Plants fight against pollution and improve your indoor Air quality

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.

Light : Thrives even in dim lighting and cooler climates.

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)

Foliage : Gracefully arching serrated green fronds.

Plant : An easy and popular fern but does appreciate consistently
 moist soil to look its best.

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.

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 

one to your bedroom. Proven to be effective in treating 

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.

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.

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.