Adding one plant per 100 square feet of your home not only fills your space with calming natural beauty, it will help you breathe easier as well.
All plants act as living air cleaners though some do a better job of it than others.
Philodendrons and the similar looking Pothos both do a fabulous job of removing common household toxins such as formaldehyde, benzene and thrichlorethylene and they are easy care as well.
Aloe Vera does a great job of purifying the air and as an added bonus the gel inside its succulent leaves soothes cuts and burns. Win, win!
The Peace Lily has leaves and white blooms that are as beautiful as its name. It also does a stellar job of cleaning the air in your home and is easy to care for.
The snake plant is another easy-care staple found in the houseplant section of most any garden store and is a wonderful addition to your home. It is especially suited for bedrooms since it absorbs carbon dioxide by day and releases oxygen by night…the opposite of most plants.
The spider plant does such an efficient job of cleaning the air NASA recommends it as one of the best purifying plants you can grow. I say if it is good enough for NASA it is good enough for my space! Benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene are just some of the chemicals the spider plant will happily scrub out of your air.
While the aforementioned plants are rock stars at purifying the air, all plants will absorb toxins. Choose house plants that appeal to you and you can’t go too far wrong.*
*If you share your home with curious pets or small children be sure to choose plants that aren’t poisonous if ingested.
*Make sure your home has adequate ventilation. If you have a jungle of plants there is a risk that humidity levels could rise high enough to to create conditions for mold spores to flourish. If moisture starts to build up on your windows or walls you may need to invest in a dehumidifier or limit the amount of plants in your space.
Garden Trivia 