Feeling Peace? These humble houseplants can improve indoor air quality, and brighten your mood while they're at it.
Common indoor plants may provide a valuable weapon in the fight against rising levels of indoor air pollution.
Back in 1989,NASA released its now-famous study that showed that certain houseplants could clean indoor air by removing airborne chemicals and sequestering them in the soil. But why did they conduct that study to begin with? It was, according to their scientists, “a promising, economical solution to indoor air pollution.” (Houseplants, coincidentally, soared in popularity.)
In the 1970s, America found itself in the middle of an energy crisis. To combat it, the government began imposing building regulations to make new construction more energy-efficient. One side effect was that all this new air-tight construction was keeping out fresh air, and trapping in all the chemicals upon which our modern lives rely. Cleaning products, air conditioners, and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) released by carpets and furniture (and printes and copy machines in offices) took their toll—people began reporting symptoms like headaches, dizziness, wheezing and other breathing trouble, and, notably, mental fatigue. The term “sick building syndrome” was coined to describe the phenomenon. Recent studies have also linked poor air quality with an increased risk of developing depression.
Luckily, these problems can be mitigated right in your own home and office. These common, easy-to-grow houseplants have been shown by actual rocket scientists to clean the air we breathe.
1. The Peace Maker
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
Foliage : Lush, dark green oval leaves, and a reliable bloomer of white flowers that resemble calla lilies.
Plant : Low maintenance, hardy, and will let you know when it’s thirsty by drooping its leaves.
Light : Low light and cool temperatures.
Benefit : Cleans air by reducing toxic Volatile Organic Compounds (like ammonia) from harsh cleaning products. It also has a high transpiration rate that will humidify your air. Plus with a peaceful moniker, you can expect a serene vibe.
2.Tough Guy
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
Foliage : Thick, leathery, and glossy dark green leaves.
Plant : Very foolproof indoor plant. Under the right conditions,
and fairly dry soil, it can reach ceiling height.
and fairly dry soil, it can reach ceiling height.
Benefit : Powerful toxin remover and air purifier. Especially useful in offices where furniture is made from formaldehyde based glues.
3. The Classic
Boston Fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata)
Light : Indirect light and high humidity. Mist once a week.
Benefit : Major pollutants removed are formaldehyde and
xylene. Boston fern, like other air scrubbers, break down the
pollutants in the root’s system (like they would with nutrients)
and turn them into a useable form.
xylene. Boston fern, like other air scrubbers, break down the
pollutants in the root’s system (like they would with nutrients)
and turn them into a useable form.
4. Tropical Treat
Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
Foliage : Feathery, tropical-looking leaves grow upright then
cascade slightly.
Plant : A compact, easy-care palm growing to 3-4 feet
tall, and tolerating crowded roots.
Light : Bright, indirect light with high humidity.
Benefit : NASA gives this clean-air plant a high purifying score.
Parlor palm is stellar at clearing out benzene and trichloro
ethylene, so place it around furniture that could be off-gassing.
5. Dark Devil
Golden Pothos (Epipremnum)
Foliage : Yellow speckled, heart-shaped trailing leaves.
Plant : Add it to your kitchen or living room as a hanging plant.
Light : Cool temperatures and low light.
Benefit : Clears formaldehyde from the air. Also know as devil’s
ivy, it stays green even when kept in the dark—a real
inspiration for improving "dark moods."
6. The Survivor
Sansevieria (Sansvieria trifasciata)
Foliage : Stiff, upright blades slightly variegated with yellow.
Plant : Thriving on neglect, it can reach 4 feet tall.
Light : Moderate to bright exposure.
Benefit : Working at night (while most plants do so during the
day), it absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen, so add
headaches,eye irritation, and respiratory issues. Also increases
overall energy levels.
7. Eight (or More) Legged Friend
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Foliage: Clumps of long, curving leaves send out stems and
at their tips grow miniature "baby" plants that can be repotted
to make more. To protect these offspring, grow as a hanging
plant.
