Did you know that the average person spends roughly 90 percent of their time indoors? It goes without saying that the air quality in your home is of the utmost importance, especially with working remotely becoming increasingly normalized.
Luckily, having indoor plants in your home can help purify the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and photosynthesizing oxygen. According to NASA, houseplants can remove most harmful toxins from the air. Read on to discover some of the best air-purifying plants for your home.
Pineapple Plant
Pineapple plants can be very helpful for individuals who snore in their sleep. People snore while they’re sleeping and their airways are narrow. Pineapple plants, however, improve the air so much at nighttime that they’ll help your airways loosen. These plants are very effective at removing carbon dioxide from the air and releasing purified oxygen.
Rubber Plant
Rubber plants produce more oxygen than any other plant. In addition to eliminating air toxins, rubber plants remove mold spores and bacteria from the air. These plants grow well indoors in pots and love bright, filtered light and weekly watering. A rubber plant and is an extremely hardy plant.
Peace Lily
According to NASA research, the peace lily can absorb pollutants such as formaldehyde, xylene, and carbon monoxide. Thriving in low light, this beautiful plant with white flowers and glossy leaves makes the perfect addition to any room.
Spider Plant
In a NASA experiment, spider plants were proven to be the most effective out of the plants tested for removing formaldehyde from the air. Spider plants are perfect for a new plant parent or someone who has trouble keeping plants alive because they thrive in almost any environment.
Areca Palm
Add some drama to a larger space with this purifying powerhouse! The Areca Palm is a natural cooler able to remove xylene and toluene from the atmosphere. Areca Palms should not be exposed to direct sunlight because this can cause the leaves to turn yellow.
Snake Plant
Snake plants are great at filtering indoor air. This is one of the few plants that can convert carbon dioxide into oxygen overnight. This ability makes snake plants perfect for the bedroom and regulating healthy airflow.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is another plant that absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen during the night. Aloe vera plants help purify the air of harmful chemicals often found in detergent, paint, and glue. Aloe vera plants are also notorious for the gel found inside that is handy for sunburns and treating wounds.
English Ivy
NASA found English Ivy to be the most effective plant for removing benzene from the air. While you’d most likely to find this plant creeping on walls outdoors, it works great in hanging baskets and small pots.
Chinese Evergreen
Chinese Evergreens are another air-purifying plant known for their ability to tolerate low light. This is a great plant for beginner indoor plant parents – it is extremely drought tolerant.
Bamboo Palm
These miniature bamboo trees are low-maintenance and can quickly grow from tiny potted plants to 12-foot tall show pieces. Bamboo palms enjoy bright but indirect sunlight. They also represent luck and make great housewarming gifts for friends and family.
Sources
- https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/best-air-purifying-plants#:~:text=Rubber%20Tree,by%20up%20to%2060%25)
- https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/1999/Spider-Plants-and-Clean-Air#:~:text=The%20National%20Aeronautic%20and%20Space,Plexiglas%20chamber%20in%2024%20hours
- https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-snake-plant#:~:text=Similar%20to%20other%20household%20succulents,can%20help%20regulate%20healthy%20airflow
- https://www.gardenhealth.com/advice/indoor-growing/top-ten-air-purifying-houseplants#:~:text=Aloe%20Vera&text=However%2C%20it%20also%20provides%20air,being%20cleaned%20while%20you%20sleep!
- https://www.airoasis.com/blogs/articles/air-purifying-plants#:~:text=The%20NASA%20study%20found%20English,house%20plant%20for%20benzene%20reduction
- https://nypost.com/2018/04/20/clean-the-air-in-your-home-with-these-nasa-approved-plants/
