Plants can make you physically and mentally feel better. Studies conducted by NASA and the ACLA have shown that placing greenery in your home and office spaces can improve perceived quality of life while purifying the air.
NASA has found that greenery in the home plays a vital role in removing trace amounts of chemicals from the air. Plants clean the air by filtering and absorbing harmful chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene and convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. They also are natural humidifiers and add more moisture into the air for the skin and sinuses. It is recommended to place one plant per 100 square feet of indoor space to receive the maximum benefits.
While having any type of plant or flower in your home can add tranquility and happiness, there are certain varieties that are more effective in treating pollutants, while being easy to grown indoors. Find them listed below.
What a breath of fresh air!
Hedra Helix English Ivy (Common Ivy) – All Varieties
English ivy is a rambunctious grower that is lovely in a hanging basket. Place in bright light, but avoid intense, direct light. English Ivy prefers an evenly moist environment, so make sure to keep it consistently moist!
Sanseveria (Snake Plant) – All Varieties
A nearly indestructible plant. Place in moderately bright or filtered light. A north-facing window or in front of a bright, sunny window somewhat covered are excellent locations. Sansevieria can also be planted outdoors in Zones 10B through 11, but often times we see them turning very yellow and sick looking when people do so. Let the soil surface feel dry to the touch in between waterings.
Spathiphyllum ‘Peace Lily’
These are mainly shade-loving plants and in the home they prefer light to moderate shade. They thrive in high humidity, so never allow the soil to dry out.
Chlorophytum ‘Green Spider Plant’
One of the easier and more rewarding indoor plants you can grow. Spider plants need bright light to keep their stripes. Do not over water; water only when soil is dry. A great plant for the bathroom. The 70s are back!
Pachira ‘Money Tree’
These plants do best when they are in full-sun or partial shade. Money plants require infrequent watering and are sought to bring good luck to their owners. We all need one.
Dracaena – All Varieties
Choose a bright area in your home to keep your dracaena, while avoiding direct intense light. Water when soil becomes dry. These guys can withstand neglect, so it’s the perfect option if you travel frequently.
Epipremnum Pothos – All Varieties
One of the easiest home or office plants to grow. It has an obvious trailing/climbing habit and usually comes in a marble variety or s solid green variety. Moderate light is best for Pothos. They can tolerate dark spots, but the “vines” tend to loose their leaves in some spots. Avoid overwatering these plants; more water will be needed in the summer and less in the winter. The soil should dry out in between waterings.
Aglaonema ‘Chinese Evergreen’
One of the best plants on the “clean air” plant list! Chinese Evergreens love lower-light conditions and hate being placed in direct sun, as their leaves tend to burn. Allow for the soil to stay consistently moist. When the top 30% of the soil becomes dry, (or when you stick your finger down about an inch and it is dry) then it is time to water. When the plant gets too dry, yellow leaves will develop.
Dypsis lutescens ‘Areca Palm’
Another super effective “clean air” plant. These bold, attractive, relatively easy-to-care for plants love indirect sunlight and dark, shady areas should be avoided. Areca Palms are tropical plants and therefore are used to having daily showers, so keeping the soil consistently damp is an important part of care.
Ficus elastic ‘Rubber Tree’
Another beauty that accepts low light, but prefers a nice bright spot. One of the most common mistakes one can make is overwatering rubber trees. Water only once the soil becomes dry to touch.
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