We all know the heat can be stultifying during hot summer months and all you want is a breath of cool air.
Fans and AC’s are cool of course but did you know trees and indoor plants can reduce temperature? And at no cost for that matter.
Planting some trees around your house and having some indoor plants will not oy brighten up the space but cool the air.
Let’s discuss 10 trees and plants that reduce the temperature around the house.
1. Areca Palm Tree
Areca palms can grow to a height of 15 to 20 feet and have slow to moderate growth rates in either sun or shade.
They have a wider top. This occasionally has a diameter of at least 8 to 10 feet. Give the palm space to spread its tropical canopy over neighboring plants.
The foliage of a Butterfly Palm, as it is commonly known, are thick and dense and have a silky, fine texture.
The palm can be left full and fluffy to the ground or thinned to reveal more of the trunks.
In either case, as long as it is positioned appropriately for its eventual size, this palm is an excellent addition to most landscaping.
The attractive indoor plant known as the areca palm tree, which also serves as a natural humidifier, is one of the most well-liked living room plants.
The areca palm may filter the air of benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene in addition to cooling your house.
It also does the job of effectively cooling your house during the hot summer months.
2. Ficus Tree
The Ficus tree is a genus comprising around 900 species of trees, shrubs, and vines of the Moraceae family, many of which are generally referred to as figs.
They are found across the world’s tropics and are native to tropical parts of East Asia.
Many are towering forest trees with large spreading roots, while others are planted as ornamentals.
This leafy tree, also known as Ficus benjamina or weeping fig, is good at keeping interior air wet due to its bushy crown of glossy leaves.
The ficus tree helps to keep the air cool while also reducing pollution and improving air quality.
You can even build a tiny cooling ecosystem by surrounding your ficus with a few additional plants that are ideal for air cooling. Just remember to keep your ficus moist if you place it in direct sunlight.
3. Fern
Boston fern is a popular ornamental plant that is commonly grown as a houseplant in cold climates.
Nephrolepis exaltata is a tropical species of sword fern found in humid forests.
It can grow up to 7 feet tall and can be found from northern South America through Mexico, Florida, and the West Indies.
The fronds of the Boston Fern are broad, with alternate leaflets (pinnae) on either side of the midrib.
The pale- to medium-green fronds can reach lengths of 4 feet and widths of 6 inches.
A Boston fern is the best plant for improving indoor air quality.
It has been discovered that this natural air purifier was particularly effective at removing volatile organic pollutants like formaldehyde.
Boston ferns are excellent humidifiers in addition to filtering out toxins.
A fern’s worst enemy is dry, sunny conditions, so keep this super plant in filtered light and mist it frequently.
Boston fern grows well in hanging baskets or other containers where the long fronds can easily hang downward.
Indoors, place the plant in bright indirect light, such as an east-facing window or behind a sheer curtain.
4. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera, also known as Aloe barbadensis, is a thick caulesent cplant with leaves that store water.
It is very useful treating skin ailments, but it also has other several potential health benefits.
The thick, pointed, and fleshy green leaves of aloe vera can grow to be 12-19 inches (30-50 centimeters) long.
Each leaf has a slimy tissue that stores water, making the leaves thick. The “gel” that people associate with aloe Vera products is this water-filled tissue.
The gel contains the majority of the plant’s beneficial bioactive compounds, such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants.
Most people are familiar with aloe vera for its ability to soothe minor burns and sunburns.
It does, however, have a high water content, making it one of the best plants for reducing temperature in the home.
It is extremely effective at lowering air temperatures and removing formaldehyde from the air. Just keep in mind that aloe Vera plants love the sun and must be watered frequently during the summer.
5. Golden Pothos
Pothos is likely one of the easy houseplants to cultivate, even if you have a habit of forgetting to care for your plants on a regular basis.
This trailing vine from the South Pacific’s Solomon Islands has pointy, heart-shaped green leaves that are sometimes variegated with white, yellow, or pale green striations.
Pothos can be planted indoors all year and will grow swiftly, frequently adding 12 to 18 inches of length in a month.
