The idea of bringing the outdoors in, especially with plants that actively "clean" our air, has always held a special appeal for plant enthusiasts. As more time is spent indoors, the quality of our indoor air becomes an increasingly important topic. The concept of houseplants purifying the air is a fascinating one, and while popular belief often overstates their solo superpowers, there's a compelling truth to their contribution to a healthier indoor environment. Let's delve into what air-purifying houseplants truly offer and how to maximize their benefits in your home.
The Buzz About "Air-Purifying" Plants: What Does It Really Mean?
The popular notion of houseplants as powerful air purifiers largely stems from a groundbreaking 1989 NASA study. This research, performed in a sealed chamber, demonstrated that certain plants could effectively remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air. These VOCs are common indoor pollutants released from everyday items like paints, furniture, cleaning products, and even clothing.
NASA continues to study plants and their air-scrubbing abilities with the hopes of improving air quality on long-duration space missions. Image from NASA Technology Transfer Program.
While the NASA study was incredibly insightful, it's crucial to understand the context. A sealed chamber is a very different environment from a typical home. In a real-world setting, the air exchange rates are much higher, and the volume of air is significantly larger. This means that while plants do absorb some VOCs and produce oxygen, a few houseplants alone aren't going to replace a robust ventilation system or eliminate all indoor air pollution.
Think of it this way: a houseplant is more like a tiny, living air filter, constantly working on a small scale. Their real power comes from their consistent, subtle contribution to air quality and, perhaps more significantly, their profound impact on overall well-being.
Beyond Purification: The Broader Benefits of Indoor Plants
Even if a single houseplant isn't a magical air scrubber for an entire room, their presence offers undeniable advantages that contribute to a healthier living space. The Royal Horticultural Society published an article on houseplants for human health (an interesting read!), but here are a few reasons house plants are good for us:
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Humidity Boost: Plants release water vapor through a process called transpiration, which can naturally increase indoor humidity levels. This is particularly beneficial in dry climates or during winter months when heating systems can strip moisture from the air, helping with dry skin, sore throats, and even static electricity.
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Oxygen Production: Through photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, contributing to fresher air. While the amount from a few plants is small, it's a continuous, natural process.
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Stress Reduction and Well-being: Studies consistently show that being around plants can reduce stress, improve mood, increase focus, and even lower blood pressure. The act of caring for plants itself can be a meditative and grounding experience.
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Aesthetic Appeal: Simply put, plants make a space feel alive, vibrant, and inviting. Their natural beauty enhances decor and creates a calming atmosphere.
Top Houseplants Often Cited for Air Quality
While "air-purifying" capabilities are often a bonus rather than their sole superpower, these plants are excellent choices for any indoor garden due to their resilience, beauty, and general positive impact on a living space. You’ll find many of these plants below on our beginner-friendly plants list making them easy to care for and incorporate into your home.
Top houseplants cited to help clean air include:
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Snake Plant: Renowned for its hardiness and striking upright leaves. Often cited for removing benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and xylene. These plants are incredibly tolerant of neglect and low light, making them perfect for beginners or busy plant parents.
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Boston Fern: A lush and verdant fern, celebrated for its ability to remove formaldehyde and xylene. This plant thrives in high humidity and indirect light, requiring regular watering to maintain its vibrant fronds.
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Pothos: A versatile vining plant known for its cascading foliage. Believed to help filter formaldehyde, xylene, and benzene. Pothos adapts to various light conditions and is very forgiving of watering inconsistencies, making it a staple in many homes.
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Spider Plant: Famous for its "spiderettes" that dangle from the parent plant. Commonly listed for filtering formaldehyde and xylene. Spider plants are easy to care for, propagate readily, and are known to be non-toxic to pets, adding to their appeal.
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Peace Lily: Elegant plants with dark green leaves and distinctive white "flowers". Often cited for removing ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. Peace lilies are also excellent at signaling when they need water, making them good communicators for attentive plant parents.
