10 Houseplants That Can Purify the Air in Your House
This is a short but very interesting article on how you can easily purify and improve the air quality in your home. It is 100% natural, low maintenance and brightens up your room too. Most of the plants listed here do not require much water, which is a bonus for people who are always busy.
Please take a good read as I believe it will benefit a lot of people. With cleaner air, we are able to live a healthier and better life.
Tsem Rinpoche
10 Best Houseplants for Improving the Air Quality in Your Home
Who doesn’t love houseplants? Something about crisp, green, growing leaves seems to brighten up any room. But did you know that houseplants can elevate mood, enhance creativity, promote wellness, and according to studies by NASA, Associated Landscape Contractors of America, and the American Society for Horticultural Science, they also purify indoor air?
Our modern day homes are rife with pollutants that can cause a host of health problems. Chemicals from furniture, floor coverings, paints, detergents, air fresheners, and household cleaners can hover inside poorly ventilated homes, as well as those with good airflow. Fortunately, there are many houseplants that will filter these chemicals and clean air naturally, as well as brighten up your living space.
Below is a list of the best houseplants for cleaning the toxins out of the air in your home.
1. English Ivy
This charming evergreen vine grows happily in low or indirect light conditions. The leaves are poisonous, so keep them away from pets and kids. Fortunately, English Ivy enjoys containers and hanging baskets, and brightens up shelves and dark corners beautifully. Studies have shown that English Ivy is effective at removing benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, as well as other allergens such as mold and airborne fecal matter. Hang one near your pet’s litterbox, or in the bathroom.
2. Peace Lily
The beautiful broad green leaves and cupped white blooms of the peace lily is a favorite in the NASA study for removing the three most common pollutants: formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. Peace lilies will thrive and flower in bright light. They can handle lowlight conditions, though they may not produce blooms. Keep the foliage and flowers clear of dust to maximize their detoxifying power. The plant is poisonous as well, so keep it out of reach of kids and pets.
3. Bamboo Palm
This sturdy palm can grow tall, between 3 to 6 feet, and is an elegant plant in any room. It’s effective at removing the formaldehyde often used in furniture, so arrange it next to chairs, couches, and end tables, in indirect light. During drier winter months, the bamboo palm can also add a bit of welcome moisture to the air.
4. Ficus
Ficus is a tropical looking evergreen with twisting roots and bright green, shiny leaves. It’s effective at removing pollutants from furniture and carpets, though it can be a bit temperamental to grow. Keep the leaves clear of dust and water moderately.
5. Dracaena
The sword shaped leaves of the Dracena plant can come in a variety of colors and variations, and can easily reach ceiling height when cared for properly. This plant is best for ridding the air of chemicals found in lacquers, varnishes, and gasoline. Also known as a Corn Plant, the Dracena is a dramatic, but fairly easy plant to maintain.
6. Chrysanthemum
You’re probably already familiar with these colorful flowers. Mums are popular in bouquets, but as a potted plant, they are excellent at filtering out chemicals found in glues, paints, detergents, and plastics. Chrysanthemums love bright light, and add a gorgeous pop of color to any room.
7. Golden Pothos
Pothos are excellent for filtering out formaldehyde and stays green, even if kept in the dark, which makes it ideal for basements and garages. A proficient grower, Pothos is great in containers and hanging pots where its trailing vines can tumble over the pot’s edge.
8. Snake Plant
A common, if not slightly offensive, nickname for this blade-like plant is mother-in-law’s-tongue. It’s awesome at filtering out chemicals found in toilet paper, tissues, and other toiletry products. It enjoys low light and humid conditions, which makes it ideal for bathrooms.
9. Spider Plant
Often considered a gift plant, since the Spider Plant produces runners with ‘babies’ that can easily be transplanted. Spider Plants filter out chemicals emitted from leather and rubber. This resilient plant takes very little maintenance, and can get by happily without water. It will tell you it’s thirsty when the green of the long, skinny, striped leaves fade. A little water will perk it right back up!
10. Aloe
Aloe is an excellent low maintenance plant for sunny locations. It’s great at removing chemicals from paints and chemical cleaning products, and the gel inside the succulent spiked leaves can be used to relieve cuts and burns. Aloe is a slow grower, but it can get quite large.
