Best Air Purifying Plants: We don’t have to give you the hard sale of houseplants: they immediately add color, liveliness and a breath of fresh air to your room, regardless of size. Certain greens – ferns, palm trees, and ivy, to name a few – also detoxify the air around you. They are also among the most tolerant and low-maintenance systems, which means that this is the case very hard to kill and they are perfect for novice gardeners.
KatarzynaBialasiewiczGetty Images
How do plants clean air?
Let’s take it back to science lessons: During photosynthesis (you remember that word, don’t you?), Plants convert the carbon dioxide we exhale into fresh oxygen and Remove toxins from the air we breathe. NASA tested this theory in a groundbreaking study from 1989 when it examined how popular houseplants spread toxic chemicals, including:
- Formaldehyde, which can irritate the nose, mouth and throat.
- Benzane, which can cause eye irritation, drowsiness, dizziness, increased heart rate, headache and confusion.
- Trichlorothylene, which can cause dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting.
In the study, they found several uncomplicated plants that filter out the bad things and grow easily indoors.
How many plants do you need to clean a room?
The more plants, the better. To reap the benefits, you should have at least two plants per 100 square feet. Remember that plants with larger leaves – think palm trees – purify the air faster. Bill Wolverton, the man behind the NASA study, also recommends fern and ivy plants because they occupy the largest surface.
Mccallk69Getty Images
1) Kimberly Queen Fern
This easy-to-grow fern thrives in bright, direct sunlight and mild temperatures. It also loves humidity. If the air in your house is rather dry, you should place it next to a small humidifier.
Oscar WongGetty Images
2) Colorful snake plant
This striped green can survive with little water and light. Since it can take weeks without maintenance, it is considered one of the easiest to care for indoor gardeners. Not to mention that it’s a beautiful deep green that will make your room look so lush.
Photographs by Anita AnandGetty Images
3) Barberton Daisy
This colorful plant can grow indoors or outdoors, and many people love it for its happy flowers. Barberton daisies can bloom in any season and each bloom lasts between four and six weeks.
ViorikaGetty Images
4) Weeping fig tree
This large interior tree should be in a well-lit room and watered regularly. Keep in mind that you may need to repot this plant annually as it can grow between 3 and 6 feet tall.
vspn24Getty Images
5) Red-edged Dracaena
With its red, spiky leaves, this evergreen looks tropical and gives every room a touch of color. It can survive with or without sunlight and also requires very little water.
6) Peace Lily
As a symbol of compassion, this bud plant is well suited for partial sunlight and humid climates and blooms for about two months in spring. If you have pets, keep in mind that peace lilies are poisonous to both cats and dogs.
7) Broadleaf Lady Palm
This plant is perfect for indoor and outdoor use and can grow up to 14 feet tall (although it can also be cut back to a more manageable height). Women’s palms prefer indirect light, moist soil and can thrive at almost any temperature.
Clive NicholsGetty Images
8) spider plant
Another great option for novice gardeners: spider plants thrive in bright, indirect sunlight with lots of water. Some mature spider plants produce white flowers that then mature into baby spiders that can be removed and rooted in water or soil.
Veena NairGetty Images
9) Devil’s Ivy
This plant loves indirect sunlight and only needs to be watered when dry. It gets its name from the fact that it is almost impossible to kill and stays green even when it is kept near the dark.
CynoclubGetty Images
10) Flamingo lily
This plant occurs naturally in the rainforest and requires indirect sunlight, humid temperatures, and water to grow. It can bloom all year round and produces stunning red flowers that beautify your space.
dropStockGetty Images
11) Chinese evergreen
With its ability to tolerate little light and drought, the Chinese evergreen is a simple plant for indoor gardeners for beginners. If your plant gets enough sunlight, it can even produce a calla lily-like flower.
sdbowerGetty Images
12) Bamboo palm
If you have space, try a bamboo palm (these trees can grow 4 to 12 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide). Place the palm of your hand in a well-soiled planter in indirect sunlight and water it when the surface feels dry.