Guide to choosing allergy-friendly plants for your new home

 

If you've just moved into your new home, adding greenery is a great idea to refresh your space and give it a more natural vibe. However, if anyone in your household suffers from allergies, you need to be mindful in choosing allergy-friendly plants for your new home. Plants are hugely beneficial in various ways, but they can cause more harm than good if you choose the wrong ones. To help you turn your home into a green oasis, we've prepared a guide in which we'll introduce you to plant allergies, allergy-friendly plants, and plants you should avoid.

A little bit about allergies

Sometimes, our immune system has an overreactive response to harmless substances. Those are called allergies. The most common culprits are pollens, certain foods, and dust mites. When someone has allergies, their body identifies certain substances as threats and releases antibodies. This triggers chemical reactions that further cause unpleasant and even dangerous symptoms.

Different allergens can lurk around your new home. So, before the team from evlmoving.com helps you settle into your new home, make sure that it's allergen-free. Thoroughly clean it and remove the dust, especially if the previous occupants had pets. Also, make sure to check if there's any mold or mildew.

Plant allergies

Even though making your home greener is a great idea, you need to carefully select the plants you want to invite into your living space. There are hundreds of plant allergens capable of causing an allergic reaction either by inhalation or contact.

Plant allergies are often called allergic rhinitis or hay fever. Sometimes, it can be tough to determine an exact diagnosis as there could be several allergens causing issues to one individual.

Here are the most common symptoms. In case you notice any, make sure to do an allergy test:

• Sneezing

• Congestion

• Red, itchy, irritated, or watery eyes

• Runny nose

• Tiredness

• Darkness or puffiness under the eyes

Many plants can help relieve allergy symptoms and can, therefore, be a great asset to your new home.

Plants can also ooze liquid that contains allergens which can lead to skin reactions. The most common symptoms include:

• Itching

• Photodermatosis

• Contact dermatitis

• Skin lesions

• Hives

• Eczema

Other allergens to look out for

It's not uncommon for mold and plant allergies to mix. That's because mold can easily grow in the soil of houseplants. If that is the case, it's more likely that mold caused a reaction and not the plant.

For that reason, it's essential to take care of your plants properly and keep them mold-free. Remember that soggy soil is an excellent environment for mold to thrive is, so make sure not to overwater your plants. Also, ensure sufficient ventilation for your indoor plants and expose them to an optimal amount of sunlight.

Allergy-friendly plants for your new home

Now we've come to the fun part - we will introduce you to allergy-friendly plants for your new home. Hopefully, we'll be able to help you pick your new roommates.

However, before you move, don't forget to deal with the ones you already have. Moving with plants is not so difficult when you find the right movers as they'll make sure your green friends are transferred safely.

The Areca Palm

The Areca Palm is a natural humidifier. By increasing the amount of moisture in the air, it can improve allergy symptoms such as nasal congestion and irritation.

In the NASA clean air study, it was named as one of the best purifiers. It's one of the most useful house plants as it can remove carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene from the air. It's all due to its big leaves, which trap allergens and filter toxins from their surroundings.

Heartleaf Philodendron

This plant is ideal for allergy sufferers as it improves indoor air quality. During photosynthesis, the Heartleaf Philodendron removes a large number of harmful gases from the air. It's also low-maintenance and very easy to grow.

Heartleaf Philodendron or Sweetheart Plant is a very popular indoor plant due to being very low-maintenance.

Dracaena

One of the most effective plants for tackling allergens is Dracaena. It can absorb carbon monoxide and remove gases such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from indoor air. Its leaves are also very good at trapping allergens.

One of the best varieties for allergy sufferers is Dracaena Reflexa. It has the best air cleaning ability out of all the Dracaena plants.

English Ivy

With its lovely pear-shaped leaves, English Ivy is one of the most beautiful plants to have in your new home. However, it doesn't just look good; it can also improve allergy symptoms by reducing airborne mold spores and clearing the air of irritants.

English Ivy is toxic to humans and animals, so make sure to find a suitable location for it in your new home

Keep in mind that this plant is toxic both to humans and animals. If you have kids or pets, keeping it out of their reach is imperative. Either put it on a high shelf or somewhere out of reach in your balcony garden.

What plants to avoid?

No matter how gorgeous they look, some plants that don't belong at home. Here are the plants you should avoid as they are known to cause allergic reactions.

