Air Purifying Plants for Your Home

They are beautiful, they are special to some, they complete a room! Flowers and House Plants are now part of our decor and life, they add that special finish and give a room an earthy feel. And then to seal the deal,we are taught that plants & flowers use carbon monoxide and give off oxygen but let it not come as a surprise to you that some of these cuties in your homes actually do the reverse. 

Personally am a bit into the whole green thing but have since replaced some of my plants with the more obeying artificial versions! Any how, if you are a plant person, or can at least water it for a month or two, you will be interested to know that there are those plants that go beyond the basic use of carbon monoxide and go on to purify the air around by absorbing or 'destroying' toxins. And that right there is our interest today; Air purifying plants, interesting, right? We give little or no notice to these plants and yet they could as well save us a trip to the pharmacy or GP.

 

Refer to my last article titled How About a Breath of Fresh Air at Home  that outlines ways air in our homes is easily contaminated.

 

Below is a break down of some of the flowers and plants that purify air around them; keep this nearby because it may may come in handy the next time you choose to go house-plant or flower shopping

Areca Palm
 With the highest score for air filtering capability, this is the no.1 air purifying plant! Replace your electric humidifier with this gorgeous palm and you will immediately get moist air and a toxins-free home or office.

 

Peace Lilly

If you don’t have enough light in the room, Peace Lilly is the most suitable plant. All you have to do is water it on a weekly basis and keep it out of the reach of pets as it is poisonous. Peace Lilly is a year round bloomer which makes it even more attractive; i removes carcinogen found in paints, furniture wax, and polishes.








Red-edged Dracaena
For a sunny spot that you want to fill up choose this vibrant Dracaena. It has the ability to remove xylene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde from the air. It is a low maintenance plant so it makes the perfect choice for your all the single people out there or the workaholic and will start purifying the air the moment you bring it into your space!








Snake Plant




Commonly known as snake plant, this sharp leafed plant is one of the best choices for lowering carbon dioxide at night. Simply put it in your bedroom say near you bedside and get your oxygen boost while you sleep. It doesn’t need light and it is very easy to keep. Just a pre-caution – it is toxic to dogs and cats.









Golden Pothos

This is one of the easiest plants to grow and as it’s leaves grow in cascading wines it is perfect for your kitchen or living room as hanging plants. They are placed high on the NASA list of air purifying plants as they have the ability to remove formaldehyde from the air.









Aloe Vera 




We all know the medicinal use of this amazing succulent, but it also clears the air of  formaldehyde and benzene commonly found in chemical-based cleaners, paints etc. When there are too many chemicals in the air. it’s leaves will start showing brown spots. It is easy to grow, just place it in a sunny spot like your kitchen window for example and enjoy the fresh clean air.










 Pot Mum 
 
Chrysanthemum , popularly known as Mum, is one of the few flowering plants that have purifying quality and this one has a really strong one! It filters out benzene, which is commonly found in glue, paint, plastics and detergent. 'Mums' love the sun so you must place them near a window or sure source of sunlight. Direct sunlight encourages the blooming of this bright, colorful plant. The only disadvantage again, it too is  poisonous to pets.

Rubber Plant

Rubber Plant
Powerful air purifier and toxin eliminator, the rubber tree is the easiest indoor plant to grow. It can grow perfectly without any light and in cooler climates. We can easily say this is the plant that asks the least and gives the most. It is the fourth plant on the NASA list of air filtering plants.









Weeping Fig

Ficus Benjamina is another fig that has strong air filtering ability. It removes pollutants like formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene. Opposite to the rubber tree, the weeping fig is a little trickier to maintain. Don’t worry though –  once you find the right (sunny) place and the perfect watering regime you will have a healthy and beautiful indoor plant.

Azalea

Azalea
The beautiful Rhododendron is not famous just of it’s blooms but also of it’s ability to fight formaldehyde. Azaleas prefer cooler spaces so if your interior is too hot, try placing them in the brightest spot of the coolest place say your basement. Remember to keep the soil moist and remove dried flowers for a healthy and flowering azalea.

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