If you’re considering adding some greenery to your indoor space, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will help you understand some of the best indoor plant options that require minimal care, are resilient, and can even purify the air you breathe.
### Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
Also popularly known as the Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, the snake plant is high on our list of low maintenance indoor plants with air purifying ability. NASA’s Clean Air Study found it to be one of the most efficient plants at filtering out formaldehyde, which is common in cleaning products, toilet paper, tissues, and personal care products. They thrive in low light, can survive irregular watering, and prefer drier conditions.
### Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)
Spider plants are excellent for indoor gardening beginners due to their hardiness and rapid growth. They can tolerate a wide range of conditions and effectively cleanse the air of carbon monoxide, xylene, and formaldehyde. The spider plant thrives in indirect sunlight and demands watering only when the soil is dry. Moreover, their ability to prosper in hanging baskets beautifies your interior design as well.
### Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
Native to Mexico and Central America, the bamboo palm is well-suited to low light conditions and does a great job at filtering formaldehyde. It’s also an excellent humidity regulator. As for the care routine, watering should be moderate — keep the soil moist but not saturated. Proper drainage is essential, and it appreciates an occasional misting to mimic its tropical habitat.
### Rubber Plant (Ficus Elastica)
Rubber plants are known for their large, glossy foliage, but are also great for improving indoor air quality. They can efficiently remove formaldehyde from the air and require minimal light, making them a perfect choice for less lit interiors. While they like constant moisture, be careful not to overwater, and remember, they like their leaves to be kept clean and dust-free.
### English Ivy (Hedera Helix)
Although it is often seen growing wildly on the sides of trees or buildings, English ivy makes an excellent air purifying indoor plant. This fast-growing vine reduces airborne mold and fecal particles, making it ideal for those with allergies and asthma. Just give it plenty of indirect sunlight, keep soil moist and avoid overwatering.
### Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
The peace lily is one of the most visually appealing indoor plants, and the best part is its ability to clean the air. This plant helps in removing benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and ammonia from the air inside homes. Despite its exotic look, it calls for medium to low light conditions and watering when the top inch of soil is dry.
### Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis Miller)
Besides their well-known health benefits, aloe vera plants also function as air purifiers, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. They are easy to care for, requiring bright indirect sunlight and occasional watering once the soil has completely dried. Their succulent leaves retain water, allowing them to withstand periods of drought.
### Areca Palm (Dypsis Lutescens)
The areca palm, also known as the butterfly palm, is another plant that excels in purifying the air. It releases plenty of moisture into the air while removing toxins, making it beneficial in dry winter months or for those with respiratory conditions. It likes bright, indirect sunlight and requires watering when the top soil feels dry.
### Philodendrons
Last but not least, philodendrons are a large plant genus that is known for its air-purifying abilities and easy care routine. They can absorb and eliminate formaldehyde, keeping your indoor air fresh and clean. Most varieties do well with bright, indirect sunlight and watering when the top inch of soil is dry.
While all these plants bring style quotient, clean the air and are quite resilient, they have one more thing in common. They all contain toxic elements, making them unsafe for pets and children when swallowed or touched excessively. Despite this, if cared for properly and placed in appropriate, safe locations, they can significantly enhance your indoor environment by adding a touch of nature and delivering cleaner, fresher air.
Note: Remember, no plants can substitute regular home cleaning and proper ventilation. They act as an auxiliary for improving indoor air quality. To ensure maximum effectiveness, pair these plants with regular home maintenance for a healthier indoor atmosphere.
### References:
– Bill Wolverton, et al. “Interior landscape plants for indoor air pollution abatement.” NASA, Sept.1989.
– Ankita Singh, et al. “Air Purification Ability of Interior Landscape Plants- A Case Study.” Journal of Environmental Research And Development, Oct.2013.
– Wolverton BC, and Wolverton JD. “Plants and soil microorganisms: removal of formaldehyde, xylene, and ammonia from the indoor environment.” Journal of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences, 1993.
