Keep Your Cool This Summer with These Five Indoor Plants

The heatwave affects us all, but besides air conditioners and fans, some plants can reduce the temperature inside your home.

According to a recent article in Maariv, plants provide an eco-friendly and cost-effective way to cool your home. NASA states that plants can alter the Earth's atmospheric temperature through photosynthesis. Forests also amplify water vapor in the atmosphere, leading to more rainfall and cooling by blocking sunlight.

Here are the plants that can make your home cooler:

Ficus Benjamina

Ficus Benjamina is a small-leaved, dense tree suitable for both the house and garden. It is one of the few trees that thrive indoors. This tree helps maintain a humid and cool environment, offering relief during the hot summer.

Opt for a tree with a long trunk and dense leaves, which can act like an umbrella for other plants around it. Make sure to water it regularly during the summer months and expose it to medium light so it can absorb sunlight, as it absorbs more in lighted areas than shaded ones.

Rubber Plant

The Rubber Plant is effective in enhancing air humidity and cooling. The more and larger the leaves, the more moisture it releases back into the air. This plant absorbs water through its roots and then releases moisture through the pores on the underside of its leaves.

Give the plant small amounts of water to keep the soil evenly moist, and place it in a bright area without direct sunlight.

Aglaonema

Aglaonema, also known as the Chinese Evergreen, is a grass-like plant famous for its air purifying abilities. It comes in several varieties, some with very colorful leaves.

One of its advantages is that it requires little water and light, making it an ideal choice for tight spaces.

Palm

Green palm leaves have small openings that absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. The larger the surface area, the more oxygen it can produce.

This plant can create a small indoor rainforest, making it perfect for scorching summer months. It's recommended to spray palms weekly to keep them healthy and improve humidity.

Camellia

The Camellia plant has a high water content and releases cool evaporated moisture into the air. It also provides oxygen, which makes the environment feel cooler on hot nights.

This plant is also known for removing air toxins such as benzene and formaldehyde, and it's advisable to place it near a window to help block excess sunlight.