Bringing a few houseplants to your home can make you feel better and less stressed. But the question is can they clean the air you breathe? According to NASA's Clean Air Study found that certain types of houseplants such as ficus bonsai, snake plants, and peace lily can improve the quality of air in a small air i.e closed chamber or room area. Moreover, studies have also found that plants can remove harmful gases such as formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from indoor air. 

Nowadays, these and other houseplant studies have been small and concentrate on controlled environments. The fact is that your house is not even close to being a controlled environment. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the essential causes of indoor air pollution include gas appliances, furniture made from pressed wood products, new floors or carpet, and even cleaning products—to get rid of this w you need to improve the indoor air quality which can be done by adding houseplants to your home.

So if you are interested in the idea of adding plants to your home to filter out extra toxins in the air and boost your mental health then continue reading this article as it will help you decide which plants to bring home for your goodness and well-being.

Table of Contents

 

1. Safety concerns before you buy a plant?
2. Plants that are easy to care for
3. Plants that need a little extra love

4. The future of air-purifying indoor plants

5. Common misconceptions

 

Safety concerns before you buy a plant

The first and foremost thing that leads you to reconsider buying air-purifying plants is if you have pets such as cats and dogs. Because most of these plants may be toxic to them. Always ask your local greenhouse staff about pet safety and allergy precautions options. For a detailed list of plants that are toxic to animal or human beings, you can check out this page ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants page. Also check the NASA study report and the list of all air-purifying plants certified by NASA.

Plants that are easy to care for?

 

Now the people who want to bring home air purifying plants and make their home green and pollution-free, these plants may be for you. As they are low-maintenance plants and don’t require daily care, most of them will flourish better if they get fertilized by organic fertilizer once a month.

Source:- https://www.almanac.com/sites/default/files/users/AlmanacStaffArchive/spider-plant_olga-prava-ss_full_width.jpg

 

Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum)

 

These are also known as air plants, the spider plants grow quickly and look great in the hanging baskets in your indoor space as well as in your workspace. Sometimes they even produce beautiful white blossoms.

 

The spider plants have more than 200 species and most of them are low-maintenance and can survive a little forgetfulness from us.

 

Plant care: Water your spider plants 2-3 times a week.

 

Non-toxic: For children and animals who like to play with plants, this plant is safe.

 

Eliminates: formaldehyde and xylene. 

Source:- https://gardenerspath.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/How-to-Grow-Dracaena-Cover.jpg

Dracaena Colorama (Dracaena Marginata)

 

Dracaenas are one of the best indoor plants having glossy strap leaves. These are ideal indoor plants for homes, offices, and other public areas as it purifies the air by absorbing the toxins through the leaves and producing a pure form of oxygen.

 

Plant care: Please always check the soil of the plant is well-drained and fertile.

 

Toxic to animals: It is toxic to pets and may cause illness in human beings also, hence make sure they don’t eat dracaenas.

 

Eliminates: formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, benzene, trichloroethylene.

Source:- https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0150/6262/articles/blog_the-sill_golden-pothos_2048x2048.jpg?v=1618608157

 

Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

 

These are also called devil’s ivy, having large, polished, heart-shaped green leaves that can brighten any indoor or outdoor space. According to Feng Shui, it is considered to be a lucky plant that brings monetary gain and good fortune. It’s also considered a symbol of peace and one of the most effective indoor air purifiers for removing toxins.

 

Plant care: Please always check the soil of the plant is well-drained and fertile. You can trim the tendrils when the plant gets too big for the pot.

 

Toxic to animals: Keep this plant away from both cats and dogs.

 

Eliminates: formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, benzene, carbon monoxide.

Source:-https://www.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/crassula-ovata-jade-plant-pirate-renee-flickr.jpg

 

Jade Plants (Crassula ovata)

 

These are also known as air plants, the jade plants spread in branches. These belong to the family of succulents and cacti. The leaves of the jade plants are oval-shaped, thick, and deep green. These are also known as lucky plants and bring wealth and good fortune. During autumn they even produce beautiful white flowers.

 

 

Plant care: Water your jade plants 2-3 times a week.

 

Toxic: Very toxic to cats and dogs and mildly toxic to humans.

