In today’s era, high-rise buildings and industrial factories are springing up like mushrooms. It seems a good sign that the world is firmly developing. But this evolution also comes with its downside – air quality is getting worse. Especially, in modern homes, indoor air quality is alarming. Besides unclean air from outside;furniture, synthetic building materials, and even carpets can contain chemicals that pollute the air.

Since then, we have to face health problems related to breathing such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, etc. We see that trees are the saviors in this situation as they have the ability to reduce air pollution and improve indoor air quality. However, we also need to note that not all plants can filter air. So what plants purify the air? Join us to find the most detailed answer in the article below.

Why We Need Plants for Air Purification

In 1989, NASA announced that plants can absorb dangerous pollutants from the air, especially in small places with minimal airflow. This research came as the foundation of other future research about indoor plants and their potential to purify the atmosphere.

According to Phytoremediation of Air Pollutants: Prospects and Challenges published in 2018, airborne molecules can be absorbed by plants, which helps to rebalance the ecosystem. 

Indoor plants can be thought of as an inexpensive way to lower indoor pollution levels and limit the number of dangerous substances that people are exposed to. Despite having less power than air purifiers, plants are more affordable, therapeutic, and relaxing.

26 Best Air-Purifying Plants

Are all plants air-purifying? Yes, but not all of them are equally effective in cleaning the air. That’s why we have to research carefully to choose the 25 best plants with the ability to filter indoor air below. You can refer to and buy some suitable plants for your family!

Aloe vera

This plant will help us eliminate formaldehyde and benzene – which are present in detergents, floor coatings, and varnishes – from the air.

Snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue

The trees can release large amounts of oxygen and remove formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene from the air.

Broad lady palm

As far as we know, this is one of the few plants that can reduce ammonia in most cleaning products.

Chrysanthemum

Beautiful chrysanthemums have the ability to filter many toxins in the air such as ammonia or benzene

Ivy english

The plant can reduce formaldehyde and benzene. Not only that, according to the Daily Express, it also treats mold effectively.

Spider plant

Spider plants can block toxins including carbon monoxide and xylene – a solvent commonly used in the printing or rubber industries.

Weeping fig

It has the ability to tackle levels of formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene.

Devil’s Ivy (Pothos)

This plant helps absorb harmful substances such as formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene. They even effectively prevent carcinogens.

Peace lily

Carbon monoxide, alcohol, trichloroethylene, acetone, formaldehyde, and benzene are substances that peace lily can absorb from the air.

Chinese Evergreen

They are good at removing formaldehyde and benzene found in detergents or cosmetics.

Pineapple plant

Through photosynthesis, pineapple plants can produce oxygen to help purify the air.

Kimberly queen fern

This fern has an effect in removing toxins from the air, such as alcohol and formaldehyde.

Calathea pinstripe

The plant can provide oxygen and remove toxic impurities. 

Dieffenbachia (dumb canes)

 Its dark green, spreading foliage has the ability to remove toxins from the air, helping us breathe easier.

Crontons

Cotyledon can absorb certain pollutants such as dust

ZZ plant (Zanzibar jewel)

This plant has the effect of removing toxins such as xylene, toluene, and benzene.

Philodendron

This plant has the power to eliminate formaldehyde – a chemical component commonly found in construction materials.

Bamboo palm

The plant is well-known for eliminating formaldehyde from the atmosphere.

Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)

This plan is effective at absorbing and removing formaldehyde.

Areca Palm

Areca palm can remove 2 primary pollutants from the air: xylene and toluene. They exist naturally in items with which people interact regularly such as petroleum, gasoline, nail polish,…

Money plant

This is an ideal natural air filter for the house. It can remove airborne contaminants such as benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and xylene effectively.

Gerbera daisy

We consider gerbera daisies to be one of the best home plants for cleansing the air. It can absorb 67% of benzene, 50% of airborne formaldehyde, and 35% of trichloroethylene in just 24 hours.

Red-edged dracaena or dragon tree

Pollutants, toxins, and carcinogens such as benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene are filtered and removed by this plant.

Bromeliad vriesea vogue

It can assist improve indoor air quality by naturally filtering out contaminants such as formaldehyde and releasing oxygen.

Philodendron heartleaf

This plant is effective in removing formaldehyde from the environment. Furthermore, their big leaves are excellent for filtering dangerous EMF radio radiation in the air.

Flamingo lily (Painter’s-palette)

Most dangerous substances prevalent in our houses, such as formaldehyde, ammonia, toluene, and xylene, are filtered by Flamingo Lilies. You can plant one for every 100 square feet of interior area for the optimum air purifying benefits.

How do plants purify air?

As we know, through the act of photosynthesis, plants can purify the air. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and waste oxygen in the opposite way that we do. This is a unique point that only plants can do. Because no matter how sophisticated an air filtering system is in a house or business, it cannot produce oxygen. So that’s why we need plants for purification.