• Chrysanthemums - Members of the aster family can produce a lot of pollen and cause bad allergic reactions.

• Lilies - Not only do they produce a lot of pollen, but they also have an intense aroma that could trigger irritant rhinitis.

• Sunflowers - As the sunflower continues to mature, the flowers release more pollen.

• African violets - As they have high pollen loads, they can trigger sneezing, runny noses, and watery eyes. They also have leaves with tiny hairs, which can collect a lot of dust.

• Weeping fig - Although it's beautiful and easy to grow, it's one of the worst plants for allergy sufferers, especially those with latex sensitivity.

Allergy-friendly plants for your new home: conclusion

We hope we were able to inspire you to choose allergy-friendly plants for your new home. Even if you don't suffer from allergies, choosing the right plants is essential to avoid any potential reactions.

Read this also :

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8 Home Ideas for Adding Green Spaces

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Working from home has its fair share of perks and pitfalls, especially for those in the city.
You likely have your own office set-up in the comforts of your house or apartment, where you are free to decorate your area and remodel it according to your preferences. However, being in the middle of a concrete jungle might make you long for the outdoors. You may be yearning for the arresting beauty of nature and the tranquility that the lush greenery brings.

In recent decades, the need for plant life in the city has been solved by what experts call a “green space.” This area has efficiently utilized natural resources with eco-friendly construction materials, delivering comfort and calm while maximizing floor areas and ensuring air quality. These green spaces also minimize the expected negative impacts of infrastructure development on nature.

Living in a green building not only helps the environment, but it also helps boost one’s mental health. A report by NASA’s Earth Observatory revealed that citizens from Denmark who grew up in green spaces only had a 55% chance of developing mental health disorders later in life.
 
Green Spaces in the Philippines

Green spaces are certified by the Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC). In its advocacy of empowering green spaces and sustainable building operations, and to answer the call for environmental sustainability, the council has created the Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) rating system.

The BERDE rating system ensures that real estate properties around the country follow the criteria of the PhilBBC. To understand what kind of green spaces they allow, you can check out some green condominiums for sale and see for yourself the ingenuity of Filipino design when it comes to sustainable living.

The Art of Green Living

While you browse through Pinterest looking for your ideal condominium look, you can beautify your own space with the touch of a green thumb through several different ways. In this article, we give you tips on how to add green space to your home and make your vision come to life.

1.    Place some plants in your balcony.

Source: https://filigree.com.ph/projects/golf-ridge-private-estate/
 

If you are lucky enough to have your own terrace or balcony, you could design this area by putting a coffee table and some chairs and sprucing it up with plants. The balcony has enough ventilation and light, which is perfect for plant life.

As you relax in your own space, your plants will thrive under the sunlight as well as your loving care. Light up your balcony and install some creepers to transform your space into a canopy.

2.    Add a hanging garden to your room.

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If there is not enough space in your surroundings because of your furniture, you can place a hanging garden from your ceiling and see the green unravel. Mix and match the plants you can use by planting oregano or rosemary using easy-to-find materials. You can also use old lightbulbs to decorate your room with DIY hanging planters.

3.    Create a mini garden on your windowsills.

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Fill your windowsills with plants to create the perfect mini garden. Cacti, geraniums, and jade plants flourish under the sun, particularly for windows that face south.
If the room does not let in much light, you can also place flowers that grow in the shade, including peace lilies, orchids, and flame violets. Amplify your green space by putting multiple rows of plants in a small area.

4.    Install plants into a wooden rack.

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Another way of maximizing space in your apartment is by strategically placing plants in a wooden shelf or rack. You can use plants such as rosemary, mint, or thyme, which you can also use in the kitchen. It will be a refreshing mix of beauty and functionality that will make your condominium look serene and organic.

5.    Add some flora to your furniture.

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You can never go wrong with inside it. Not only does it look chic, but it also boosts the appeal of your furniture. The resulting design is revitalizing and cool.

6.    Place some terrariums.

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A terrarium is a sealable glass container that contains plants and soil. You can place terrariums in your living room or bathroom and open the glass for maintenance. You can also add it to your hanging garden by putting succulents into a glass that hangs from the ceiling.

7.    Revel in the warmth of an earthy interior design.

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If you opt for minimalism when it comes to plant life, you can choose to redecorate your interior design and add earthy and green colors to your walls and furniture. The combination of white, green, and brown can transform your space into a lively room with a warm and uplifting aura.