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Dracaena: This diverse group of plants, including varieties like 'Red-Edged' (Dracaena marginata) or 'Corn Plant' (Dracaena fragrans), is effective at removing formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene. Dracaenas generally prefer bright, indirect light and moist soil.
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English Ivy: A classic vining plant highly effective at removing formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, and toluene. It thrives in moderate light and prefers consistently moist soil, making it excellent for hanging baskets or trailing over shelves.
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Weeping Fig: An elegant tree-like plant with delicate, drooping branches. It effectively removes formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. The weeping fig prefers bright, indirect light and regular watering, becoming a sophisticated focal point in larger spaces.
Maximizing Your Plants' Potential with the Right Light
A struggling plant will not contribute effectively to a home's atmosphere. For areas where natural light is scarce, incorporating a high-quality grow light can significantly support plant health, and as a result—your health.
For instance, plants like pothos, spider plants, or english ivy thriving on shelves, end tables, or countertops can benefit from focused illumination provided by the Versa™ Tabletop Grow Light. Larger plants such as the weeping fig or snake plant can receive ample light from an Aspect™ Grow Light with Stello™ Pendant Stand Set, which positions the freestanding light above taller plants. For comprehensive lighting across an entire indoor jungle or multiple plant setups, the Highland™ LED Track Light System offers flexible and powerful illumination.
When plants are thriving under the right light, their natural processes, including gas exchange and transpiration, are optimized, contributing more effectively to the vitality of the indoor environment.
FAQ: Houseplants for Air Quality
How many houseplants are needed to effectively clean the air in a typical room?
While research shows plants can absorb indoor pollutants, the number of plants required to significantly impact air quality in a standard home setting is often impractical. Studies conducted in sealed environments, like the NASA clean air study, used a much higher density of plants per cubic foot than is typical in a home. For noticeable air purification, a very large number of plants would be necessary. However, even a few plants still offer benefits like oxygen production and increased humidity.
What types of indoor air pollutants do plants help remove?
Houseplants have been shown to absorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde (found in plywood, foam insulation), benzene (in plastics, fabrics, pesticides), trichloroethylene (in inks, paints, varnishes), xylene (in printing, rubber, leather), and ammonia (in cleaning products).
Do all houseplants clean the air, or are some better than others?
While all plants perform photosynthesis (absorbing CO2 and releasing O2), some species are more effective at absorbing specific VOCs than others, as identified in various studies. Plants with larger leaf surface areas may also have a greater capacity for gas exchange. The plants listed in this blog post are among those most commonly cited for their air-purifying potential.
Can soil microbes in potted plants contribute to air purification?
Yes, interestingly, research suggests that the microbes living in the potting mix, particularly those associated with the plant's root system, can also play a role in breaking down certain airborne toxins, adding another layer to the plant's air-cleaning capabilities.
Besides plants, what are other effective ways to improve indoor air quality?
To significantly improve indoor air quality, plants should be part of a broader strategy. Other effective methods include: ensuring adequate ventilation (opening windows, using exhaust fans), reducing sources of pollutants (using low-VOC products, avoiding harsh chemicals), regularly cleaning and vacuuming, using high-efficiency air filters (HEPA filters) in HVAC systems or air purifiers, and controlling indoor humidity levels.
Do plants release pollutants at night when they're not photosynthesizing?
At night, plants primarily engage in respiration, where they absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide, similar to humans. While they won't be actively absorbing pollutants via photosynthesis during these hours, the amount of CO2 they release is typically very small and does not pose a health risk in a well-ventilated room. Their overall net effect over a 24-hour cycle remains beneficial.
Houseplants for a Healthier Home
While houseplants are a wonderful addition to any home for countless reasons, it's about their subtle influence and the overall positive impact they have on our living environments and well-being. By selecting the right houseplants you can create a living, breathing space that helps to clean air—and look great doing it.
Want some help selecting plants for your home? Check out our Plant Guide →
