For centuries, houseplants have been praised for their beauty and freshness, bringing freshness and freshness to a home. Have you ever heard that you can also get them to filter the air in your home? Here I’m going to discuss the 20 best air-purifying house plants and some of the basic care instructions for each one.
An Introduction to Indoor Pollution
Pollutants, viruses, and molds, are the most common causes of indoor air pollution. In addition, the lack of adequate air circulation increases indoor air pollution.
The breakdown of several wall paint, rubber, and plastic products releases toxic pollutants into the air. Houseplants are useful because they absorb harmful toxins from the air via the leaves and help us improve the air quality inside our homes. Those nutrients find their way into the roots, where the plant converts them into food.
In the office or at home, we spend almost 90% of our time indoors, so indoor air quality is essential.
In this article, we discuss how harmful toxins can contaminate the indoor environment, albeit without any visible signs. You can end up with serious health issues such as allergies, asthma, headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, and even death if you do not care for the air quality of your home.
How Can Houseplants Purify Indoor Air?
NASA initiated the air-purifying houseplant concept in 1989, after conducting extensive experiments with ten plants. Over time, more and more plants have been found to purify the air.
Toxins from the plants were tested as to whether they would help clean air. Here are a few of them:
- Formaldehyde
The majority of wood oil comes from pressed wood products, pressed wood resins, adhesives, grouts, heating fuels, and cooking fuel. This cancer-causing chemical is found in even simple household products like paper towels and facial tissues.
- Benzene
It is most common in household detergents, glues, furniture wax, paint, rubber.
- Ammonia
ammonia can be found in cleaning products and fertilizer. Your regular window cleaner contains ammonia as well.
- Trichloroethylene
During renovations, a lot of work is done to the interior.
- Carbon monoxide
common to fireplaces, stoves, etc.
20 Best Houseplants for Air Purification
Below are a few popular houseplants that can help remove harmful toxins from the air. You can carefully choose one from the list below to make your home healthier.
1.Philodendrons
Nearly every house has philodendrons. Today, we have almost 489 varieties of Philodendrons. Originally from the South American rainforests, they are famous for their low maintenance, stunning foliage, and delicate blooms.
There are lots of varieties of succulent plants, but most like filtered sunlight and well-drained soil. The plants can be grown in an indoor hanging basket, or trained to climb a pole or trellis. Regardless of how you grow them, they will add a tropical touch to your indoor area.
A hybrid Philodendron plant is different from a vine plant. Although the plant is known for its air-purifying properties, it is poisonous if consumed. So keep it away from your pets and cats.
2.Chinese Evergreen Plants
The plant is a good choice for new gardeners. It needs little maintenance in terms of water, light, and temperature. There are a variety of shades of green and variegated leaves on this flowering plant. The leaves have stunning patterns and colors.
Because of its low light requirements, this type of plant is found in offices and houses. This species’ average temperature range is 70 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 22 degrees Celsius). A well-draining mixture of potting soil, sand, and perlite should be used when planting them.
There are countless plant varieties of Chinese Evergreens you can try for indoor gardening, including Aglaonema Modestum, Aglaonema Widuri or Red Peacock, Aglaonema Cutlass, and Aglaonema Pictum Tricolor.
It cleanses the two main pollutants found in cosmetics and detergents; formaldehyde and benzene.
3.Aloe Vera
A hardy plant variety that originated in Africa, this one is used for numerous medicinal purposes. With poor soil and little water, a succulent will grow fine on your kitchen window sill.
A gel derived from the leaves of Aloe Vera is used to heal wounds and treat burns. Medicinal plants in the outdoors can produce bell-shaped flowers. This plant thrives in soil that is rich in cacti or succulents, and it appreciates bright and indirect light.
By absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen at night, this plant also purifies the air inside the home from toxins like formaldehyde and benzene.
4.Dracaena Marginata
There are 120 types of succulent shrubs and trees in the Dracaena genus. If you are interested in unusual plants, try the tricolor variety in the Dracaena family.
With its sword-like leaves and pinkish-red edges, Dragon Tree adds an element of color. You can grow this plant in a loam mixture after incorporating it with peat moss, but it also thrives in partial shade.
This solvent is effective at removing xylene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde from hair sprays, varnish and polish.
5.Spider Plants
Because you need to pay minimal attention to this plant and that it is tolerant of several growing conditions, it is an ideal houseplant. Despite the trailing growth habit, these plants are ideal for all new gardeners. Hanging baskets look great with the trailing plants.
Spider plants multiply rapidly by producing spider-shaped plantlets with proper care.
This name describes the spidery appearance of the plant, as well as its rosette foliage. This plant thrives at a cool temperature, between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit (13 to 18 degrees Celsius). It has narrow leaves and beautifully white flowers, making it a perfect houseplant.
A Spider Plant can remove 90% of formaldehyde from your indoor air within 24 hours. According to NASA research, it also reduces carbon monoxide and xylene.
It will help reduce indoor pollutants if you keep this plant on your desk.
6.Peace Lily
The famous houseplant is beautiful and hardy. It appeared on NASA’s list of the top 10 household air-cleaning plants. Among other plants, this plant stands out with its spoon-shaped white flower.
You can enjoy the deep green leaves of this cheerful houseplant for many years, and it grows 1 – 4 ft. tall.
If the soil becomes dry, water the plant to keep it happy. Water quantity should be adjusted to ensure that the soil is damp but not oversaturated.
Peace Lilies are known to eliminate benzene, trichloroethylene, ammonia, and formaldehyde from the air. Their flowers can raise humidity levels by as much as 5% with their flowers.
7.Golden Pothos
Golden Pothos, or Devil’s Ivy, comes from the Solomon Islands and can be grown in pots, water, or hanging baskets. Cascades of foliage not only beautify and purify the air, they can add character and color to any room.
The plant has earned the nickname cubicle plant for its hardiness and ability to thrive under fluorescent lights. Some gardeners have grown this plant in office cubicles.
Commercial buildings can be developed with benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene-filtering systems.
8.Chrysanthemum Morifolium
Their native range is from East Asia and Europe. They are members of the daisy family.
Not only do chrysanthemums produce lovely blooms, but they also improve the indoor air quality. Besides being difficult to grow, this plant variety is also very colorful and can brighten up any corner of your house.
They can also filter pollutants such as benzene or ammonia which are found in plastic, glue, and detergents.
Put the Chrysanthemums in indirect sunlight with good airflow and water them lightly with lukewarm water. Place them close to a sunbathed window.
9.Rubber Plants
A variety of this plant comes from India and can be grown in pots or allowed to thrive and become a tree in an indoor environment. The plant works well in low sunlight areas of indoor gardens, especially in the case of this plant.
It is useful for removing formaldehyde, but in order for it to work properly, it should be kept moist and in an environment that drains well.
Regardless of whether you grow the green or burgundy varieties, both can reduce indoor air mold by up 60%. In comparison with other plants, it produces more oxygen, and fending off bacteria is the plant’s defense mechanism to protect the soil.
10. Boston Fern
Ferns are a type of plant that have been used for food, bio fertilization, medicine, and gardening for thousands of years. This fern is known for its slender sword-shaped fronds that can grow up to 3 ft in length. It has a bushy, feather-like form with a lush, green foliage.
Boston Fern is an appealing houseplant that thrives in moist spots. The potting soil for this plant should be damp, and indirect lighting should be used.
With Boston Ferns, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene can be removed from the air, improving humidity levels indoors as well as reducing air-borne toxins.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
There are still many recent and interesting articles about Snake Plants..
..as well as other unique information from All Things Gardener..
For further information and other inquiries..
..you can contact us here