Some of you may have heard at some point that house plants are good for your health because they can clean, filter but also purify the air of various toxins and pollutants.
Whereas a lot of us know that this has been validated by various scientific studies, only a bunch of us really know which plant is the best and what for...
With the official arrival of Spring, I thought it might be great if I list my top 5 which are located in various parts of my house. Main area is the kitchen/dining room where we spend the most of our time. For the most part, the plants below are easy to care for, nice to have around and will help you breathe easier at night (if you decide to put them in the bedrooms - like the English Ivy which I have in every single bedroom, including the bathroom! ;)
There are many other plants that can help to improve indoor air quality too. I will post a little bit later in the year why did I choose to also have indoor two Jasmine plants, Moth Orchid and various succulents indoor too, so stay tuned!...
Here is my top 5 of air purifying plants:
1. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis)
My top rated plant. I have at least 5 pots of those at home... Not only can it be used for burns and eczema on the skin, it is also known to remove formaldehyde from the air.
2. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata Bostoniensis)
Boston fern is easy to grow and maintain, as long as they stay well hydrated. With a full foliage of green leafy stems, the Boston fern is well equipped to filter the air in your home, taking out chemicals such as xylene and formaldehyde.
3. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum sp.)
Peace Lilies are excellent at filtering indoor air and topped the list from NASA’s Clean Air Study for removing all of the most common Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene. It can also combat toluene, xylene and ammonia according to further research by Wolverton. When compiling the research by NASA and Wolverton, Peace lilies seem to be the only plant to remove all toxins tested. That is just one of the reasons why I love peace lilies so much and always advise people to get at least of those at home!
4. English Ivy (Hedere Helix)
This popular houseplant can be highly effective for filtering benzene, formaldehyde, and other toxins from the air. As an added advantage, there is also evidence that English ivy may reduce the amount of mold found in a home. Although this climbing ivy is often used for outdoor landscaping (and can be relatively invasive if not in a pot!), it can make an effective and visually-pleasing indoor plant as well. With a steady indoor temperature, generous watering, and direct sunlight, the English ivy can help maintain a healthy home and remove airborne particles.
5. Lavender (Lavandula Spica L.)
Lavender for indoor use? I see your face already, but yes, lavender is a really great plant for air purification, however it’s important to check first if you are allergic to it before you use it. That plant is an excellent insect repellent, its aroma relaxes the lungs, which helps you sleep better during night and the aroma also helps you if you suffer from anxiety. If you want to get excellent quality lavender plants, choose the ones grown in England, France or Italy.