Plant: Resilient, easy to grow, and survives forgetful watering.
Light: Bright, indirect light, and rotate the pot every week
or so to encourage even growth.
Benefit: Effective at fighting pollutants including
benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene. Its
relaxed nature also reduces stress.
8. Numero Uno
English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Foliage : Fast-growing climbing vine with dark green waxy
leaves.
Plant : Incredibly easy to grow and adaptable—try it as a
hanging plant.
Light : Medium direct sunlight (4 or more hours) plus
appreciates an occasional misting.
Benefit : NASA scientists listed this common weed as the
number one plant for clean air. Because it absorbs
formaldehyde like a pro and is proven to reduce airborne mold
by 94%, English ivy reduces fatigue and allergies.
9. The Healer
Aloe Vera
Foliage : Lightly speckled and spiny, fleshy leaves bursting
with a soothing gel.
Plant : An attractive 1-2 foot high succulent that is easy to
keep thriving with extremely fast-draining potting soil.
Light : Grow this medicinal plant in a sunny kitchen window for
quick use.
Benefit : Not only does the gel have healing properties, but
the plant can also monitor a home’s air quality. When
excessive amounts of harmful chemicals like benzene are
present, the plants’ leaves develop brown spots.
10. The Darling
Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
Foliage: It’s all about the multi-petaled, vivid flower colors. Trim stalks to the base when flowers fade.
Plant: A surprisingly easy houseplant.Light: Six hours of direct sunlight every day.
Benefit: Besides being one of the most cheerful houseplants
from cleaning the air, it's great at removing trichloroethylene
(from some dry cleaning) and also good for filtering out
benzene (from some inks). The cheery flowers brighten
any mood.
11. Hardy Garden Mum
Florist’s Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)
Foliage : Its multi petalled bright coloured flowers. Leveas and
flower gives mesmerizing fragrance.
Plant : Popular perennial plant that people like to have in their
home.
Light : This house plant loves medium sunlight and a less amount
of water. Grow in window or in living room area.
of water. Grow in window or in living room area.
Benefit : With the proper care and right type of soil, the
Chrysanthemum morifolium will start to produce lots of beautiful
blooms of various colors. These blooms not only help brighten the
room, they also help cleanse the air of many chemicals that are
common in homes. These include formaldehyde, xylene, ammonia, benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene.
Chrysanthemum morifolium will start to produce lots of beautiful
blooms of various colors. These blooms not only help brighten the
room, they also help cleanse the air of many chemicals that are
common in homes. These include formaldehyde, xylene, ammonia, benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene.
12. Red-Edged Dracaena or Pleomele
Dracaena (Dracaena reflexa)
Foliage & Plant : This plant is an upright evergreen shrub that
produces narrow green, yellow or cream-colored leaves.
Once the plant starts to mature, you may notice small white flowers
start to bloom, shortly followed by small red-orange berries.
Light : keep it in an area with indirect sunlight and keep the soil
slightly moist.
Benefit : According to the NASA Clean Air Study, Dracaena reflexa
is one of the most efficient plants at removing formaldehyde from the
air in your home, as well as other VOCs, including
benzene, trichloroethylene, and xylene. However, keep your pets
away from this plant, as it can be toxic to animals when ingested.
13. Flamingo Lily
Lace Lily (Anthurium andraeanum)
Foliage & Plant : Anthurium is a beautiful evergreen plant that
is most known for its gorgeous flowers.
Light : The hard part about this houseplant, is that it prefers
high-humidity environments. If relative humidity falls below
50%, your plant may start to die. Having a humidifier in your
home is the easiest way to avoid this. You also want to make
sure the soil stays moist at all times.
Benefit : According to the NASA Clean Air Study, the Flamingo
Lily was incredibly effective at removing airborne
formaldehyde, ammonia, toluene and xylene in your home or office.
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