Table of Contents
Plants are classified in several types and each of this types has it uses which is based on their growth habits and the best plants are indoor plants which are used to improve air quality and the best ones are the ones that provide you with double-duty however deciding which of this plants you need to purify the air can be quite tricky especially when you don’t have a botanist around (1).
Plants are not just for the purpose of beautifying your home or garden but they instantly add color, vibrancy, and a breath of fresh air to the environment no matter the size and they happen to be the perfect kinds of plants if you are a beginner.
Air purifying plants are natural wonders to have around, they clean toxins from your house, and scientific evidence points that these plants take care of pollutions in your environment and increases mental health while serving as natural humidifiers (2).
If you are looking to reduce toxins in your home and detoxify the air around you, air-cleaning plants are a great idea.
Looking to reduce the toxins in your home? Cultivating varieties of purifying plants works together to fight all types of toxins and improve air quality, this article contains a round-up of the best indoor plants that are sure to add vibrancy and clean air to your home.
Do plants help with dust?
Yes, it has been proven by the NASA study that plants do help decrease plant level by up to 20 percent and these houseplants are famous for being nature’s air purifier and they can also help reduce dust levels indoor thereby viable to have around the house to prevent dust from causing an array of issues like asthmatic attacks (3).
12 Plants For Purifying The Air
What plants are the best for purifying the air? Best cleaning plants are not just great to have around but are also easy to grow, they also happen to be the most tolerant and low maintenance plant option out there which also means they are pretty hard to clear and if perfect if you are a beginner.
We have listed 12 powerhouse plants that let you breathe easy and diffuse toxic chemicals.
1. Weeping Fig Tree
Image: The Spruce
The weeping fig tree is a common plant that is known as a benjamin fig or ficus tree and it has an elegant plant with slender branches, this a large indoor tree and it should be kept in a well lit and watered regularly.
The care and maintenance of a weeping fig tree depend on if you are growing it indoor or outdoor, it can grow up to 3 and 6 feet in height however it grows slowly inside but a different case outside, it grows quickly if not kept pruned (4).
2. Peace Lily
Peace lilies are not just great indoor but they do like growing indoor, this plant is a symbol of sympathy and works well in partial sunlight, they do prefer bright indirect light from a nearby window, spatial humid and climates (5), they can bloom for about 2 months in the spring and they will grow just fine when placed across the room from a window but may also b become leggy and won’t bloom well in such low light.
3. Spider Plant
The spider plant is the most effective in cleansing toxic chemicals like formaldehyde, xylene, toluene and it also removes nitrogen dioxide and ozone.
This plant is considered to be one of the most adaptable houseplants and also easier to grow.
Some mature spider plants produce white flowers which in turn mature into baby spiderettes called pups and this can be removed to be rooted in soil and water (6).
4. Kimberly Queen Fern
Image: Van Belle Flowers
This is one of the easiest purifying plants to grow, it is also more compact, tidier and easiest to care for, this easy to grow fern thrives under bright direct sunlight and mild temperatures (7).
Kimberly queen fern is also called sword fern, this is because the fonds are straight and narrow and you might want to set it next to a small humidifier.
5. Devil’s Ivy
Another efficient plant that is effective in removing indoor pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene, it purifies the air around your home and this plant loves indirect sunlight which means you only need to water it when dry, it is impossible to kill hence the name devil’s ivy and stays green even when kept in the near darkness.
This is highly recommended for its air purifying attributes (8).
6. Flamingo Lily
Image: Morflora
Flamingo lily is an amazing plant and easy to grow for you to have around the house as an air purifier, this is commonly referred to as laceleaf and can be found naturally in rainforests and just like some other houseplants, it needs indirect sunlight, humid temperatures and water to grow.
In spite of flamingo lily exotic appearance, it is low maintenance (9).
7. Chinese Evergreen
A purifying plant that comes in different colors and offers other benefits around the house is a Chinese evergreen plant, it is known to increase productivity, concentration, and memory.
This plant is one of the most durable house plants you can grow, it tolerates poor light, dry air, and drought (10)
8. Bamboo Palm
This plant adds wonderful depth to a shade garden which makes it great around the house and it also thrives in humidity so you can place one in your bathroom. Bamboo palm needs lots of light to grow and at full size, it can be anywhere from 4-12 feet (11).
It makes a fantastic houseplant and very easy to care for as well.
9. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is quite a popular plant in many homes, it is an easily attractive and succulent plant with medicinal uses and it makes a great indoor companion, this is a versatile plant and very necessary to have at home as an air purifier (12).
10. Broadleaf Lady Palm
Image: Garden And Happy
Broadleaf lady palm is a very popular houseplant and works outdoor and indoor, it makes a beautiful addition to your home and easy to care for which makes it even more great to have among your indoor plant collection.
Lady palms prefer indirect light, moist soil, and can thrive in almost any temperature (13).
11. Boston Fern
Boston fern is cultivated from the fern commodity and it displays graceful fronds which makes it a great potted or hanging plant, it is a popular indoor plant and it can be grown outdoors in the fresh air too but typically found indoor and they prefer slightly humid conditions and well-lit position (14).
12. Barberton Daisy
Image: Pinterest
Barberton daisy is a flowering plant you will like around your home, not for its air purifying qualities but it produces one of the happiest flowers and they are quite common for this.
This flowering plant is a powerful air purifier that filters toxins like benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene (15).
Which plants give off the most oxygen?
The desire for more oxygen can be a demanding one especially for those suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and also knowing that our indoor air quality isn’t the best hence a more natural approach to help you get the most of oxygen is to add a few extra houseplants to your environment which will help filter out toxins.
Here are some plants that give off the most oxygen:
- Spider Plant
- Snake Plant
- Areca Palm
- Chinese Evergreens
- Peace Lily
- Weeping Fig
Final Thoughts
The more the air-purifying plants you have around your home, the better and they are several of these plants which might make it difficult to make a choice hence the plants listed above, which are some of the most common houseplants, however, keep in mind that plants with larger leaves such as palms purify air quicker.
The germs and toxins you can see are often the most harmful but this can be prevented with air-cleaning plants that will help improve your air quality and clear your environment of the harmful chemical toxin.