Not only do they provide oxygen for a healthier environment, but plants also have the ability to absorb many other toxic substances in the family. Elizabeth Palermo of Live Science explains: “Scientists studying the air-purification capacities of indoor plants have found that plants can absorb many other gases in addition to carbon dioxide, including an extensive list of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Benzene (found in some plastics, fabrics, pesticides, and cigarette smoke) and formaldehyde (found in some cosmetics, dish detergent, fabric softener, and carpet cleaners) are examples of common indoor VOCs that plants help eliminate.”

Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement study also proved that plants’ leaves, roots, soil, and related microbes have been studied as a potential technique for lowering indoor air pollution. 

Hazardous gases are drawn from the air by plants and stored in their cells and roots. After that, fungi in the soil break down some of these compounds, while plants store others.

The benefits of getting air-purifying plants

When we bring air-purifying plants into our homes, we allow them to work their wonderful clean air duty. That brings us to 5 benefits below

1. Efficient removal of toxins

Indoor plants can absorb and neutralize harmful chemicals and pollutants, creating a healthier indoor environment for you and your loved family. For instance, plants like the Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) are known to effectively combat pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene.

2. Enhanced respiratory health

Another benefit of getting indoor plants we want to tell you is to improve our respiratory health. By reducing the concentration of airborne contaminants, these green plants can lead to better respiratory health for you. This is particularly beneficial for those of us who may be prone to allergies or asthma. 

3. Increased oxygen in the air

Of course, plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen through photosynthesis, and thereby augmenting oxygen levels in our indoor environment. So we can consider putting the plants in rooms with limited ventilation. Let’s note that the larger the leaves a plant has, the greater the ability to absorb CO2 and release oxygen.

4. Positive impact on our psychological 

When we surround ourselves with indoor plants, we have a positive atmosphere in our lives. They help us reduce stress levels, enhance mood, and promote a sense of calm. Not only that, having greenery around can lead to increased productivity and concentration, making our space a more conducive environment for working.

5. Natural humidification

Last benefit but not least, certain plants release moisture vapor during transpiration and they can act like natural humidifiers. This is particularly valuable to us while living in environments with dry air or during winter months when heating systems can lead to reduced humidity levels. We can mention Boston Fern and Areca Palm, for instance, help us maintain optimal humidity levels for our comfort.

Tips for Keeping Air-Purifying Plants

Research by the Journal of Exposure Science &Environmental Epidemiology has shown that although indoor plants can clean the air, they do it too slowly to make a difference. So we may plant more trees and memorize some tips below to make sure that your plants can grow healthy, from that increase their air cleaning ability.

Knowing separate care regimens for each type of plant

We have to understand the unique needs of each plant in our house. In this way, we can provide the right attention, ensuring they flourish and continue to purify the air for you. For example, the Peace Lily thrives in low to moderate light conditions and prefers to be watered when its soil is slightly dry. On the other hand, the Snake Plant is incredibly low-maintenance, thriving in low light and requiring minimal watering. There are many of caring plant information on the internet that we can refer to make our plants grow strongly.

Regular pruning and repotting

Another tip to nurture our plants is regular pruning. Removing dead or yellow leaves is a good way to promote healthy plant growth. In this way, we help the plant conserve energy and devote resources to more valuable plant parts. Not only that, it also prevents the spread of pathology and provides space for new, healthy leaves to grow. And when they outgrow their current pots, we should put them in large ones to thrive.

Pay attention to pest management

Besides these above tips, we must stay vigilant for signs of pests. This point is crucial in maintaining the health of our plants. Common pests like spider mites or aphids can quickly multiply and cause significant harm if left unchecked. When we spot these signs, it’s important to take swift action. We can choose safe options from natural such as using neem oil or insecticidal soap. These solutions target pests without harming the plants or introducing harmful chemicals into our environment.

Providing a stable environment

Creating a stable environment for our plants involves more than just placing them in a specific spot. It means being mindful of drafts and sudden temperature fluctuations. For instance, avoiding positioning plants near open windows or air conditioning vents can shield them from too strong airflow. By maintaining a consistent and comfortable environment, we allow the plants to focus their energy on thriving and contributing to fresher indoor air.

Considering to fertilization

Nourishing our indoor plants through fertilization is a key aspect of their care. Specially, this is more important with the plants that are hard to care for. That process involves providing essential nutrients that may be lacking in the soil. However, we should carefully follow recommended guidelines because over-fertilizing can lead to an excess of nutrients, which can be harmful to plants.

Conclusion

Growing trees to clean the air is a cost-saving but extremely effective solution. However, it must be added that just like “one swallow doesn’t make a summer”, we cannot plant a small ornamental plant and expect it to have much effect in improving air quality. So we need to consider choosing and planting many types of plants in our homes simultaneously. Besides, we also need to combine many different air quality improvement measures such as regular cleaning, and using an air purifier to bring the most optimal results.
We hope that with all the information we provide, you no longer have to wonder about the question: “What plants purify the air?”.