One of the most amazing qualities of indoor plants is their air-purifying ability. However, most people miss out on these air-purifying indoor plants as they don’t have much knowledge about them. Therefore, to help you get familiar with this ability of indoor plants and to provide you with information on plants that clean air we brought this article.
We frequently neglect to consider the importance of indoor air quality in our living spaces. Indoor air can contain five times as much pollution as outdoor air. Since most people spend 90% of their time inside, it is essential to our health and well-being that the air we breathe at home is clean.
With the help of these amazing air-purifying indoor plants, you can improve the air quality of your indoor space and even increase the overall appeal of your indoor garden. So without any further ado let’s explore these plants.
What Is Indoor Air Pollution?
Just like the air outside, indoor air can also get polluted due to many reasons. Numerous things can lead to indoor air pollution. Ammonia, formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are examples of common indoor contaminants.
These dangerous materials might come from commonplace home furnishings, paints, and cleaning supplies. Long-term exposure to indoor air pollution can cause allergies, respiratory disorders, and even chronic diseases.
Therefore, incorporating these air-purifying indoor plants is necessary to prevent inhaling polluted air and getting dangerous diseases.
How Air-Purifying Indoor Plants Work?
Plants use a well-known process called photosynthesis to purify the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Another way that plants take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide is through respiration. As the primary device used by plants for absorption and filtration processes, the stomata allow air to enter and exit the plant through photosynthesis and respiration.
Airborne molecules can be absorbed by plants, which helps to rebalance the ecosystem. Furthermore, carbon dioxide, carbonyl, particulate matter, organic compounds, nitrates, sulfates, ammonia, calcium, ozone, and carbonate are among the contaminants that plants may remove from the air. One inexpensive way to lower the amounts of indoor pollutants is to add indoor plants.
There is compelling evidence from the NASA Clean Air Study that certain indoor plants can greatly enhance the quality of the air. Through their leaves and roots, plants absorb contaminants from the air, and some even can decompose dangerous substances.
Furthermore, plants improve indoor air quality by releasing oxygen and increasing humidity. In addition to purifying the air, plants can improve your mood, lower stress, and improve the aesthetics of your house.
Top 7 Air-Purifying Indoor Plants
Here are some of the best plants that clean air –
Snake Plant
These air-purifying indoor plants have an unmatchable air-purifying quality. Known for their striking sword-like dark green leaves. These indoor plants are super hardy and can thrive with almost no care. Snake plants can easily get rid of harmful toxins from the air. Even recognized by NASA for their air-purification quality these shade-tolerant plants that clean air can be a great addition to any indoor space.
Aglaonema
Also known as the Chinese Evergreen Plant, these air-purifying indoor plants are known for their beautiful foliage. The leaves of the Aglaonema Plant are cherished for their unique patterns and vibrant colors. Moreover, the Aglaonema plant care is also very easy and these plants are recommended for beginners. The air-purifying quality of these plants is really remarkable, also these shade-tolerant plants can survive in low-light conditions.
English Ivy
These fast-growing indoor plants are known for their trailing ability. English Ivy can easily spread under the right conditions and would look best in hanging baskets. These plants are very easy to grow and care for, however, to control their growth you need to prune them regularly. Moreover, these air-purifying indoor plants are well-known for making indoor air, free from various toxins.
Peace Lily
Known for their beautiful white blooms, these indoor-flowering plants can easily brighten any indoor garden setup, Peace lilies are low-maintenance plants and even are shade-tolerant. However, these plants can benefit from bright and indirect sunlight as it helps them to produce healthy blooms. Just like their name these plants that clean air can also help boost mood and relieve stress.
Aloe Vera
These succulent plants are cherished for their unique foliage and medicinal properties. The gel produced by Aloe Vera is used to treat many skin conditions such as wounds, scars, burns, and more. As these plants are succulents, they are super hardy and even drought-tolerant. These air-purifying indoor plants are able to remove harmful toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene easily.
Spider Plant
The cascading foliage of these beautiful air-purifying indoor plants can create an accent in any indoor setup. Under the right conditions, Spider plants can also produce attractive small flowers. The plant propagation of these plants is also very easy. Spider plants are very hardy and can purify indoor air effectively.
Pothos
One of the most common indoor plants, Pothos, can be grown in either soil or water making them very low-maintenance plants. Pothos are trailing plants and can look really well on top of shelves or in hanging baskets. These air-purifying indoor plants also earned great marks along with the Snake plants in the study conducted by NASA.
How To Care For Air-Purifying Indoor Plants?
Caring for air-purifying indoor plants is very easy, though, these plants don’t require much maintenance, but you still need to cater to their basic needs such as –
- Sunlight – Most indoor plants can benefit from bright and indirect light. However, these plants are also shade-tolerant and can survive in low-light conditions.
- Water – While watering these plants make sure you don’t overwater. Keep the soil moist and not water-logged to prevent root rot.
- Soil – You can use any nutrient-rich and well-draining soil suited for indoor plants. Make sure that the soil is not too acidic or basic.
- Fertilizers – Many indoor plants can benefit from occasional fertilizing. Use a balanced and water-soluble fertilizer for your plants.
To Know More About Indoor Plant Care and More Unique Indoor Plants To Grow, Download The Plantora App Today.
Concluding
An easy and efficient method to enhance indoor air quality and create a healthier living space is to add air-purifying plants to your house. Either the graceful Peace Lily or the hardy Snake Plant has special advantages of its own. Start small, try out a few different species, and take advantage of all the benefits these eco-friendly friends have to offer.
Raghav is a talented content writer with a passion to create informative and interesting articles. With a degree in English Literature, Raghav possesses an inquisitive mind and a thirst for learning. Raghav is a fact enthusiast who loves to unearth fascinating facts from a wide range of subjects. He firmly believes that learning is a lifelong journey and he is constantly seeking opportunities to increase his knowledge and discover new facts. So make sure to check out Raghav’s work for a wonderful reading.