leaves. This moisture then moves down to its roots.
Julie Decosta, plant expert at BackyardBoss, has shared six indoor plants that can help to create a mould-free home, Express reports.
She said: “Choose from one of the wonderful plants to purify your air and get rid of nasty mould and other toxins. Why not grow more than one and group them together to increase your chances of having a mould-free home.”
1. English ivy
When it comes to tackling mould, English ivy is cited as one of the best plants and can be a fairly low-cost leafy addition to your home.
The expert said: “It is a great filter of air toxins and gets rid of 78 percent of airborne mould in twelve hours. This plant helps fight common mould that presents as green and black spots found in moist corners of homes.
“Ivy is also particularly good for allergy sufferers as it removes toxins from the air. This is also a good choice of plant for removing formaldehyde or benzene. It’s one of the most successful varieties at this household task.”
However, the plant's leaves are toxic to animals and so pet owners should be sure to keep the plant out of reach.
Irish ivy, which is normally larger than English ivy, could also be an option. The difference between the plants are that English Ivy has erect hairs on the underside of its leaves, while Irish Ivy has flat hairs.
2. Peace lily
This gorgeous plant is easy to grow and thrives in high humidity areas that have temperatures of between 18Cto 29C.
Julie noted: “The peace lily loves humidity and can easily absorb mould spores by using them at the root level as a food source. It also improves your air quality by 60 percent.
“The plant is exceptional at deteriorating and neutralising toxins like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.”
Similarly to English ivy, this plant has beautiful white flowers but can be toxic to pets so keep it out of their way.
3. Areca palm
Irish holidaymakers may be accustomed to seeing palms swaying in the breeze when abroad, and they can give their homes a touch of the tropics by purchasing one.
Not only will a palm brighten up a room, they are also a great choice when it comes to controlling humidity.
The expert said: “The areca absorbs and releases moisture into the air, so it can help if you live in a dry place with little humidity. More importantly, it rids your air of benzene and turns carbon dioxide into oxygen.”
4. Boston fern
The Boston Fern thrives in moist climates and will naturally absorb the air moisture and balance out humidity levels in your home.
Julie explained: “This plant really does the trick on purifying your air by getting rid of formaldehyde, emitted from paper products and carpets.
“Because this type of fern does well in moist climates, it will naturally absorb some moisture through its leaves and balance out the humidity levels in your home. This means less accumulation of mould.”
5. Spider plant
According to the expert, this houseplant is “easy to grow and hard to kill”, so households don’t need a green thumb to see these plants thrive.
They added: “Spider plants absorb mould in their leaves and they also take care of dust allergens as well as toxins such as carbon monoxide.”
These indoor plants can remove 90 percent of toxins in the air in just two days.
6. Snake plant
Snake plants are relatively easy to look after. Not only do their leaves absorb humidity, but the plant itself is happy enough to be watered once every two weeks, making it a great starting plant for beginners.
During the winter months, plant parents can even get away with watering just once a month if they feel the soil is still moist after two weeks.
Julie said: “These plants produce fresh oxygen and absorb airborne mould by retaining moisture and humidity which keeps the dampness away. Imagine the benefits if you had a cluster of snake plants in your home.”
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