Houseplants to Clean the Air

Photograph by Paul Gellatly

Photograph by Paul Gellatly

It is common knowledge that plants can add beauty and life to any room in your home.  There are a number of plants that not only look beautiful... but also work to clean the air in your home or office.  Many of the plants that I will mention in today's blog have been mentioned in previous blogs.  I have put together a list of plants that are all known to create cleaner air and produce oxygen... in addition to being beautiful.

Photo by Paul Gellatly

NASA concluded in a 1989 NASA Clean Air Study, that it is good to have 15-18 plants in a 1800 sq/ft home, to clean the air in your home properly. Basically one plant for every 100 sq/ft.

I guess having over 200 houseplants not only keeps me busy... but also keeps me healthy!

Growing houseplants may seem like a bit of a task at times, but when they improve the air we breathe, and fill our homes with beauty..., it seems worth the effort.  People often come into my condo, look at all the plants and comment on how much work it must be.  I'm the first to admit the number of plants that I have IS a lot of work; but it is definitely worth it.

Photograph by Paul Gellatly

Plants are well known to absorb carbon dioxide, and release oxygen; in addition to this, they also remove significant amounts of benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.  ( I have no clue what some of these are... BUT i'm glad to know I have fewer of them in the air I breathe!)

Photo by Paul Gellatly

Although I'm sure most plants clean the air to some extent, below is a list of 20+ plants that are proven to clean the air, and keep you healthy in your home.  Why spend a money on an air filter when you can do it naturally with plants?

Photograph by Paul Gellatly

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Boston Fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata bostoniensis)
English Ivy (Hedera Helix)
Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)
Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis)
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)
Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Photo by Paul Gellatly

Dracaena
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum Sp.)

Photo by Paul Gellatly

Rubber Plant (Ficus robusta)
Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera Sp.)
Orchid Phalaenopsis
Chrysanthemum
Philodendron
Schefflera (Brassaia actinophylla)
Ficus (Ficus benjamina)
Most Varieites of Palms
Bromeliad Sp.
Peperomia

Take this list down to a local garden centre and pick out some plants that will not only look beautiful, but also give you peace of mind and cleaner air.

Photograph by Kelly Butts