For instance, mint green walls can be used to contrast against wooden floors, which you can use in the kitchen and the living room. This wood combination can also work in the bedroom if you use the right materials. The result is a summer cabin in the city.

8.    Create a vertical garden.

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What is the difference between a vertical garden and a hanging garden? A vertical garden, when executed correctly, can look like a verdant mural on your wall. This aesthetic can be done even in homes with small rooms, as it does not take up too much space.

Layer the wall with the same plants to avoid a disorganized look or add various floral accents to create a unique look.

The Importance of Green Spaces

Adding a green space is a must for urban planning, mostly because of its benefits to the community. It encourages restoration and renewal, especially for those who experience over-stimulation because of the hustle and bustle of the city. Additionally, green spaces can decrease air and noise pollution, boost the immune system by giving exposure to good bacteria, and provide spiritual respite.

Transform your life by renovating your surroundings. Be part of crafted communities with sustainable living by creating a green space for yourself. Green is the new luxury.

Protect Your Garden: How to Keep It Safe and Orderly

Happiness may be a topmost privilege of cultivating a garden. Apart from that, one also can indulge from other benefits in nutrition, mental and physical health, social interactions, budget and time management also on the environment. However, whether it’s a landscaping Sydney, flower, vegetable or any quite plot; everyone is prone from getting an injury caused by a garden-related accident encounter cause limitless pains and injuries. The foremost common sorts of these misfortunes are administered by most gardening tools like lawnmowers, electric hedge trimmers, spades also as garden forks, canes and sticks.

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Meanwhile, we don't need to trade our gardening advancements to merely avoid any quite harmful related situation. Fortunately enough for the gardeners, it's of no one’s obligation to endure being affected from it. Here are some effective recommendations on how we could prevent garden accidents from happening:

• Make sure that you are wearing the right gear. Ask any landscaping Sydney professional and he will tell you that before working, it's a compulsory precaution to possess any protective clothing, appropriate sort of shoes and shields for eyes and ears worn. Most of all, an honest pair of gloves shouldn't be demeaned by anyone because gardening involves the usage of our hands above anything. These gears are available handy when doing outdoor furniture’s refurbishing or the other activities that might need extra effort.

• Learn how to safely and effectively use gardening tools. Most accidents involving different tools are caused by irresponsible handling represented by a wrongful act of ignoring the importance of producing instructions because we are so wanting to start trying it out. This practice should take a permanent halt. Without a doubt, reading the manual that come with the product is of utmost importance so make sure to read it.

• Keep the elders, children and pets distant. Gardening is for everybody to enjoy. Although, due to the preceding harms occurred when working in these plots, elders, children and pets shouldn't join gardening if the task requires one to use such radical tools.

• Be extra careful when using electric equipment. Since plants need water, gardens are usually wet during a few of hours during a day. Using some electric-powered lawn tools like cultivators, push mowers and even snow throwers shouldn't be done when the surface is crammed with water. By doing so, we will avoid electric shock together sort of garden-related accident.

• Have ample knowledge regarding poisonous plants. When choosing plants for a garden, one must do an in depth research about these living things to avoid cultivating them. Especially, parts from poisonous plants accidentally eaten can make a victim sick and, worst of all, wrongfully die. Preparedness on the way to overcome related accidents is wise.

• Keep chemicals in a cool and dry storage, and far from the reach of your children. These substances are commonly toxic and may perpetrate extensive injuries to anyone if it’s wrongly used and exposed to a victim. Albeit there are non-toxic pesticides, it’s better to think about storing it in hard to succeed in areas especially since kids have their tendencies to play with these garden necessities.

• Ensure that the area of the garden is structurally safe. Most significantly, allotting enough efforts, time and money to make a garden that encompasses an honest slope and well-maintained components is superb. This is often why it's important to properly arrange the outdoor furniture’s in order that they won't cause any accident or whatsoever.

Furthermore, by storing these tools after gardening in places which are accessed by the gardeners and by conducting a persistent maintenance; further attributions to the most goal of indulging an accident-free environment is possible.

Gardens are intended for nice advancements in life. Applying the fundamentals of safety while gardening could save one from being troubled by these abovementioned unwanted accidents. As observed, most pains and injuries that are acquired by people that clothed as victims of those garden spaces only arrive in such situation because they somehow lack carefulness at that point. Even the simplest tools need proper handling to avoid hurt of any kind.