These 5 houseplants will actually keep your home/office Cool

There are methods using those you can keep your surroundings cool, but, most of these methods are expensive and are at the cost of damaging the environment in one way or another. But did you know there is actually an inexpensive and environmentally-friendly way to help keep your home, office, room, etc cool during the hot summer months? It turns out houseplants are actually great for doing just that.

How do plants help in cooling the surroundings?

According to NASA’s Earth Science Study, plants can alter the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis. Forest canopies produce large amounts of transpiration that increases water vapor in the atmosphere, causing more precipitation and often reinforces the cooling by blocking sunlight.
Transpiration happens when the atmosphere heats up – plants will often release excess water into the air from their leaves, and by releasing evaporated water, plants cool themselves and the surrounding environment.
See Also: How Climate is Changing and How Underprepared We are as a Country?

# 5 Plants that will Keep Your Home Office Room Cool

Using this research, Thejoyofplants.co.uk has created a guide to the houseplants you need to keep your home cool this summer.

1. Ficus benjamina (Weeping Fig)

Ficus benjamina, commonly known as weeping fig, benjamin fig or Ficus tree, is a species of flowering plant in the family Moraceae, native to Asia and Australia.The species is also naturalized in the West Indies and in the States of Florida and Arizona in the United States.

It is the official tree of Bangkok.

Ficus benjamina one of the few trees/plants that grow well indoors, it helps to keep the air inside moist and cool providing some much-needed relief from the heat for those spending time indoors.
Be sure to water regularly during the summer months and position your ficus in medium light so that it can soak up the sun even when you’re not!
While planting outside, opt for a tall trunk with a bushy top that could serve as a little forest canopy for other plants below or around it. By grouping plants together, they create their own little atmospheric ecosystem improving its surrounding humidity.

2. Ficus Elastica (Rubber Plant)

Ficus elastica, the rubber fig, rubber tree/plant, or Indian rubber tree, is a species of plant in the fig genus, native to East India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, China (Yunnan), Malaysia, and Indonesia. It has become naturalized in Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and the US State of Florida.

Improving the humidity in a room will have a cooling effect and this houseplant is very effective in replenishing the moisture in the air.

The more foliage a plant has, and the bigger the leaves are, the more moisture it will release back into the air.

Since there are often varieties that thrive in humid environments, they will take in water through their roots, and then release moisture through the pores located on the underside of their leaves or fronds.
To get better results, give it small sips of water so that the soil remains evenly damp, and place it in a light spot, but not in bright direct sunlight.
Also Read: Drought a Ticking Time Bomb – The Current Scenario in Pakistan

3. Aglaonema commutatum (Chinese Evergreen)

Aglaonema is a genus of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae. They are native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and New Guinea. They are known commonly as Chinese evergreens.

This is another plant well-known for its abilities to purify toxins in the air, and as such, it also has a high transpiration rate that will help humidify the air around it.
Available in many attractive varieties, some have pretty variegated foliage, but the best part is its low maintenance qualities – little waters and low light, so a perfect choice to fill a sparse area with luscious greens.

4. Palms

The Arecaceae are a botanical family of perennial trees, climbers, shrubs, and acaules commonly known as palm trees (owing to historical usage, the family is alternatively called Palmae). They are flowering plants, a family in the monocot order Arecales.

Currently, 181 genera with around 2600 species are known, most of them restricted to tropical and subtropical climates.

Most palms are distinguished by their large, compound, evergreen leaves, known as fronds, arranged at the top of an unbranched stem. However, palms exhibit an enormous diversity in physical characteristics and inhabit nearly every type of habitat within their range, from rainforests to deserts.

The green leaves of palms like Areca palms, Fern palms, Livistona, Fishtail palm and Lady palm features small stomas which take in CO2 and release oxygen. The larger the leaf surface, the more oxygen it can produce.
An arrangement of palms are not only lovely to look at but also creates a sort of mini indoor rainforest, so the perfect way to give your home a tropical feel during the summer months.

A weekly misting on the plants will keep them healthy and improve humidity.

5. Sansevieria trifasciata (Mother-in-law’s tongue)

Sansevieria trifasciata is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to tropical West Africa from Nigeria east to the Congo.

It is most commonly known as the snake plant, mother-in-law’s tongue, and viper’s bowstring hemp, among other names.

Just like aloe vera, the leaves of the mother-in-law’s tongue have high water content, so when it transpires, it releases cool evaporated moisture into the air.
It also gives off oxygen, keeping you cool during those hot summer nights.

This striking succulent is also known for removing toxins from the air, such as benzene and formaldehyde.

Mother-in-law’s tongue can handle a sunny spot, so it’s an ideal plant to have staged in your window to help block out the excessive sun from a room. It will have a cooling effect on the room and create some shade for other plants.
Read Next: Earth Shatters Climate Record (2018)

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Sources and Courtesy:

1. Countryliving
2. Wikipedia