10 Air Purifying Plants For Homes & Offices to Remove Harmful Toxins Finding plants that clean the air could make your lungs healthier and put you in a better mood. People with heart conditions may benefit from using indoor air purifiers, suggests a recent study from China. Here are the top 10 Air Purifying Plants For Homes & Offices to Remove Harmful Toxins Snake Plant Sansevieria trifasciata, also called snake plant, mother-in-law’s tongue or Saint George’s sword (in Brazil) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to tropical West Africa from Nigeria east to the Congo. A wonderful corner plant, the snake plant can thrive without much light or water. It’s also efficient at absorbing carbon dioxide and releases oxygen during the night (while most plants do during the day), therefore one in the bedroom may help you in experience better sleep. Aloe Plant Not only is the aloe plant readily available to soothe sunburns, stings, or cuts, it can also detoxify the body and is great for purifying the air. Aloe can help clear the air of pollutants found in chemical cleaning products. An intriguing aspect, when the amount of harmful chemicals in the air become excessive, the plant’s leaves will display brown spots. English Ivy According to NASA, English Ivy is the number one houseplant to grow indoors due to its incredible air filtering abilities. It is the most effective plant when it comes to absorbing formaldehyde, and is even easy to grow. An adaptable plant, it can be hung and perched on the floor and prefers moderate temperatures and medium sunlight. Peace Lily Plant This beautiful flower is a wonderful low-maintenance plant to keep in the home. Peace lilies do well in shade and cooler temperatures, and they can reduce the levels of a number of toxins in the air. One popular choice for an indoor houseplant is a Peace Lily. It’s a pretty plant even when it’s not blooming, and its flowers are pure white and can be very stunning against the dark green leaves. Peace lilies can help keep your air free of ammonia, formaldehyde, benzene trichloroethylene, xylene and toluene, making it one of the most comprehensive indoor plants you can choose. Poor indoor air quality is a common problem, and taking the simple step of adding an indoor plant like this is one way to clean it up. Peace Lilies seem like they’re designed for indoor living, and can thrive without consistent watering and little sunlight. You’ll want to keep the soil moist, but not to the point of overwatering. It may sound counterintuitive but to encourage flower blooming you may need to move it away from sunlight. Philodendron The heart-shaped philodendron is a popular plant choice for indoor areas, as they’re easy to care for and can grow decorative vines. Similar to the English Ivy, they are particularly good at absorbing formaldehyde. If properly cared for, they can last for many years and grow with your family. The philodendron prefers moderate water and some sunlight. Bamboo Palm An attractive and soothing plant, the bamboo palm also made NASA’s list of top-ten clean air plants with a purifying score of 8.4. The palm is also quite effective at clearing out benzene and trichloroethylene. Well watered and placed in shade or indirect sunlight, they’ll flourish and intensify the peace in your home. Spider Plant Spider plants are easy to grow and are a popular house plant for many. Not only are they decorative, but they’re also on NASA’s list of the best air-purifying plants. Effective at fighting off pollutants (including benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and xylene), they’re a beautiful addition to any home seeking cleaner air. Golden Pothos The pothos is a simple -yet beautiful – plant which also made NASA’s list. It grows best in cool temperatures and in low levels of sunlight. Able to clear formaldehyde from the air, it’s a beneficial plant to have in your living room or as a hanging plant, as the leaves will grow down in cascading vines. Red-Edged Dracaena This vibrant plant can grow to be ceiling height (15 foot dracaenas are common), making it a great plant for decorating and filling up space. It’s beneficial for removing toxins, such as xylene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde from the air. It flourishes in sunlight and will be a welcome addition in your home. Rubber Plant An ant may need high hopes to lift a rubber tree plant, and with the larger ones you may want to enlist the help of a friend to move it to a new location, but it’s worth the effort. There are many different subspecies of rubber plant, and each one will have similar benefits, so you can choose the one that looks best to you. The oxygen output of a rubber plant is higher than most other indoor plants, allowing it to purify more air in less time.
