The Best Air Purifying Plants To Add To Your Home

by John Griffith
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Sometimes even our homes can also be a source of air pollution. This may be because we live in a polluted city, near a busy street, or a factory. Either way, there are plenty of toxic particles in such air that you don’t want to breathe in. Even if you keep your house spanking clean, there are still chemicals and dust particles floating around. Some more dangerous than others. But instead of throwing a ton of money on expensive machines to purify the air, you can opt out for beautiful plants. Bring life into your home that not only looks pretty, but also does a great job at keeping the air clean. Some scientists suggest that adding effective air purifying plants to your home can help clear and detoxify the air. So, let’s take a look at what flora we should try to have in our living space.

Invest in air purifying plants 

air purifying plants four plants in white pots

Best Air Purifying Plants

Having indoor air purifying plants is a great solution if you’re worried about air pollution and rising CO2 levels. They add a nice colorful, fresh touch to your living space, and they get the job done. Plant’s also help boost moods, productivity levels and better sleep quality! However, keep in mind that if you have a furry friend at home, it’s best to check beforehand if the plant is pet-friendly.

Plants add a nice colorful, fresh touch to your living space

plants on a shelf at home

Spider Plant

Spider plants are amazing. They are one of the easiest plants to grow and maintain. Not only that, but they are champions when it comes to getting rid of toxins within the air. So, if you’re not great at keeping your plants alive, but want some greenery to help purify the air and look cool, this plant is the one for you. All they need is some indirect sunlight and a bit of water.

Spider plants are easy to maintain

spider plant sitting on a desk

Pineapple Plant

According to scientist at NASA, pineapple plants are incredible for producing oxygen and boosting the quality of air. Consequently, this may improve sleep quality. And, just like the spider plant, you don’t need to be a remarkable gardener to keep it alive. Pineapple plants are super hardy. They even require very little water. However, keep in mind that they don’t do well in the cold.

You can grow your own pineapple plant at home

plants that clean the air pine apple plant in white pot

English Ivy

Another easy growing plant. This vine is very effective when it comes to reducing any airborne fecal particles. This makes it amazing for purifying the air in the bathroom or the kitty litter. Not only that, but some studies suggest that English ivy also combats mold. This beautiful plant needs around four hours of sunlight and a good amount of water. While you may have seen it crawling on walls outside, this plant also enjoys being in a plant and actually prefers if it’s crowded.

This vine is very effective when it comes to reducing any airborne fecal particles

plants for clean air english ivy in white pot

Weeping Fig

This ficus is native to the southeast parts of Asia. These plants can grow super tall, so they will need a big pot. There are great at removing particles such as formaldehyde and xylene, which are two chemicals you wouldn’t want to have in your air. Keep this plant in bright, direct sunlight and make sure to water it weekly. It’s best if you let it dry out completely in between watering.

Weeping figs can grow super tall, so they will need a big pot

weeping fig plant in big pot

Flamingo Lily

If you want to add some color to your collection of air purifying plants, make sure to add the flamingo lily. This beautiful plant has a bright red, pink color and is great if you are a plant beginner. It does wonder for the air, and it’s easy to take care of. Just make sure to keep it in bright, indirect sunlight and to water it one to two times per week. This plant also does fine in humid rooms, such as the bathroom.

This beautiful plant has a bright red, pink color

red flamingo lily in a marble white pot

Gerbera Daisy

These beautiful flowers were one of NASA’s highly rated air purifiers. Just having them in your house for a day can improve the quality of the air significantly. It removes all kinds of particles such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. Benzene is known as a strong carcinogen that suppresses bone marrow.  There are plenty of colors to choose from, and they are generally easy to take care of. Just place them somewhere they can get enough natural light and keep the soil well-drained, but moist.

