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The right to clean air is a fundamental right. Yet we rarely ever get to breath clean air, especially if you live in large cities. Instead, buying an air purifier to clean out the air seems like the only wise option.
But good air-purifiers can be hard to come by. So, what does one do? Invest in houseplants.
Apart from making your home feel like an oasis, plants help to clean the toxins from the air as well. NASA conducted a study to find out exactly which plants purify the air the best.
They also came to the conclusion that it’s recommended to have two or three plants for every 100 square feet. You get the best benefit from them when you include a variety of plants in one room.
Some plants are, of course, better than others and here is a list of the 10 best air-purifying plants for you to choose from.
Chrysanthemum Morifolium or “Florists chrysanthemum” is ranked the highest for air purification. These plants are shown to eliminate common toxins as well as ammonia, which is rare. The downside is that this plant only blooms for about six weeks at a time, and without the flowers, it won’t purify the air. A good rule of thumb is to buy a new plant once the old one has stopped flowering.
Plant care: Check the soil’s moisture every other day and keep it damp.
Toxic to animals: Yes, to both dogs and cats.
Eliminates: Formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, ammonia.
This is the perfect plant for your bedroom. It releases oxygen at night, which helps you to breathe better while sleeping. The snake plant likes most light situations and can grow tall if repotted in a larger pot.
According to Feng-Shui, if placed in specific corners, a snake plant will bring positive energies in the form of prosperity, long life, intelligence, beauty, strength, art and poetry.
Plant care: Do not overwater, as the roots are prone to rotting in moist soil.
Toxic to animals: Yes, but low toxicity.
Eliminates: Formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, toluene, trichloroethylene.
The peace lily is among the top three in the study made by NASA. They have white elegant flowers which bloom in the spring for about two months. Very well cared for plants can bloom in autumn as well.
Plant care: Keep soil slightly moist. Peace lilies thrive in most lighting conditions, but not enough light can prevent flowers from blooming.
Toxic to animals: Yes, unfortunately toxic to cats, dogs and even children.
Eliminates: Formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, trichloroethylene.
This is an evergreen climbing plant which is well adapted to indoor conditions. Different varieties will prefer different light solutions, from bright, indirect light to low-light spaces. The English Ivy looks extra pretty growing from a hanging basket.
Plant care: Water generously during growth, but don’t overwater during winter.
Toxic to animals: Yes, can cause significant problems in dogs and some farm animals when eaten.
Eliminates: Formaldehyde, benzene, carbon dioxide, trichloroethylene.
Also known as air plants, spider plants grow quickly and look great in hanging baskets. They are an evergreen, perennial herb which can grow up to 24 inches tall.
Spider plants grow little “babies” along the runners that grow from the main bush. This gives the plant a very “spidery” look, hence the name. Sometimes they even produce beautiful little blossoms.
Plant care: Water them two to three times per week.
Toxic to animals: No
Eliminates: Formaldehyde, xylene.
Dracaenas are a dream for those with green thumbs and, they come in all shapes, sizes and colours. Choose from the tall corn plant, which has interesting markings, or the rainbow plant which comes in bright purple.
Plant care: Keep the soil damp but not soggy.
Toxic to animals: Yes, when eaten.
Eliminates: Formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, toluene, trichloroethylene.
These plants are perfect as an indoor plant; they look fantastic and their size remains very appropriate. They grow to a maximum of 2-2,5 feet.
Plant care: Prefers humid surroundings. Water freely during the growing season, but reduce the frequency of watering during the winter.
Toxic to animals: No
Eliminates: Formaldehyde, benzene, carbon dioxide.
Also known as Golden Pothos, this plant may be as close as plants get to indestructible. It flourishes in a variety of conditions and can grow up to 8 feet long.
Plant care: Water when the soil is dry. Trim the tendrils when the plant gets too big.
Toxic to animals: Yes, keep this plant out of reach of both cats and dogs.
Eliminates: Formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, carbon dioxide, toluene.
This is a tall, beautiful and versatile plant that which can be kept in dry or humid surroundings. The lady palm is expensive to buy fully-grown, so you might want to shop around for a smaller one to start with.
Plant care: Do not over water.
Toxic to animals: No
Eliminates: Formaldehyde, xylene, ammonia, carbon dioxide.
This sturdy and elegant plant likes bright, but not direct, sunlight, and does have preference about its care. Bamboo palms also give off a healthy dose of moisture to the air, which is extra welcoming in the dry winter months.
Plant care: Keep the soil moist. Place the bamboo plant where air circulates freely, and make sure to mist it occasionally with water to prevent spider mites.
Toxic to animals: No
Eliminates: Formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, carbon monoxide, chloroform and more.
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