How to Purify Your Home Air Quality With Houseplants

Did you know that the air inside your home can be up to 100 times more polluted than the air outdoors? And poor air quality can have a negative impact on our health, including allergies, respiratory issues, and even heart disease. (Of course, all of this becomes an even bigger issue if your home is locked up tight all season — like most Indiana homes during a brutal winter.) Read on for more info on how to purify your home air quality with houseplants.

While there are many ways to increase the air quality in your home, one of the cheapest, most natural and effective methods is to fill your space with houseplants. Specific plants are proven to neutralize mold, dust mites, pollen, pet dander and more. This cost-effective option not only adds some aesthetically pleasing decor to your home, but will purify the air you and your family breathe in each day.

Choosing the right plants for your home is essential. Below, we’ve provided a list of top air cleaning plants and the various toxins they will help remove:

• Aloe Vera — This succulent is known for its medicinal and cosmetic uses and is also an effective air purifier. It’s very easy to grow indoors as it requires little care. This type of plant helps remove formaldehydes.
• Chrysanthemum morifolium – Also known as a “hardy garden mum” or “florist’s daisy,” this flowering plant is praised for its ability to remove benzene, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, ammonia, and other harmful chemicals from the air.
• Peace Lily – This is one of the few plants that will actually bloom indoors. The peace lily aids in removing formaldehyde, benzene and certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by certain cleaning products.
• Golden Pothos – This flowering plant is a popular indoor plant in more temperate regions. Because it is so easy to keep indoors and nearly impossible to kill, it makes for the perfect starter plant that also helps remove formaldehyde from the air.
• Gerbera Daisy – While most plants release oxygen during the day, this flowering plant releases oxygen all throughout the night as well. They are especially helpful for people with breathing disorders or those who suffer from sleep apnea.
• Dracaena – This type of plant includes about 120 species of trees and succulent shrubs, and the most common varieties are known for their air cleaning properties. However, the leaves are toxic to dogs and cats, so pet owners should stay away from this option.
• Ficus – More commonly known as “fig trees,” these popular plants can be found at the local nursery in tree and bush form. An indoor fig tree can grow up to 10 feet and thrives in indirect sunlight. These plants work to remove benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from the air.

After a long winter, the air quality in your home will be at its lowest. The pollutants in your home may not cause immediate health issues, but they may show up years down the road. Liven up your space and create a healthier environment with the use of houseplants.