Getting air purifying plants in your home is becoming increasingly popular. They are beautiful additions to your home and help add some color to it as well.
You can add some nice variety to your home with plants in different styled planter pots, as well, by bringing in air purifying plants. You can also turn them into conversation starters.
Let’s talk about the reasons to have air purifying plants in your house, which air purifying plants to choose, and where to place them for best results.
Plants Can Purify The Air In Your Home
Air purifying plants will produce oxygen and sometimes purify the indoor air. It may seem obvious, but there are many advantages to air purifying plants!
Astronauts are forced to breathe air that doesn’t exist in space, which is why NASA published this study detailing some of the optimal air purifying plants, as well as the best plants for indoors use.
There are several toxins found in enclosed spaces that are not necessarily harmful to humans in small quantities. However, if there is no filtration system, as on the International Space Station for example, buildup can be harmful.
Some of these toxins include benzene, which may irritate skin and eyes, and trichloroethylene, given sufficient quantities has been classified as a potent liver carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute.
A general rule of thumb is that larger plants have more surface area in order to produce more oxygen, as well as purify your air.
In general, plants produce oxygen and purify air that you breathe by having leaves that have a larger surface area per leaf and more leaves on their trunk and branches. However, exceptions exist, such as a plant’s number of leaves.
You may want more desert plants in your home, such as cactus and succulents, so a snake plant will keep that desert theme alive and give your house a purer air. Some people may want more of a garden theme in their home, so leafy plants are ideal.
So, What’s The Best Way To Grow Plants Indoors?
You can simply learn some common mistakes and best practice methods for growing your air purifier plant even if you’re already an avid plant grower already.
Potting Soil Reigns
Plants in a container that have been filled with potting soil may have the best chance of surviving. They need loose, filtration-free soil that allows water to soak in through the pot and any excess to get cleaned off.
If you need to use outdoor soil or compost, buy a large bag of potting soil, and you can repot plants if necessary.
Low Light Means Some Light
It is true that some plants will thrive in lower light situations, such as a bathroom or a window facing east or west. That is not to say they don’t require light at all.
Put a struggling plant in a higher sunlight area and watch how it does. Direct sunlight may help, but it may also dry it out. It is best to have your plant in an area that gets both direct and indirect sunlight.
Start With One, Then Move To Some!
Being so elated to get my first plant, a little succulent, I couldn’t get over it. I immediately got two more plants but I ended up killing one of them…it was frozen, watery death (I left it overnight in my car during the winter). I realized that maybe I wasn’t a good plant owner.
The key is getting a new one every couple of months, and I have bought more since then.
Once you learn how to grow certain plants and keep them alive, you are ready to move onto another!
Next, we will go over the types of plants that purify your air. We’ll tell you what species they are, and how much pollutants they remove in the air. Based on this article, you can make your buying decisions.
Bamboo Palm
- Scientific name: Chamaedorea seifrizii
- Micrograms removed per 24 hours
- Formaldehyde = 76,707
- Trichloroethylene = 16,520
- Benzene = 34,073
The bamboo palm is first on our list; this plant is incredibly efficient in cleaning the air of harmful toxins. Not only will it look beautiful in your home, but it’s also incredibly efficient in cleaning the air.
Mother-in-law’s Tongue, Snake Plant
- Scientific name: Sansevieria laurentii
- Micrograms removed per 24 hours
- Formaldehyde = 31,294
- Trichloroethylene = 9,727
- Benzene = 28,710
Snake plants have many different looks to them, but they’re all snake plants! Perhaps one of the most beautiful plants, the snake plant is easy to maintain and will look stunning in your kitchen or bedroom. Check out our snake plant guide here.
Mass Cane
- Scientific name: Dracaena massangeana
- Micrograms removed per 24 hours
- Formaldehyde = did not test
- Trichloroethylene = 10,101
- Benzene = did not test
The mass cane plant is straight out of a dream getaway on a tropical island. Now you can have one in your own home! Although the mass cane doesn’t remove as many toxins as other plants on this list, it does still have a strong effect on the air, giving off a sunny, tropical feel. It does, however, require a lot of water and sunlight in order to grow big.
Janet Craig
- Scientific name: Dracaena deremensis “Janet Craig”
- Micrograms removed per 24 hours
- Formaldehyde = 48,880
- Trichloroethylene = 18,330
- Benzene = 25,968
The Janet Craig plant is similar to the bamboo plant we mentioned earlier, but it is quite different! A tall specimen can remove a considerable amount of toxins from the air, so it’s perfect to place indoors. It will thrive in a sunny, humid environment, but also thrives in low light situations.
