There is no doubt that with an increasing rate of air pollution worldwide, the instances of health issues are also increasing at an alarming rate. Although clear air is considered as a fundamental right, in cities it is rare to breathe clean air. Purchasing an air purifier for clean air indoors can be considered as a solution, but in many cases, it is not always feasible due to cost constraints.
Benefits of Air Purifying Plants
Thankfully, there is an alternative. There are indoor plants which you can buy which checks air pollution at home. They’re comparatively inexpensive, decorative, as well as eco-friendly. Not only that, but they are also widely-known for cleaning toxins in the air throughout the day.
10 Best Plants That Purify Air At Home in Australia
- Peace Lily – Good for Air Quality
- Aloe Vera Plant – Improve Air Quality In Your Home
- Pothos – Removing all Indoor Air toxins from Air
- Rosemary – Great Plant for Purifying Air
- Spider Plant – Champion Cleanser of Air
- Pineapple Plant – Removing Carbon Dioxide from Air
- Snake Plant – Purifies Air by Absorbing Toxins
- Chrysanthemums – Best Air Purification Plant
- Lady Palm – Top Ranked Air Purifying Plant
- Philodendron – Helping the Clean the Air we Breathe
1) Peace Lily – Good for Air Quality
Also known as Spathiphyllum, peace lilies can be described as an undemanding and easy plant for looking after when placed indoors. With its shiny green leaves, this plant makes a perfect addition in any room, especially where there is low light as this plant does not require much sunlight to thrive.
To promote its growth, you need to fertilize this plant with slow-release fertilizer and give water every week in the spring season. With its glorious white flowers, the plant offers a decorative option for any room in the house. However, the best place in a house for this plant would be the living room, as well as the corridor.
Not only this plant looks good in the house, but it also assists in removing various kinds of toxins such as carbon monoxide, xylene, trichloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde and purify the air inside. This fact has also been validated by NASA Clean Air Study after comprehensive research.
2) Aloe Vera Plant – Improve Air Quality In Your Home
A stemless plant that grows up to 24–39 inches tall, that spreads by offsets, aloe vera is also known as Aloe Indica Royle, A. barbadensis Mill., Indian Aloe, Chinese Aloe is widely known as a medicinal plant that thrives in sunlight. Used in medicines and cosmetics due to its anti-inflammatory properties, aloe vera thrives in sunny light and the best place for it is on the windowsill of the kitchen or any other corner that is well-lit.
As this plant does not require frequent watering, it is a perfect plant for newbies in the gardening. By growing brown spots on green leaves, the plant also offers a warning related to extreme pollution in the air.
According to various studies, the plants purify various toxins present in the indoor air, that is, benzene, and formaldehyde, found in various household items such as floor finishes, detergents, and varnishes. One thing that should be kept in mind is to place this plant out of the way, to avoid pricking in the fingers.
3) Pothos – Removing all Indoor Air toxins from Air
Described as an evergreen vine that grows up to 66 ft tall, Pothos or Devil’s Ivy climbs through aerial roots that adhere to surface, Although the leaves are heart-shaped, alternate on the juvenile plants, but are irregularly pinnatifid on the mature plants.
Native to tropical and sub-tropical forests, this houseplant is also known by various names such as golden pothos, Epipremnum aureum, Ceylon Creeper, hunter’s robe, money plant, marble plant, and so on. The plant requires little sunlight to thrive and can be placed in any room, in pots, basket, and water.
It is easy to grow, and with its cascading tendrils and glossy leaves in various shades, this indoor plant adds instant colour to the room. Further, according to the NASA’s clean air study, not only this houseplant is a decorative addition to the house, but it also purifies the air and removes household toxins such as trichloroethylene, benzene, xylene, and formaldehyde.
4) Rosemary – Great Plant for Purifying Air
Widely known as Salvia Rosmarinus, rosemary is a perennial and woody herb with evergreen fragrant plant with colourful, blue, purple, white, and pink flowers that is native to the Mediterranean region of the world.
Known to housewives as herb and food ingredient, rosemary is not only an essential item used in cooking or tea, according to NASA Clean Air Study, it is also known as an indoor plant that is used for purification of toxic air. An evergreen plant with needle-like leaves, rosemary remains a popular houseplant that can be kept inside anywhere during the winter season.
These plants purify indoor air by breathing carbon dioxide and exhaling oxygen, as well as some essential oils where it is placed and spreads pleasant aroma around the room. This houseplant does not require much maintenance, so it is a highly suitable plant for newbie gardeners. Further, it is also a decorative addition in the home. In addition to that, the regular use of Rosemary improves cognitive function and protect the human brain from free radicals.
5) Spider Plant – Champion Cleanser of Air
For a newbie gardener, the spider plant or Chlorophytum comosum due to its resilience remains the perfect choice for houseplant as this plant takes care of itself. This plant is also known by many other names such as ribbon plant, spider ivy, aeroplane plant, and St. Bernard lily spider and is native to southern and tropical Africa.