Consider adding golden pothos to your army of cooling plants if you want something low-maintenance.
This plant, also known as devil’s ivy, money plant, or Epipremnum aureum, has enormous, heart-shaped leaves that makes it an excellent choice for humidification.
It has also been demonstrated to eliminate poisons such as formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, and carbon monoxide. These plants will thrive in indirect sunshine.
The golden pothos is an excellent plant for folks who aren’t particularly garden-savvy, as it is extremely easy to care for. It takes little light and upkeep and can keep your air cool and clean.
6. Snake Plant
Dracaena trifasciata, also known as the snake plant, is a popular and resilient house plant species.
The plant has rigid, sword-like leaves and can grow to be six inches to eight feet tall.
Snake plants come in a variety of colors, but most have green-banded leaves with a yellow border.
These plants are simple to cultivate and, in many cases, practically indestructible. This is another plant that is recommended to help purify the air which is also known as mother-in-tongue law’s.
At night, the plant emits oxygen, keeping you cool while also absorbing a huge amount of contaminants in your home.
It’s one of the plants that can assist keep the temperature down during the hot summer months.
7. Bamboo Palm
Because of their likeness to real bamboo, Chamaedorea palms are known as bamboo palms, however they are not the same as the bamboo.
Nonetheless, most bamboo palms remain little. They will grow higher if put in a larger pot or outdoors.
Bamboo plants allowed to spread can grow to be 4-12 feet tall.
Chamaedorea seifrizii, or bamboo palm, is a medium-sized houseplant that functions as a potent humidifier.
Because of its enormous leaves, this plant can provide significant cooling while simultaneously filtering contaminants such as benzene and trichloroethylene from your home.
Throughout the summer, keep this palm in indirect light and spray it frequently.
8. Peace Lily
Peace lilies are evergreen tropical plants that flourish on the forest floor, where they get dappled sunlight and steady moisture and humidity.
Peace lilies produce white to off-white flowers beginning in early summer and continue to bloom throughout the year.
Given ample light, most peace lily variations grow up to 16 inches tall. Bigger outdoor cultivars can have leaves that grow up to 6 feet long.
Because peace lilies are not cold-hardy, they may only be grown outside in warm, humid areas.
When it comes to transpiration and reducing the temperature, the beautiful peace lily can be quite the powerhouse.
If you wish to enjoy the cooling effects of a peace lily, consider one with lush, big leaves that release the most oxygen and moisture. Peace lilies thrive in indirect light.
9. Chinese Evergreen
The common name for a group of plants in the Aglaonema genus is Chinese evergreen.
Plain green, speckled, blotched, and variegated forms are among the slow growing plant varieties.
Liner or oval-shaped leaves sprout near the tip of the stalks. These leaves can grow up to 30 cm long and 5 – 8 cm broad.
A mature plant will grow a short trunk that resembles a yucca or dracaena in the way the lower leaves fall away and leave scar markings.
A Chinese evergreen will help to purify the air in your home. It also has a high transpiration rate, which makes it useful for humidifying and cooling down your home.
For cooling purposes, it is best to find one with dense foliage.
10. Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum, or spider plant, is one of the most common and well-known houseplants.
One of the many reasons you should consider introducing a spider plant to your home is that it flourishes with little maintenance.
This clump-forming, perennial herbaceous plant native to South African coastal areas has slender, strap-shaped leaves that emerge from a central point.
The leaves might be pure green or variegated with white or yellow streaks running lengthwise.
The leaves do not appear flat, but rather channeled or folded down the center. Plants grow to be 12-15′′ tall.
The thick, fleshy roots and rhizomes evolved to retain water, allowing the plant to withstand infrequent irrigation.
This resilient houseplant is great for purifying the air, cooling temperature and absorbing pollutants like formaldehyde and xylene.
Conclusion
There you have it. These trees and plants are easy to grow and maintain. Most of them are low maintenance and work for busy people and even beginners. These plants not only help reduce the temperature, they can also purify the indoor air for healthier living.