These beautiful flowers were one of NASA’s highly rated air purifiers

colorful gerbera daisies in a field

Snake Plant

Another great plant for a good night’s sleep and clean air. Plus, it looks super cool. Snake plant is also called as Mother-in-Law’s tongue and is a succulent. This plant releases clean oxygen primarily at night and is amazing at filtering harmful toxins out of the air. Just like the weeping fig, this plant also grows tall and is quite low maintenance to look after. All you really need to mind is to not overwater it and to keep it in a sunny spot for a couple of hours a day.

Snake plant is also known as Mother-in-Law’s tongue and is a succulent.

toxin cleaning plants snake plant in big white standing pot

Aloe Vera

Ah, what isn’t aloe vera good for?! It has astounding anti-inflammatory benefits, it’s great for acne, incredible at healing burn and repairing wound. And as you guessed it, it’s also a champion when it comes to purifying air. All this green plant needs is a nice sunny and warm spot to sit, and it will thrive. If you notice any brown spots on the leaves, it means that there is an extreme amount of chemicals in the air.

Aloe vera has many amazing properties and benefits 

two hands holding pots of aloe vera plant

Devil’s Ivy

This type of Ivy also carries the name photos. It’s super easy to grow, adds some delightful color to the room, and it’s great at managing common household toxins. What more could you want from a plant? It also does well in hanging baskets, pots, and even in just water! They can basically thrive pretty much anywhere. However, they do like their sunny spots. You can also put this plant in the bathroom as it’s fine with moisture. Devil’s ivy is a great choice if you want cleaner air, but aren’t the best with handling plants.

Devil’s ivy is easy to grow and it’s great at managing common household toxins

devils ivy and photos indoors

Heartleaf Philodendron

Oh, what a beauty. The heart-shaped, glossy green leaves of this plant are a stunning addition to any plant owner’s collection. They only need indirect sunlight and need to be watered every one to two weeks. It’s best if you let the soil dry out in between watering. If you decide to put this plant in a sunnier spot, keep in mind that it will need more water. However, this beautiful air purifying plant is toxic to pets, so it’s best to skip this one if you have furry friends at home.

This heart-shaped, glossy green leaved plant is a great addition to any plant owner’s collection

heartleaf philodendron on a wooden stool

Florist’s Daisy

This colorful flora has many names – pot mum, florist’s mum and so on. This beautiful daisy is thought to be one of the best plants when it comes to purifying air at home according to NASA. You can easily find this flower at most flower shops, and it requires just some love to thrive. Leave it in a sunny spot for around four hours a day and make sure to water them regularly.

This colorful flora has many names and comes in many colors

air purifying plants pink chrysanthemum in a bunch

Clivia

If you want to bring some color into your home, then this is the plant for you. And they are super tough to kill, so if you are a plant newbie, don’t worry. The clivia is amazing at keeping the air nice and clean, it also brings  the most beautiful red and orange blooms to your home. Keep this plant in a pleasant bright spot of indirect sunlight, as if you leave it straight into the sun it may burn.

Clivia is super tough to kill

clear air toxins red and orange clivia plant

Bromeliad

This colorful, fun-shaped plant is great for purifying the air. And bonus, it’s also safe for pets! The bromeliad last really long, so you’ll always have a pop of color. This plant loves moisture and also does great in humid environments. Just make sure this little plant also has some water but isn’t too soggy and keep it in a bright place of indirect light.

This colorful, fun-shaped plant is great for purifying the air

scarlet red bromeliad blooms

Those were just some air purifying plants you can add to your home. There are plenty of cool plants you can pick from based on what you prefer. However, you may need quite a bunch of them in order to truly improve air quality. According to NASA, you will need at least ten plants per square foot of the space. And while that may seem like a lot, when you take into account all the amazing health benefits you get plus the beautiful aesthetics, it’s easy to see why it’s worth investing.

According to NASA, you will need at least ten plants per square foot of the space

two orange chairs in front of a wall of plants

John Griffith

John Griffith is a young, passionate journalist. Writing has been John’s hobby ever since he was a boy. He has worked in some of the UK’s most successful news portals over the course of his professional career but found his forever home at Archzine.