The recommended rule of thumb is one potted houseplant every 100 square feet, but you really can’t have too many houseplants for good air quality. Here’s a list of even more air cleaning plants. Display plants in groups to maximize their filtering power and create a lovely aesthetic. And then…breathe easy!
Source: http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/10-best-houseplants-for-improving-the-air-quality-in-your-home/
For more interesting information:
- Prevent Snakes in Your Backyard
- Scientists Have Discovered That Living Near Trees Is Good For Your Health
- Improving Your Air the Natural Way
- 31 Plants That Repel Mosquitoes
- Organic Farm at KFR
- Vetiver – for holding the earth
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It is good to know that house plant can purify the air in our house,elevate mode and promote wellness too.Some of the plant also look good as a decorative item.
Most importantly the recommended list of plant here are not difficult to maintain and easy to take care.Thank you very much for sharing the good write up about benefits of the indoor plants.
Firstly I would like to thanks Tsem Rinpoche for sharing the wonderful article which have a great benefit. Simple steps and with low maintenance we can purify air and keep our environment green and healthy. Most of the plants are commonly grow and easy to get within our surrounding home.
All the plants which was suggested has its own benefit to improve the air quality and also plays an important role in all living. Besides helping to purify the environment air it also can influence the mood. Some of the plants need extra care has it was poisonous but had great value. I had some good tips over this article and hope to share with my friends and family.
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Yes absolutely love plants in the house and all these multi purpose plants that can do so much for the environment.
谢谢仁波切的分享。
原来那么多种植物不只是可以美化、绿化我们家里的环境， 同时间还可以减少一些有害的物质。
现在身在城市中的我们都生活在钢骨水泥森林中， 没有什么机会可以呼吸到新鲜空气。 看过这篇文章的不妨可以试试看在家里种植一些植物， 美化自己的家里。
谢谢
This really a nice article about house plants! My mum is actually looking forward to have plants around the house. And this article is a very good suggestion. Love the benefits of Aloe Vera. Thank you Rinpoche for this article.
With so much air pollution, it’s good to know that we have natural air purifiers that are even more effective in filtering harmful chemicals than the machines. I have a spider plant in my office and it’s growing very well despite the lack of sun.
Plants lighten up a room and make it more inviting. When there are plants nearby, I feel more relaxed and calm. Imagine the effects of living in an environment surrounded by trees and lots of plants. It’s definitely much healthier for the body and mind.
Thank you Rinpoche for your kind sharing on the benefits of certain house plants to purify the air in our homes.I was rather surprised that my wife actually have quite a few of the mentioned plants grown in pots kept at our dive way.
We should consider to rotate the plants into our home to purify the air indoors .But we should not neglect the needs of the plants to have sufficient sunlight and nutrients to grow healthy ,in order for it to function efficiently.
Some of these plants though stated here to thrive in low light, really will not do well indoors. The bamboo plant for one really need uv light. It will just look tortured indoors loosing foliage and turn a sickly yellow and dry. These plants needs to be rotated out to the sun every other week.
But plants are always a welcome addition in any room in the house. The sight of them really freshens without even mentioning the amount of oxygen it brings. But then again, plants will only contribute oxygen if there is photosynthesis.
But I guess, for the filtering ability of the plants, it’ll be great to have these plants in the house even if we have to rotate them out to the sun to keep them healthy.
Thank you for the information on the filtering ability of these plants. Nowadays, with all the pollutants in the air, every little bit helps.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this information. When I was a kid, I used to help my parents to plant some of the plant that Rinpoche mentioned. Like bamboo palm, aloe, spider plant, snake plant, and golden pothos. Some of them are still in the garden now 🙂 But during that time I didn’t know the benefit of these plants yet. As a kid that time, I only knew planting a plant, seeing their colour and waiting for it to grow, gave me another kind of happiness. As age goes by, it seems I have forgotten I used to like planting before. I think I must get some to put in my house, one to purify the air in my house, in the same time, to bring back my childhood memory 🙂
Thank you again Rinpoche for sharing. _/\_
Thank you Rinpoche for this educational and informative blogpost.
