7 Best Air Purifying Plants for Healthy Living

We have created a list of natural air-purifiers – air-purifying indoor plants that can do wonders for the air you breathe.

We will first explain what is going on in the air and why it needs purifying and give you solutions to fix it.

The Problem

It is very well known that plants produce oxygen and in that way improve the quality of the air you breathe.

But did you know that plants, some better than others, can purify the air from dust, germs, and other airborne pollutants like chemicals and toxins?

In a modern household, these pollutants are inevitable, and due to the electronics, AC, the chemicals you use for cleaning, perfumes, deodorants, and many other items people use every day you can never get rid of them by just airing the rooms.

Add to that air pollution that is a product of factories and many, many cars on the street, you can see that even airing the rooms regularly will not make much of a difference regarding the air quality in your household.

The Solution

There are quite a few things you can do.

You can stop using all the harmful products, you can purchase another electronic device (i.e. an air-purifier), you can move to the countryside where there are fewer pollutants, or you can get yourself some plants.

It is the cheapest, the prettiest, and the most practical thing you can do.

And here are the best indoor plants for clean air.

7 Best Air Purifying Plants

1. English Ivy

The first on our list of air-filtering plants is the English Ivy.

It is a vine and it is very common outdoors but it is also one of the best indoor plants for purifying the air.

This one will help combat carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and others.

It has also proven to be a good addition to fighting mold.

Those are the reasons that make it one of the most powerful natural air purifiers you can own.

It is easy to care for as well – it can grow in bright indirect light or low-light conditions.

Place it in a bathroom with no natural light and help eliminate the smells, mold-causing moisture, and toxic chemicals coming from the detergents and cleaning products.

Pay attention if you have pets though.

Ingesting English Ivy foliage can cause issues like vomiting.

2. Boston Fern

Another plant among the best plants for air purifying is the Boston fern.

It clears out xylene and formaldehyde (formaldehyde is the biggest indoor pollutant).

Moreover, Boston Fern is a charming-looking plant with fronds in the shape of a sword and delicate foliage.

It will thrive in a humid environment and indirect light, but will also do good in low light which is what makes it great for an already humid bathroom.

3. Chrysanthemum

If you are an experienced plant carer, chrysanthemum can be a perfect plant to help purify the air.

It requires more care than other plants on this list regarding watering, lightning, and fertilization.

As one of the air-filtering plants, it helps fight toxins like formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, and most of all – ammonia.

It is a flowering plant and does its best work filtering the air of harmful materials when it is in bloom.

The catch is, it only produces flowers for six weeks.

Another thing to pay attention to is its toxicity for pets.

4. Weeping Fig

Ficus Benjamina, or Weeping Fig, is one of the most popular air-purifying indoor plants.

It can grow up to ten feet tall which is why it requires to be placed in a spacious room.

In addition to that, it really does not like to be moved so pick a spot to allocate to it, and be sure that it gets a lot of indirect light. Water it weekly allowing the oil to dry completely between watering.

Aside from being a wonderful focal point in your room, it will help clear out chemicals like toluene, xylene, benzene, or formaldehyde.

5. Barberton Daisy

It is surprising that such a delicate flower -Barberton Daisy – is so powerful when it comes to purifying the air.

Still, it is one of the best indoor plants to clean air from harmful pollutants.

Toxins like formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and benzene will no longer be an issue for your home.

Some of them can be found in synthetic fibers, as well as paint, detergent, and cosmetics.

Barberton Daisy has red, pink, yellow, or orange flowers that bloom from August to December.

They need a lot of indirect light and will add a bit of color to the Fall and early Winter seasons.

6. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is a triple threat (or a triple blessing) to have in your household.

It looks nice, it has powerful healing properties, and can be used in various ways as a beauty or health ingredient, and it is one of those plants that purify the air.

It is most effective with pollutants such as formaldehyde and benzene. They can be found in detergents and various varnishes used in the home.

When it has filtered out the harmful chemicals it will “tell” you by its edges turning brown.

Care tip: For Aloe to be healthy and give its best, place it where there is a lot of natural light – i.e. your kitchen window. Do not worry too much about watering, it can go without water for days.

7. Chinese Evergreen

Since it filters out mostly chemicals(formaldehyde and xylene among others) that can be found in cosmetics and detergents and prefers a hot and humid environment it is one of the best air-purifying plants to keep in your bathroom.

If you put it somewhere else, you might have to adjust the humidity and mist the foliage regularly.

Chinese evergreen is a plant that has green leaves with pink, white, or light green patterns all over them.

This is why many people like to have it in their households.

In addition, it cleans the air of chemicals that are inevitable in any regular household.