Marginata
- Scientific name: Dracaena marginata
- Micrograms removed per 24 hours
- Formaldehyde = 20,469
- Trichloroethylene = 27,292
- Benzene = 30,324
This plant is known as the “Dragon Tree”. Though removing high numbers of toxins in it’s tea, the marginata looks great in any home. It can also grow quite tall, depending on the amount of light and water that it receives. It can go along with any other plants you decide to grow in your home: just grab a cool pot, and you’re set!
Warneckei
- Scientific name: Dracaena deremensis “Warneckei”
- Micrograms removed per 24 hours
- Formaldehyde = did not test
- Trichloroethylene = 13,760
- Benzene = 39,107
There are many kinds of snake plant, similar to this plant. When choosing a snake plant for your home, you need to decide your personality and the style that suits you. We’ve got variety so if you want a plant that has specific colors, you may find it! On the other hand, you’ve got so much choice it can be tough to choose. We’ll let you make the decision!
Peace Lily
- Scientific name: Spathiphyllum “Mauna Loa”
- Micrograms removed per 24 hours
- Formaldehyde = 16,167
- Trichloroethylene = 27,064
- Benzene = 41,392
In addition to plenty of sunlight and water, the peace lily is the first flower-bearing plant on this list, so it will be crucial for it to survive! The Peace Lily is a beautiful plant that would make a beautiful addition to your home, but make sure you place it strategically so it can receive as much sunlight as possible.
Gerbera Daisy
- Scientific name: Gerbera jamesonii
- Micrograms removed per 24 hours
- Formaldehyde = did not test
- Trichloroethylene = 38,938
- Benzene = 107,653
The color of this plant is beautiful and it takes the award in the category of benzene removal! These flowering plants are a gorgeous addition to any kitchen table or kitchen sink!
Chinese Evergreen
- Scientific name: Aglaonema modestum
- Micrograms removed per 24 hours
- Formaldehyde = 4,382
- Trichloroethylene = did not test
- Benzene = 14,500
Although lower in performance than many of the other plants listed, this is still a wonderful house plant that will clean a lot of air throughout its lifetime. Put it together with one of the most prominent plants on the list, and you’re all set!
Green Spider Plant
- Scientific name: Chlorophytum elatum
- Micrograms removed per 24 hours
- Formaldehyde = 10,378
- Trichloroethylene = did not test
- Benzene = did not test
I’m glad to hear that the green spider plant is reducing formaldehyde in the air as well! You need a brightly-lit area with plenty of water for Spider plants. Don’t be fooled, this plant doesn’t attract spiders! Or does it?
Weeping Fig
- Scientific name: Ficus benjamina
- Micrograms removed per 24 hours
- Formaldehyde = 22,560
- Ammonia = 35,520
- Xylene = 6,504
You literally have a tree in your home, which is awesome! You need to take care of this plant often since it can grow quite tall. This plant will require plenty of sunlight and water, so make sure you take care of it often.
Boston Fern
- Scientific name: Nephrolepis exaltata
- Micrograms removed per 24 hours
- Formaldehyde = 44,712
- Trichloroethylene = did not test
- Benzene = did not test
Growing up just north of Boston, this one makes the list especially because I had hundreds or thousands of these growing in the woods in my backyard! These ferns will grow quite tall outdoors, up to 4 feet tall at a time.
And, they do it while at ground level. So, this is one of the best low light plants you can get for your home. One common place in the home is a bathroom window or shower window. They’ll purify the air while also adding some extra forest ambiance into your home.
Conclusion
You now have the knowledge of what plants purify the air effectively, so you can stock up! Try with just one plant at a time to see how it grows, and how much sunlight and water it needs. Then move to another plant after a couple of weeks or even months! You’ll gain a greater appreciation for the air you breathe once you’ve gotten this set up in your home. And, you’ll be spending more time breathing good, clean air if you live in a bigger city!
To learn more about how to clean and purify the air in your home, take a look at our blog on improving air quality in your home. In this article, we provide you with more ways to help make your home a better place to live. One good place to start to improve your indoor air quality is to purchase a plant that purifies the air.
Let’s make sure you’re ready for the next one!
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