Five Air-Purifying Plants to Keep You and Your Home Healthy

By Olivia Manthey

Having live plants in your home isn’t just for the older generation. Plants are the all-around perfect home decor item, and not only are they cute, but they also help improve the quality of air in your home! What is better than a multifunctional decoration? And before you decide it’s too much commitment, check out this list of plants for everyone. If you have a black thumb, and forget to water your plants, try the popular pothos. If you have cats or dogs that eat everything in sight, try the snake plant. Keep your home healthier in this time of sickness with these five air-purifying plants!

 

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Snake Plant Laurentii

The snake plant is super simple to grow! They flourish in medium to bright indirect light, yet low indirect light works as well. The more light, the more it will grow. Be sure to water every two to three weeks; this allows the soil to dry between waterings. The snake plant is the ideal plant to keep in your bedroom. This succulent releases oxygen at night, which helps you to breathe better while you’re sleeping. The Snake Plant is one of the best plants for filtering the air of benzene, trichloroethylene, toluene, formaldehyde, and xylene. It is also one of the many plants safe for pets!

 

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Plant Facts:

• • You can boil the leaves to make medicine to help pain and irritation when applied directly to your skin. Just don’t eat it!
  • Do not overwater! The roots are prone to rotting when the soil is too moist.

Lemon Button Fern

The Lemon Button Fern is cuter than a button! Its little leaves make it the smallest of the fern family. Ferns are great for removing airborne pollutants like xylene, formaldehyde, and toluene, which are thought to be the cause of headaches, difficulty breathing, and the increase of cancerous cells. The Lemon Button Fern grows about a foot in height and prospers in full shade to indirect light. Your Lemon Button Fern needs regular watering to maintain consistently moist soil.

 

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Plant Facts:

• A lemony smell is often released when the leaves are crushed.
• The Lemon Buttons Fern fights winter dryness by raising indoor moisture.

Pothos

Pothos, sometimes called devil’s ivy, is one of the easiest of all houseplants to grow. It is an excellent choice for beginners, even if you’re one who forgets to water your plants. This fast-growing, trailing vine has heart-shaped green leaves, which sometimes vary with white, yellow, or pale green streaks. While pothos likes bright, indirect light, it can thrive in areas that don’t get a lot of sunlight or have only fluorescent lighting. Therefore, it is an excellent plant for offices and dorm rooms. Water your pothos every one to two weeks, allowing the soil to dry between waterings. Pet owners, be wary; all parts of the pothos plant are poisonous if consumed. Just be on alert if you have animals who might be curious about it!

 

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Plant Facts:

• This plant can be propagated in water, so it’s like getting multiple plants for the price of one!

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is an all-around useful plant. Its gel-like inside is known for its healing features, from soothing sunburnt skin as well as soothing kitchen burns! The healing aloe plant is a lovely addition to your kitchen windowsill, as it loves a sunny spot. This succulent will be purifying the air of formaldehyde and benzene found in varnishes, floor wax, and cleaning detergents. Aloe has resilience and tolerance for those forgetful waterers. To keep your aloe vera growing and thriving, try planting it in a terra cotta clay pot with well-drained dirt.

 

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Plant Facts:

• Aloe lowers inflammation from acne.
• This plant can be propagated in water!

Philodendrons

The philodendron is a fan favorite, with its heart-shaped leaves and its easy-going nature. Its quick-growing, trailing vines thrive in medium indirect light but can tolerate low indirect light. Water every one to two weeks, letting soil to dry between waterings. Providing plenty of warmth, bright light, and moisture will enhance its growth! Philodendrons are generally easy to grow—plus they filter the air of formaldehyde and xylene, toxins found in glues and leathers.

 

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Plant Facts:

• This plant can be propagated in water!
• The philodendron leaves and stems are toxic to both humans and pets when eaten.

Plant Lovers’ Bonus:
The Sill is a great website that offers you a multitude of plant varieties that can be ordered and delivered right to your door! Choose from pet-friendly plants, air-purifying plants, plants for beginners, and more. Under the descriptions of the plants are a summary of the species, plant care information, and even a bio. Once you find your perfect plants (because let’s be honest, you can’t stop at just one), you can also customize the pots they ship in to your liking! The Sill also has a blog for all things plants to help you keep your new “pets” as healthy as possible! Healthy plants, healthy life!

 

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