 

Eliminates: formaldehyde and xylene. 

Source:- https://www.trees.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Decorative-Areca-palm-near-white-brick-wall.jpg

 

Areca palms (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)

 

It's a small plant from Madagascar and is easier to grow outdoor clump-growing evergreen plant. Its Fine texture and yellow-green leaves make its foliage evergreen, hence called yellow butterfly palm and golden cane palm.

 

Plant care: This is a thirsty plant that needs plenty of water during the growth period, but less in the winters.

 

Non-toxic: The Areca palms are non-toxic to both cats and dogs.

 

Eliminates:  benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene.

Source:- https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Chrysanthemum_%280883%29-Relic38.jpg

Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum morifolium)

 

The chrysanthemums are ranked the highest for air purification. They simply eliminate common toxins as well as ammonia.

 

Its flowers only bloom in about six weeks. You can fertilize the pot again in the spring when the new growth appears. But without the flowers, it won’t be able to purify the air. So if you don’t want to wait, you might want to just get a new pot.

 

Plant care: Please always check the soil of the plant is well-drained and fertile.

 

Toxic to animals: These are toxic to both cats and dogs.

 

Eliminates: formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, and ammonia.

Source:-https://www.almanac.com/sites/default/files/styles/primary_image_in_article/public/image_nodes/aloe-vera-white-pot_sunwand24-ss_edit.jpg

 

Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)

 

The Aloe vera plant is considered to be one of the best indoor and outdoor plants and is a famous medicinal plant with cultural beliefs.

 

It is used in many skin lotions, cosmetics, and ointments for minor burns. It is also used for decorative purposes and is cultivated for agricultural and medicinal uses.

 

Plant care: Please always check the soil of the plant is well-drained and fertile. Always use clay, sandy, and loamy soil.

Toxic to animals: The level of toxicity in aloe vera is mild to moderate for cats and dogs.

 

Eliminates: formaldehyde and benzene.

Plants that need a little extra love

 

Now talk about those air-purifying plants which are ideal for the people who want to spend more time with their plants. All of these plants require fertilizer once every month, as well as extra care like misting and repotting.

 

Source:- https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1881/4693/products/20200516-20200516-P1510673_2048x.jpg?v=1590270017

Bamboo palms (Chamaedorea seifrizii)

Bamboo palms are one of the most popular and very rare indoor plants. It likes bright indirect light in order to thrive and does have preferences about its care. Bamboo palms can remove airborne chemicals and also transpire a healthy dose of moisture into the air.

Plant care: Always keep the soil moist not soggy. The natural bright light is good for the growth of the Lucky Bamboo Plant.

Non-toxic: Bamboo palms are safe to keep in a house with pets and children.

Eliminates: formaldehyde, benzene, carbon monoxide, xylene, and chloroform.

 

Source:- https://plantophiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Hedera-Helix-English-Ivy.png

English ivy (Hedera helix)

Hedera helix is an evergreen climbing plant and is well adapted to indoor conditions. It’s a fast-growing, woody evergreen perennial and looks especially picturesque growing from a hanging basket.

Plant care: Water your hedera helix generously during growth, but reduce watering during the winters.

Toxic to animals: The English ivy is toxic to dogs, farm animals, and humans when eaten. 

Eliminates: benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.

 

Source:- https://images-prod.healthline.com/hlcmsresource/images/1296x728_Air-Purifying_Plants-7-Rubber_Plants.jpg

Rubber plants (Ficus elastica)

Rubber plants are evergreen indoor as well as outdoor plants from India. Their roots grow upwards and have flowers with brown cone-shaped spikes. These plants love bright, filtered light and can grow in low maintenance.

Plant care: Water your rubber plant moderately to keep the soil moist, especially in the winters.

Toxic to animals: Rubber plants are are mildly toxic to cats and dogs.

Eliminates: carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.

 

Source:- https://www.fgsdurham.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG-0040-1020x600.jpg

Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema)

These evergreen plants are originally from tropical forests in Asia. In addition to patterned and colorful looks, these plants can actually remove many common toxins. But caring for these plants will require extra attention.

Plant care: Water your aglaonema generously during growth, but reduce watering during the winters.

