10 Best Plants for Air Filtering

Keeping your home a happy and healthy place is your first priority, and that includes your air quality. Not only are houseplants a beautiful way to decorate your home, but they also have natural ways of purifying and cleaning the air.

NASA performed a study on clear air in order to come up with a list of the best plants for cleaner air. These indoor plants help to remove toxins like formaldehyde and benzene in the air, and can reduce sick building syndrome. Here are the 10 best plants for air filtering.

1. Peace Lily

The Peace Lily, also called the Spathiphyllum, is one of the top plants for purifying the air, according to NASA. The plant does a great job at absorbing chemicals like trichloroethylene, formaldehyde and benzene. It grows well in low and bright light and needs to be kept slightly moist.

2. Golden Pothos

Another great plant to have indoors is the golden pothos, also called the epipremnum aureum. This plant is really hard to kill, so it is also ideal for people with a black thumb. It is small, so it can be placed in any small pot. It will get rid of carbon monoxide, toluene, and formaldehyde in the air.

3. Dracaena

The dracaena helps to eliminate several toxins, including xylene, benzene, and formaldehyde. While not a specific type of plant, the dracaena is actually a group of houseplants. They come in many different sizes and colors, therefore the variety you have will have its own growing instructions.

4. Bamboo Palm

The bamboo palm (chamaedorea seifrizii) also helps with the same chemicals in the air as other plants on the list, as well as chloroform. It can also help keep spider mites away if it is kept in a place where air circulates freely in the room. It grows best with an all-purpose liquid fertilizer.

5. English Ivy (hedera helix)

The English ivy is a very popular indoor plant that is actually a climbing plant. It grows very well in containers and hanging baskets with low light environments. It is excellent for cleaning the air of different chemicals, along with removing other allergens like animal dander and mold.

6. Florists’s Chrysanthemum

The florist’s chrysanthemum is another great plant for cleaning the air, according to NASA. They have it ranked well above orchids and anthurium, though people often think those are better. This plant actually has flowers that stay for about six weeks at a time.

7. Rubber plant

To get rid of toxins in the air like formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and trichloroethylene, consider a simple rubber plant (ficus elastic). It grows best in bright, filtered light with a moderate amount of water and monthly fertilizer with a high-nitrogen content.

8. Chinese Evergreen

A tropical option for filtering the air is with a Chinese evergreen. This is a tropical perennial with a lot of leaves that is excellent for removing benzene and formaldehyde. It needs a potting soil that drains well and does good in highly humid environments.

9. Areca Palm

The areca palm is a small tree that originates from Madagascar. It helps to clear the air of carbon monoxide, xylene, benzene and many more toxins. It will grow well in bright filtered light that has some shade during times with the sun is at its hottest.

10. Boston Fern

Lastly, NASA believes the Boston fern is among the best plants for cleaning the air. This exotic plant works as a natural humidifier, not to mention removing formaldehyde and other dangerous toxins.

Aside from choosing these indoor plants, have proper ventilation in your home and get a whole house fan for excellent air circulation.