Just breathe: The 8 best air-purifying plants to spruce up home and health
With the pandemic making wellness for the home as essential as wellness for the mind, it’s no wonder Google searches for plants and gardening jumped threefold last year. “Plants are essential to enhancing quality of life,” says Dr. Charlie Hall, a professor in the department of horticultural sciences at Texas A&M, “and I use ‘essential’ purposefully since COVID has caused us to think about what is deemed essential.” According to Dr. Hall, health benefits from plant interactions range from reduced anxiety to enhanced immunity to improved air quality. In fact, the Clean Air Study from NASA found that more than 25 plants, through the process of photosynthesis, can cleanse the air of toxins like benzene (found in plastics, detergents and tobacco smoke) and formaldehyde (found in paper bags, paper towels and synthetic fabrics). Here, 8 best air-purifying plants that can spruce up home and health.
#1: Peace Lily
Maintenance level: Low. Survives in low or artificial lighting with infrequent watering
Toxins it filters: benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, ammonia, xylene and toluene
#2: Snake Plant
Maintenance level: Low. It can survive a drought, thus not a lot of watering is needed.
Toxins it filters: benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene and toluene
#3: Bamboo Palm
Maintenance level: Medium. It can live in low light, but needs frequent watering.
Toxins it filters: benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene and toluene
#4: Money Plant
Maintenance level: Medium. Thrives in indirect sunlight and watering is infrequent, but roots must not sit in water (choose a pot with drainage holes).
Toxins it filters: benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene and toluene
#5: Dracaena Janet Craig
Maintenance level: Low. Prefers indirect sunlight and infrequent watering.
Toxins it filters: benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene
#6: Areca Palm
Maintenance level: Low. Requires minimal sunlight and little water.
Toxins it filters: formaldehyde, xylene and toluene
#7: Aloe Vera
Maintenance level: Low. Prefers indirect sunlight, and water deeply but infrequently.
Toxins it filters: benzene and formaldehyde
#8: Flamingo Lily
Maintenance level: Medium. Prefers bright indirect sunlight, with daily spritzing.
Toxins it filters: formaldehyde, ammonia, xylene and toluene
About the author: Enid Portuguez is an L.A.-based writer and editor. Her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, InStyle, and The Daily Beast. She is also the Director of Communications and Events at the Writers Guild Foundation.