Toxic to animals: The Chinese evergreen plants are moderately toxic to dogs.

Eliminates: benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.

 

Source:- http://tipsplants.com/sites/default/files/peace_lily_0.jpg

Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum)

It’s a clump-growing herbaceous perennial with attractive polished leaves. NASA considered this plant among the best indoor plants which are great for removing formaldehyde and carbon monoxide and increasing general indoor air quality.

Plant care: The Natural bright light is good for the growth of the Peace Lily. Please always check if the soil of the plant is well-drained and fertile.

Toxic to animals and humans: These plants are toxic to cats, dogs, and children. 

Eliminates: formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene, and ammonia.

 

The future of air-purifying indoor plants

 

The plants are not a substitute for decent ventilation and improved indoor air quality. IANS (Indo-Asian News Service) reported that scientists have researched and developed a houseplant that can enhance your indoor air detoxification. After doing some genetic modification they developed the ideal plant called pathos ivy and put it through a test against chloroform and benzene for research purposes.

 

They put the pathos ivy in a glass chamber with these two common pollutants. After observing it for three days they found that the level of chloroform dropped by 82%, and after eight days, the level of benzene dropped by 75%, according to an IANS report.

 

Common misconceptions

 

There is no doubt that the plants absorb common toxins and harmful gases from the air. The outdoor environment is enhanced naturally by the presence of plants.

 

Although having plants indoors would have the same effect. The air purifying plants do remove toxins from the air in our homes. They do remove CO2 and they remove some chemicals. 

 

The actual question that arises here is do house plants reduce the amount of pollutants in the air inside the home?

 

People might believe that it’s a true statement but it's not. Plants can remove pollutants, but they don’t remove enough of them to make a difference in the actual amount of pollutants in our air. 

 

NASA Tests Plants

 

Now to better understand this issue, we need to go back in time and see where the scientific research evidence started. In early times some studies showed that plants do absorb VOCs (volatile organic carbons), such as benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, xylene, and ammonia. This led NASA to do some research on air-purifying plants. Therefore in 1989 NASA discovered that houseplants can absorb harmful chemicals and pollutants from the air, especially in confined spaces with little airflow. This study has been the basis for all the newer studies about indoor air purifying plants and their cleaning abilities.

Bringing a few houseplants to your home can make you feel better and less stressed. But the question is can they clean the air you breathe? According to NASA's Clean Air Study found that certain types of houseplants such as ficus bonsai, snake plants, and peace lily can improve the quality of air in a small air i.e closed chamber or room area. Moreover, studies have also found that plants can remove harmful gases such as formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from indoor air. 

Nowadays, these and other houseplant studies have been small and concentrate on controlled environments. The fact is that your house is not even close to being a controlled environment. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the essential causes of indoor air pollution include gas appliances, furniture made from pressed wood products, new floors or carpet, and even cleaning products—to get rid of this w you need to improve the indoor air quality which can be done by adding houseplants to your home.

So if you are interested in the idea of adding plants to your home to filter out extra toxins in the air and boost your mental health then continue reading this article as it will help you decide which plants to bring home for your goodness and well-being.

Table of Contents

1. Safety concerns before you buy a plant?
2. Plants that are easy to care for
3. Plants that need a little extra love

4. The future of air-purifying indoor plants

5. Common misconceptions

Safety concerns before you buy a plant

The first and foremost thing that leads you to reconsider buying air-purifying plants is if you have pets such as cats and dogs. Because most of these plants may be toxic to them. Always ask your local greenhouse staff about pet safety and allergy precautions options. For a detailed list of plants that are toxic to animal or human beings, you can check out this page ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants page. Also check the NASA study report and the list of all air-purifying plants certified by NASA.

Plants that are easy to care for?

Now the people who want to bring home air purifying plants and make their home green and pollution-free, these plants may be for you. As they are low-maintenance plants and don’t require daily care, most of them will flourish better if they get fertilized by organic fertilizer once a month.

Source:- https://www.almanac.com/sites/default/files/users/AlmanacStaffArchive/spider-plant_olga-prava-ss_full_width.jpg

Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum)

These are also known as air plants, the spider plants grow quickly and look great in the hanging baskets in your indoor space as well as in your workspace. Sometimes they even produce beautiful white blossoms.

