Including houseplants in your home decor has excellent benefits. Some of those benefits include increased mood and productivity, reduced stress and fatigue, and enhanced concentration and memory. However, did you know that houseplants can also absorb harmful toxins and purify your indoor air? Plants are actually a part of what NASA calls “nature’s life support system.”
According to the NASA Clean Air Study, adding potted plants to a room has actually been shown to reduce harmful air particles such as trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, and ammonia. In this article, I’ll be sharing 9 houseplants that can help purify the air in your home.
How to Purify Your Indoor Air
Please Note: Some of the plants on this list are toxic to cats, dogs, and other pets. If you are a pet owner, please check the toxicity of the plants listed below before introducing them into your home.
Plant Must-Haves:
1. Boston Fern
Filters: Formaldehyde and Xylene
- Light: Indirect sunlight
- Water: Keep soil moist
- Soil: Peat moss potting soil mixes
View image of Boston Fern.
2. Flamingo Lily
Filters: Formaldehyde, Xylene, and Ammonia
- Light: Bright indirect
- Water: Keep lightly moist
- Soil: Well-draining soil
View image of Flamingo Lily.
3. Weeping Fig
Filters: Formaldehyde and Xylene
- Light: Bright light that’s partially shaded
- Water: Allow the compost to dry on top between each watering
- Soil: Fast-draining soil
View image of Weeping Fig.
4. Florist’s Chrysanthemum
Filters: Trichloroethylene, Formaldehyde, Benzene, Xylene, and Ammonia
- Light: Bright light; keep out of hot direct sun
- Water: Keep soil moist
- Soil: Peat moss based potting mix
View image of Florist’s Chrysanthemum.
5. Variegated Snake Plant
Filters: Trichloroethylene, Formaldehyde, Benzene, and Xylene
- Light: Indirect sunlight
- Water: Allow to dry between waterings
- Soil: Free draining soil
View image of Variegated Snake Plant.
6. Spider Plant
Filters: Formaldehyde and Xylene
- Light: Nicely lit room without direct sunlight
- Water: Water frequently in spring and summer. Water less in winter.
- Soil: Any good potting mix
View image of Spider Plant.
7. English Ivy
Filters: Trichloroethylene, Formaldehyde, Benzene, and Xylene
- Light: Partial shade
- Water: Water only when top soil begins to feel dry
- Soil: All-purpose potting soil
View image of English Ivy.
8. Devils Ivy
Filters: Formaldehyde, Benzene, and Xylene
- Light: Partial shade
- Water: Water only when first quarter inch of soil feels dry
- Soil: Pot mixture used for cactus plants that drains well
View image of Devils Ivy.
9. Barberton Daisy
Filters: Formaldehyde, Ammonia, and Xylene
- Light: Direct sunlight
- Water: Keep moist at all times
- Soil: Peat-based potting mix
View image of Barberton Daisy.
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