A bargain plant will help keep your house cool during the hot weather.
Householders looking to keep cool on a budget won't have to fork out on a high-spec fan or air con but can instead opt for a house plant that will only cost £6. A number of houseplants can actually keep temperatures cool inside the home thanks to a process called transpiration.
According to NASA's Earth Science Study, trees and plants go through the process, which means that plants 'sweat' and in turn can cool themselves and the surrounding air. Water and nutrients are taken up by the roots from the soil and derived to the stem and leaves as part of photosynthesis.
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Some of the water is then drawn up through the root exits the plant through pores or stomata in its leaves, the reason for the sweating. As the sweat evaporates, heat is removed from the surrounding air which then provides a cooling effect.
One of the plants that does exactly that is an Aloe Vera plant and it's currently on sale at B&Q for just £6. It acts as an air purifier by removing harmful pollutants known as VOCs from the air, taking up carbon dioxide, and providing abundant oxygen back into the air around it. As it is a succulent, it is ideal for warm sunny positions in the home and requires minimal watering.
As well as cooling the air, the Aloe Vera plant is also good against sunburn too. You can buy the B&Q plant here.
It's not just Aloe Vera plants that keep your house cool too, a number of others including Ferns, Rubber Plants, Chinese Evergreen and these below can also help:
Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
With its high-water content, it transpires and releases cool, evaporated moisture into the air. The snake plant also gives off oxygen, keeping you cool during those hot summer nights. B&Q have one for £12.
Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina)
This leafy tree helps to keep the air inside moist and cool, and needs to be positioned in medium light so it can soak up the sun. B&Q is selling one for £23.
How to get the plants for even cheaper
By using the deals site TopCashback, you can actually get the house plants for even cheaper too. B&Q customers can get 2% cashback on all online purchases when using this deal here.
TopCashback is a deals website that gives shoppers money back when they buy retailers deals through their site. Find out more here.
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