The spider plants have more than 200 species and most of them are low-maintenance and can survive a little forgetfulness from us.

Plant care: Water your spider plants 2-3 times a week.

Non-toxic: For children and animals who like to play with plants, this plant is safe.

Eliminates: formaldehyde and xylene. 

Source:- https://gardenerspath.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/How-to-Grow-Dracaena-Cover.jpg

Dracaena Colorama (Dracaena Marginata)

Dracaenas are one of the best indoor plants having glossy strap leaves. These are ideal indoor plants for homes, offices, and other public areas as it purifies the air by absorbing the toxins through the leaves and producing a pure form of oxygen.

Plant care: Please always check the soil of the plant is well-drained and fertile.

Toxic to animals: It is toxic to pets and may cause illness in human beings also, hence make sure they don’t eat dracaenas.

Eliminates: formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, benzene, trichloroethylene.

Source:- https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0150/6262/articles/blog_the-sill_golden-pothos_2048x2048.jpg?v=1618608157

Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

These are also called devil’s ivy, having large, polished, heart-shaped green leaves that can brighten any indoor or outdoor space. According to Feng Shui, it is considered to be a lucky plant that brings monetary gain and good fortune. It’s also considered a symbol of peace and one of the most effective indoor air purifiers for removing toxins.

Plant care: Please always check the soil of the plant is well-drained and fertile. You can trim the tendrils when the plant gets too big for the pot.

Toxic to animals: Keep this plant away from both cats and dogs.

Eliminates: formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, benzene, carbon monoxide.

Source:-https://www.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/crassula-ovata-jade-plant-pirate-renee-flickr.jpg

Jade Plants (Crassula ovata)

 

These are also known as air plants, the jade plants spread in branches. These belong to the family of succulents and cacti. The leaves of the jade plants are oval-shaped, thick, and deep green. These are also known as lucky plants and bring wealth and good fortune. During autumn they even produce beautiful white flowers.

 

 

Plant care: Water your jade plants 2-3 times a week.

 

Toxic: Very toxic to cats and dogs and mildly toxic to humans.

 

Eliminates: formaldehyde and xylene. 

Source:- https://www.trees.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Decorative-Areca-palm-near-white-brick-wall.jpg

Areca palms (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)

It's a small plant from Madagascar and is easier to grow outdoor clump-growing evergreen plant. Its Fine texture and yellow-green leaves make its foliage evergreen, hence called yellow butterfly palm and golden cane palm.

Plant care: This is a thirsty plant that needs plenty of water during the growth period, but less in the winters.

Non-toxic: The Areca palms are non-toxic to both cats and dogs.

Eliminates:  benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene.

Source:- https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Chrysanthemum_%280883%29-Relic38.jpg

Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum morifolium)

The chrysanthemums are ranked the highest for air purification. They simply eliminate common toxins as well as ammonia.

Its flowers only bloom in about six weeks. You can fertilize the pot again in the spring when the new growth appears. But without the flowers, it won’t be able to purify the air. So if you don’t want to wait, you might want to just get a new pot.

Plant care: Please always check the soil of the plant is well-drained and fertile.

Toxic to animals: These are toxic to both cats and dogs.

Eliminates: formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, and ammonia.

Source:-https://www.almanac.com/sites/default/files/styles/primary_image_in_article/public/image_nodes/aloe-vera-white-pot_sunwand24-ss_edit.jpg

Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)

The Aloe vera plant is considered to be one of the best indoor and outdoor plants and is a famous medicinal plant with cultural beliefs.

It is used in many skin lotions, cosmetics, and ointments for minor burns. It is also used for decorative purposes and is cultivated for agricultural and medicinal uses.

Plant care: Please always check the soil of the plant is well-drained and fertile. Always use clay, sandy, and loamy soil.

Toxic to animals: The level of toxicity in aloe vera is mild to moderate for cats and dogs.

Eliminates: formaldehyde and benzene.

Plants that need a little extra love

Now talk about those air-purifying plants which are ideal for the people who want to spend more time with their plants. All of these plants require fertilizer once every month, as well as extra care like misting and repotting.

