In the modern age there seems to be endless sources of pollutants surrounding us and in all of our environments, including the home. Nature has done a wonderful job of adapting to pull some of these pollutants from the environment, further cleaning the air that we breathe and making plants perfect to keep around the house. NASA has performed several studies testing which plants absorb what pollutants from the air and exploring the other benefits they may offer. There are three common household toxins: benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene; that act as carcinogens and are found in many synthetic substance and materials. often being off-gassed from new materials. The good news is that plants have been found to do an excellent job of removing these from the air!
My Top 5 Favorite Clean Air Plants
- Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata): a low maintenance plant that can tolerate low light conditions and absorbs nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde (we had several of these plants in our gross anatomy lab)
- Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum): another low maintenance plant that can produce offshoots so you can have several of these plants absorbing formaldehyde and carbon monoxide
- Peace lily (Spathiphyllum sp):
- Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata Bostoniensis): absorbs formaldehyde
- Gerber diasy (Gerbera sp or Gerbera jamesonii): a beautiful flowering plant that absorbs benzene and produces oxygen at night
It is recommended to have one 10-12 inch potted plant per 100 sq foot in the home to have the most impact on reducing pollutants in the air. It is also important to know what each plant needs to thrive, including proper lighting, water, temperature, fertilizer, and any safety concerns around children or animals. In addition to contributing to cleanse the air we breathe, plants also have the added benefit of providing indoor green space which has been noted to improve mental health.