Which plants purify indoor air

The paint on the walls and the upholstery on the furniture are just some of the other items in a home or office that release volatile organic compounds VOCs , like formaldehyde. Levels of VOCs are typically two to five times higher inside than outside. But, in some cases, when ventilation is bad, or for people who may be highly sensitive, it can make you feel sick.

Although it would take filling your home or office with ridiculously massive amounts of foliage to impact VOC levels, indoor plants can still improve your air quality. Purifying indoor plants reduce levels of CO2 and increase relative humidity. Gubb C, et al. Can houseplants improve indoor air quality by removing CO2 and reducing relative humidity. Beyond improving air quality, foliage just makes people feel better.

Interacting with your indoor plants can reduce stress, for example. Lee M, et al. Interaction with indoor plants may reduce psychological and physiological stress by suppressing autonomic nervous system activity in young adults: a randomized crossover study. Repotting, pruning, or watering your air-purifying indoor plants will do the trick. Raanaas RK, et al. Place a few pots on your desk to boost your workplace happiness.

Each kind has its own favorite environmental conditions, so look for a tag that comes with the plant or search online to find out how much sunlight and water it will need. Popular and inexpensive at garden stores in the fall, mums have beautiful blooms. Display them in a cool spot with less than 10 hours of sunlight. These plants are toxic to pets if eaten, so keep them out of reach. You can plant them outside in spring once the danger of frost is gone. Spider plants are among the easiest air-purifying indoor plants to grow, making them a great choice for beginners or forgetful owners.

Fans of bright, indirect sunlight, spider plants will send out shoots with flowers that eventually grow into baby spider plants or spiderettes. You can place the babies in their own pot of soil while still attached to the mother plant. Then snip them off once rooted. Give them to your friends or increase the plant life around your own space.

Pet owners might want to select a different plant, however, as these are toxic to cats and dogs when consumed. Draceana plants often grow to three feet tall so they require larger pots and more space.

They like to be misted rather than watered. The ficus is a tree in its native lands of southeast Asia and parts of Australia. Grow this low-maintenance beauty in bright, indirect light, and allow the soil to dry out between waterings. As a young man, I can vouch: I am increasingly the gardener. I own seven plants. Of the 6 million Americans who took up gardening in , 5 million were Millennials like me, according to the survey , an annual poll conducted by a nonprofit advocacy group.

Houseplants have much to recommend them. The Sill , an online plant store that communicates its Millennial bona fides through chunky serifs and large splotches of white space, lists plant species by the airborne toxins they are best at removing. Philodendrons filter formaldehyde. Yet interest in this particular plant benefit is not limited to the self-care set. The same question has landed listicles in the patrician This Old House , the nerdy Lifehacker , and a doomsday-prepper blog.

For several years, research really did suggest that houseplants might cleanse the air of certain pollutants. Why the confusion? VOCs are regularly released by common household products such as drywall, house paints, nail polish, shampoo, and almost anything with a scent.

Their harmful effects can range from an itchy throat to nasopharyngeal cancer. Read: Why pop culture links women and killer plants. This means that they can build up in hermetically sealed environments … such as laboratories or spacecraft. The problem for NASA was obvious. So Wolverton, a former military scientist who began his career studying whether plants could break down Agent Orange, now examined whether houseplants could absorb VOCs. His report announced a cheerful answer. Wolverton did not respond to a request for comment.

Chinese evergreens like high humidity, a little regular misting, and getting repotted every few years. In the s, NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America discovered that peace lilies were one of the top three plants for removing common household toxins, even ammonia.

Plant care: Keep soil slightly moist. Peace lilies thrive in most lighting conditions, but too little light can prevent flowers from blooming. Toxic to animals and humans: Despite its calming name, this beautiful plant is toxic to cats, dogs, and children.

In fact, some studies also used air filters in combination with plants. Your favorite potted plant is more than a decoration. Aloe vera can be used to relieve heartburn, keep fruits and vegetables fresh, and much more.

You can use the flowers of Hibiscus plants to make teas and liquid extracts that can be used to promote weight loss and treat upset stomach and cancer.

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Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Benefits of plants Safety concerns Easy plants Extra-care plants More tips Indoor air pollution Living in an energy efficient, modern building can have unintended side effects. Plants to the rescue.

Safety concerns before you buy a plant. Plants that are easy to care for. Share on Pinterest. Plants that need a little extra love. More ways to purify the air in your home.