These indoor house plants, are just what is needed to filter out the toxin in the air. At the same time, they may release some much needed oxygen. From the potted palm to the hanging plants like the English Ivy, they are elegant looking and great for decor. At the same time they are soothing to the eye. They will generally promote health and wellness, and even elevate one’s mood, and lend a touch of nature to the scene. It’s most relaxing to just look at them. Having the colorful chrysanthemum as a houseplant will truly brighten up the indoor scene and make it look rather festive .
Yes, there are many benefits to be derived from having these houseplants around.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing these useful tips. These plants depicted are common in Malaysia so it’s easy to grow them. Many busy people nowadays opt for the evergreen fake ones which need no maintenance other than the occasional dusting. But they are fake and I feel they just don’t breathe life into the internal environment. Nothing beats the real thing and it’s always a joy to see the plants thrive and bloom. So pleasing to the senses. They are also important to the ecosystem in that they absorb our waste carbon dioxide and release oxygen, which is what we need, so they are natural air purifiers. They say the colour green relaxes the eyes, so it’s good to look up from our hours on the computer and stare at the green plants (the further away the better) to reduce eye strain.
House plants are the perfect natural decoration for our home. We derive the many benefits from the photosynthesis process by the plants; plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen where we need oxygen but release carbon dioxide. This same process enriches the humidity of the air and indirectly cleanse the quality of the air. The color of the plants is a natural antidote to tired eyesight and it also brighten up the indoor space. Most importantly, the recommended list of plants here are not difficult to maintain. We should embellish our house with these beneficial plants and then, sit back and relax. Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
This is a very useful information for those who want to have good air quality in their home with the plants that do not require much water.
Thank you Rinpoche for this wonderful sharing.
Thank you Rinpoche for this informative article. I really didn’t know that the plants that we always see in most houses serves the various purpose of cleaning the air quality. I really feel like getting one for my home now too 😉
With folded palms,
Vivian
It;s time to opt for natural ways to cleanse our air – by planting more plants that are able to absord harmful agents in the air. For me, golden pothos and aloe are easy to plant. I have tried to plant ivy for many times but unsuccessful..hihi. This blog just like a cave of treasure, provides everything from spiritual, Buddhism knowledge, teachnology and science, paranormal and natural remedies, even parenting tips. Thank you 🙂
Thank you for the sharing , interesting info about home plant.
This is an interesting articles. I didn’t know that some of these plants can purify chemicals in the air.
It is always good to have some plants in the house to purify the air. Some of the plants above are also good as a decorative item and easy to take care. Good to put some small pots in the office too.
Very nice article! I absolutely love having plants indoors, even if they’re fake! But of course having a real living plant is the best as some of these indoor plants are capable of purifying the air naturally, rather than using air purifiers.
Here’s a picture I found online that shows you the types of plants (on top of the above 10 plants) which you can plant indoor (home or offices). As mentioned above, they are low maintenance and they need very little sunlight to survive, which is a must if they’re going to be indoors!
I love the Peace Lily, they are so beautiful hehe.
Dracaena, Spider plant and Aloe. Are the ones I use in the home. Very easy to maintain, all three don’t require regular watering. The aloe is good for releasing oxygen into the air of a bedroom and is so versitile for bug bites, and burns. If I had to add three more to this list I’d recommend Lavender, Rosemary, & Lipstick plant.
Interesting article..to know there’s house plant that can purify the air in our house and can elevate mood, enhance creativity, promote wellness too.I did not know all these till i read this article.Aloe ,snake plant spider plant, Dracena plant and so forth are excellent at filtering out chemicals.I planted .aloe but only know it relieve cuts and burns …now i know more.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing these interesting and informative article with us.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the benefits of the indoor plants.
The natures’ will enhance the creativity. The most beneficial is to help to purify the air from the environment.
I always do recommend to my clients who are working in hairdressers, do more houseplant in their working station because the plants will help to purify the chemicals from their indoor.
It is more benefits to their lungs and customers feel is more relax and cozy with the plants environment.
Thank you.