There was a NASA study in 1989 regarding indoor plants and air quality. Scientists studied how to purify the air in enclosed spaces, like space stations, and now that's helped us figure out how plants can improve our homes.
But most of the time you can't find air-cleaning indoor plants if you don't know what to look for. Most nurseries and gardening centers offer a lot of flower and shrub options outside, but not much indoors. Even if you find a place that has a few options, you might not be able to find the wide variety you want.
And in case you didn't know, you can quite literally buy anything you want from Amazon right now It's pretty fantastic that you can bring the outdoors into your house without ever leaving. But it's tough to choose plants, especially with so many tempting options out there. Check out this list to narrow down your options and help your home be more relaxing.
Best Air-Purifying Houseplants Preference List
- Best overall Air-Purifying Houseplant( plus, it’s good for skin care too ): Aloe vera
- Best Air Cleaning Indoor plant for Decor: Anthurium
- Best Air-Purifying Houseplants for Pet Owners: Spider plant
- Best Air Cleaning Indoor Plants for Hanging: Devils ivy
- Best Air-Purifying Houseplants for Bathroom: Chinese evergreen
1-Aloe vera
With its cooling sap, it soothes burns and scalds This slow-growing succulent has plump, grey-green leaves that form a wide rosette over time.
The Good
- Provides medicinal benefits.
- Direct shipping from the greenhouse to your door.
- 30-day money-back guarantee.
The Bad
- It grows best on a sunny windowsill.
- It needs to be repotted upon arrival.
2-Anthurium
As a houseplant, anthurium is very durable and does not need much care, since it is a type of epiphyte, a type of air plant that grows on the surface of other plants or in organic humus.
The Good
- Beautiful colors.
- Easy to water with ice cubes.
- It comes in a pretty white planter.
The Bad
- When it comes to sunlight, this one is a little picky.
- It needs a room temperature between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
3-Spider plant
It's popular mostly because it's easygoing, making it one of the best indoor plants for beginners or forgetful plant owners. Bonus, it's a cat-safe plant.
The Good
- It Grows fast.
- Grows best in drier soils and full shade.
- Can be placed anywhere.
The Bad
- Small in size upon arrival.
- Your cats might gobble them up like catnip.
4-Devils ivy
Plants like Epipremnum, also known as Devil’s Ivy, are perfect for homes with limited natural light. They’re pretty hard to kill and stay green even in the shade
The Good
- A hardy, low-maintenance plant.
- A great indoor plant for newbies.
- Drought-tolerant, only needs a cup of water a week.
The Bad
- This one also needs to be repotted after arriving.
- It’s messy to unpack.
5-Chinese evergreen
Besides tolerating low light, aglaonema can grow in bright spots too. Because Chinese evergreen is a slow-growing plant, it’s perfect for desks and tabletops. Because of its small size and slow growth, it’ll stay there for a while.
The Good
- It’s very low maintenance.
- No need for a lot of sunlight.
- Leaves with eye-catching colors.
The Bad
- Arrives with yellow leaves that need some reviving.
How to pick the Best Air-Purifying Houseplants for your Home?
Pets Safe Houseplants that are Non-Toxic
Both pets and indoor plants can bring a lot of joy to a home, but not every plant is safe for pets, since some contain chemicals that can make them sick.
If you have a furry friend, you probably won't want to keep houseplants like weeping fig trees and ZZ plants in your home. Also, peace lilies can make kids sick too .some of the safest plants for kids, cats and dogs are spider plants, ponytail palms, and some succulents
And just to be extra sure before you buy a new indoor plant, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)and Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center ( ECLKC ) has rounded up a list of non-toxic plants for cats, dogs, and kids.
Hanging Air Cleaning Indoor Plants
A hanging indoor plant in bloom can be a showstopper for your decor, but it does need some special care because of its placement Some hanging plants are heavy, so make sure to secure them to a wall stud or ceiling joist. Make sure your ceiling can handle the load of your new plant, even if it replaces an old one.
Most bagged potting soil nowadays contains hefty peat, so you might need to lighten up the planter with perlite. Perlite will probably increase drainage, so take care when watering. Because hanging plants are closer to the ceiling, the air is warmer and drier than the air near the floor, you'll need to water them more often. Put your plants in a small pot that fits inside a larger non-draining hanging planter so your floor doesn't get watered too much.
It's tough to water hanging indoor plants because of their height. But you can set up a pulley system to get them down to your level. A lot of people water them by using a step ladder or out in the bathtub. Here are some air-cleaning indoor plants that are great as hanging plants :
English Ivy
Spider plant
Broad-leafed pathos
String of pearls
F.A.Qs
1- What kinds of chemicals do air-purifying houseplants take out of the air?
To test whether house plants can get rid of indoor air pollution, NASA pumped benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene into small spaces with common house plants. The plants were able to trap these carcinogenic substances– that can cause cancer in humans and effectively remove them. Even if you don't have a cabinet full of these chemicals, volatile organic compounds (or VOCs) can be found in a lot more everyday products than you'd imagine.
VOCs are man-made chemicals commonly found in paint, pharmaceuticals, and refrigerants. You'd encounter them while painting, of course, but you'll also experience them when using cleaning supplies or pesticides. In fact, even things like copiers, printers, Wite-Out, permanent markers, nail polish, air fresheners, and photographic solutions can emit VOCs, so air-purifying indoor plants are great for home offices and art studios.
2- Are there other benefits of air-cleaning indoor plants?
Scientists say there's more research to be done when it comes to plants reducing or eliminating VOCs, but they've also discovered they can effectively reduce mold, mildew, and bacteria by releasing phytochemicals.
3- Do air-purifying houseplants reduce stress and anxiety?
One study had people report houseplants or do computer tasks, then they checked their heart rates and blood pressure afterward. Then the groups switched tasks. After working with plants, people felt more relaxed and relaxed, and their blood pressure decreased. As for the computer task, it made them feel weird and "artificial," spiked their blood pressure, and triggered their sympathetic nervous system. According to the study's researchers, indoor plants can reduce psychological and physiological stress.
Last words,
These nature's little antidepressants can not only help us relax and feel stress-free, but they're also natural air cleaners. They can boost our moods and fight fatigue, so we're more productive, and maybe even improve our memory and concentration with them. It's not they release anything special into the air, just that they're pretty and easy to care for. Plus, they make a pretty cute home decor too.