This houseplant remains a perfect choice for a household with pets as it is non-toxic for animals. They thrive in indirect sunlight and retains the ability to survive in any condition. It is very easy to grow them as the plant shoots out small shoots of baby spider plants known as spiderettes, and are easy to decorate the interiors of a room with greenery.
According to NASA Clean Air Study, the plant quietly removes various contaminate in indoor air such as formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, and xylene, a solvent used in rubber and printing industries.
6) Pineapple Plant – Removing Carbon Dioxide from Air
The pineapple plant can be described as a herbaceous perennial, with a stocky, short step with waxy and tough leaves. This plant is native to South America and is currently grown all over the world. Also known by its technical name, Ananas comosus, the pineapple plant is primarily cultivated for its fruit.
But it can also serve as a houseplant as it craves indirect sunlight, requires little maintenance, and can be placed anywhere in the house, but the preference should be given to the living room. Although according to NASA clean air study, does not remove any kind of toxin from the air, it produces oxygen in excessive amount and boosts the quality of air during the night and that, in turn, improves the quality of the sleep and put an end to snoring. Placed as decoration in living and bedroom, these plants require low maintenance as well as water. However, it is necessary to protect them from the cold in winter.
7) Snake Plant – Purifies Air by Absorbing Toxins
Described as a perennial, evergreen plant that forms dense stands, and spreads through its creeping rhizome, the snake plant is also known though various names, such as, Mother-In-Law’s Tongue, viper’s bowstring hemp, Saint George’s sword, and Sansevieria trifasciata. This plant is native to Congo and tropical West Africa.
As this houseplant is low maintenance, the user can place it anywhere in the house, but the preference should be given to window sills and bedroom. When compared to other similar plants, the snake plant is unique as it produces oxygen during the night, while other plants produce oxygen during the day.
According to the study conducted by NASA, this plant purifies the air with the removal of various toxins such as toluene, xylene, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, and benzene. As this plant releases oxygen at night, placing it in the bedroom enables the owner to breathe better when sleeping. According to the study, for one person, 6 to 8 waist-level plants should be placed in a home.
8) Chrysanthemums – Best Air Purification Plant
Described as subshrubs, or herbaceous perennial plants with alternative leaves divided into leaflets with smooth and toothed edges, Chrysanthemum taxa or Chrysanthemum morifolium remain a complex head of the flower and is native of East Asia, especially, China. The care of this plant is very easy and it likes good airflow, warm water, and bright indirect sunlight.
As these flowers love sunlight very much, the best place to keep this shrub remains near the window. In addition to that, the owner can keep this plant near the kitchen window or the living room. Also known as mums or disbuds, not only they can be included in a floral arrangement for decoration, but it is also used for purifying the air in the room.
Some toxins that can be removed through this flowering plant include ammonia, benzene, xylene, and formaldehyde. According to the NASA Clean Air Study, Chrysanthemums remains one of the highest air-purifiers plants that are very popular with the people.
9) Lady Palm – Top Ranked Air Purifying Plant
Although many plants work as air purifiers inside, as well as outside home, only a few, clean air pollutants such as ammonia. As ammonia is an ingredient in a cleaning product, it is found in every home, as well as other premises. Also known as Rhapis excelsa, bamboo palm or broadleaf lady palm is one of such plants.
Native to Taiwan and Southern China, the plant is mainly cultivated and is not found in the wild. When purchasing this plant for home, the owner should select a small as the full-grown plant is expensive.
This plant helps with clearing air pollutants such as xylene, and formaldehyde in addition to ammonia. This plant loves humidity and requires a lot of water and indirect sunlight, so the owner can place it at the entrance, living room, or preferably, in the bathroom. In this way, this plant can be used decoration, as well as cleaning the air inside the home.
10) Philodendron – Helping the Clean the Air we Breathe
Described as an evergreen climber vine with heart-shaped glossy leaves with white flower, the philodendron or philodendron hederaceum or heartleaf philodendron remains a popular houseplant all over the world. Native to the Caribbean and Central America, this houseplant has gained the award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
As these plants like indirect, bright sunlight and moderate water, they are easy to look after the owner purchase it and decorate it inside the house. The plants are easy to transplant and grow anywhere. The best place to keep them in indoor space includes kitchen windows, living rooms, and bathrooms.
However, the leaves of Philodendron are toxic to animals such as mice and rats. In addition to that, it is considered toxic to cats. Thus, the owners with pets need to take care of. Not only this plant functions as a decorative asset, but it also assists in purifying air from toxins such as formaldehyde.
Conclusion
It’s a common misconception that the air inside your home is not at all polluted, as opposed to the outside air. Some common indoor pollutants include household cleaners, insect repellents, chemicals released from paints, as well as vehicular smoke from the road which enters your house.
To remove these toxic pollutants from the air, instead of using expensive air fresheners, you should opt for the abovementioned indoor plants. Not only they offer more greenery and make the atmosphere eco-friendly, they often decorate rooms better than others. Thus, not only they have a functional value with the removal of toxic pollutants, but they also have a considerable decorative value from the standpoint of accentuating of your premises.