Source:- https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1881/4693/products/20200516-20200516-P1510673_2048x.jpg?v=1590270017

Bamboo palms (Chamaedorea seifrizii)

Bamboo palms are one of the most popular and very rare indoor plants. It likes bright indirect light in order to thrive and does have preferences about its care. Bamboo palms can remove airborne chemicals and also transpire a healthy dose of moisture into the air.

Plant care: Always keep the soil moist not soggy. The natural bright light is good for the growth of the Lucky Bamboo Plant.

Non-toxic: Bamboo palms are safe to keep in a house with pets and children.

Eliminates: formaldehyde, benzene, carbon monoxide, xylene, and chloroform.

Source:- https://plantophiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Hedera-Helix-English-Ivy.png

English ivy (Hedera helix)

Hedera helix is an evergreen climbing plant and is well adapted to indoor conditions. It’s a fast-growing, woody evergreen perennial and looks especially picturesque growing from a hanging basket.

Plant care: Water your hedera helix generously during growth, but reduce watering during the winters.

Toxic to animals: The English ivy is toxic to dogs, farm animals, and humans when eaten. 

Eliminates: benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.

Source:- https://images-prod.healthline.com/hlcmsresource/images/1296x728_Air-Purifying_Plants-7-Rubber_Plants.jpg

Rubber plants (Ficus elastica)

Rubber plants are evergreen indoor as well as outdoor plants from India. Their roots grow upwards and have flowers with brown cone-shaped spikes. These plants love bright, filtered light and can grow in low maintenance.

Plant care: Water your rubber plant moderately to keep the soil moist, especially in the winters.

Toxic to animals: Rubber plants are are mildly toxic to cats and dogs.

Eliminates: carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.

Source:- https://www.fgsdurham.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG-0040-1020x600.jpg

Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema)

These evergreen plants are originally from tropical forests in Asia. In addition to patterned and colorful looks, these plants can actually remove many common toxins. But caring for these plants will require extra attention.

Plant care: Water your aglaonema generously during growth, but reduce watering during the winters.

Toxic to animals: The Chinese evergreen plants are moderately toxic to dogs.

Eliminates: benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.

Source:- http://tipsplants.com/sites/default/files/peace_lily_0.jpg

Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum)

It’s a clump-growing herbaceous perennial with attractive polished leaves. NASA considered this plant among the best indoor plants which are great for removing formaldehyde and carbon monoxide and increasing general indoor air quality.

Plant care: The Natural bright light is good for the growth of the Peace Lily. Please always check if the soil of the plant is well-drained and fertile.

Toxic to animals and humans: These plants are toxic to cats, dogs, and children. 

Eliminates: formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene, and ammonia.

The future of air-purifying indoor plants

The plants are not a substitute for decent ventilation and improved indoor air quality. IANS (Indo-Asian News Service) reported that scientists have researched and developed a houseplant that can enhance your indoor air detoxification. After doing some genetic modification they developed the ideal plant called pathos ivy and put it through a test against chloroform and benzene for research purposes.

 

They put the pathos ivy in a glass chamber with these two common pollutants. After observing it for three days they found that the level of chloroform dropped by 82%, and after eight days, the level of benzene dropped by 75%, according to an IANS report.

Common misconceptions

 

There is no doubt that the plants absorb common toxins and harmful gases from the air. The outdoor environment is enhanced naturally by the presence of plants.

 

Although having plants indoors would have the same effect. The air purifying plants do remove toxins from the air in our homes. They do remove CO2 and they remove some chemicals. 

 

The actual question that arises here is do house plants reduce the amount of pollutants in the air inside the home?

 

People might believe that it’s a true statement but it's not. Plants can remove pollutants, but they don’t remove enough of them to make a difference in the actual amount of pollutants in our air. 

 

NASA Tests Plants

 

Now to better understand this issue, we need to go back in time and see where the scientific research evidence started. In early times some studies showed that plants do absorb VOCs (volatile organic carbons), such as benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, xylene, and ammonia. This led NASA to do some research on air-purifying plants. Therefore in 1989 NASA discovered that houseplants can absorb harmful chemicals and pollutants from the air, especially in confined spaces with little airflow. This study has been the basis for all the newer studies about indoor air purifying plants and their cleaning abilities.