Indoor air quality has become a significant concern for homeowners and renters alike. In an increasingly polluted world, it’s essential to create a healthy indoor environment.
One simple and cost-effective way to improve the air quality in your home is by incorporating the best indoor plants for clean air. These plants not only purify the air but also add life and color to your living space.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to the best indoor plants for clean air and provide simple instructions for their care. We’ll also outline any cautions to consider, whether these plants are friendly to pets and kids, and recommend the ideal placement for each plant.
The Best Indoor Plants for Clean Air
The order of the plants prioritizes their air-purifying abilities, ease of care, and safety for households with pets and children. The list begins with the most advantageous plants and gradually moves to those with more drawbacks, while still considering their air-cleaning properties.
1. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
- Pros: Easy care, air-purifying capabilities, non-toxic, pet-friendly.
- Cons: Requires indirect sunlight and moderate watering.
Spider plants are among the best indoor plants for clean air. They are effective at removing common indoor air pollutants such as formaldehyde and benzene.
Spider plants are low-maintenance and thrive in indirect sunlight. Water them moderately, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings.
They are ideal for hanging baskets or on shelves, where their long leaves can cascade down.
Spider plants are non-toxic and pet-friendly, making them an excellent choice for households with children and pets.
2. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
- Pros: Effective air purification, non-toxic, pet-friendly, visually appealing.
- Cons: Requires high humidity, indirect light, and consistently moist soil.
Boston ferns are among the best indoor plants for clean air, as they effectively remove formaldehyde and xylene from indoor environments. They are also popular for their lush, feathery fronds.
To care for Boston ferns, provide indirect light and consistently moist soil. It’s essential to maintain high humidity levels around the plant.
Boston ferns are suitable for hanging baskets, placed on shelves, or in bathrooms, where humidity is typically higher.
These ferns are non-toxic and pet-friendly, making them a safe option for households with children and pets.
3. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
- Pros: Excellent air purification, pet-friendly, visually appealing.
- Cons: Requires bright indirect light and consistently moist soil.
Bamboo palms are among the best indoor plants for clean air, removing formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. Their lush foliage adds a tropical touch to any space and can also serve as a natural room divider.
To care for bamboo palms, place them in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil. Keep the soil consistently moist but avoid overwatering.
Bamboo palms are perfect for living rooms, offices, or any space where you’d like to create a natural partition.
These plants are non-toxic and pet-friendly, making them a safe choice for households with children and pets.
4. Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
- Pros: Great air purification, non-toxic, pet-friendly.
- Cons: Requires bright indirect light and consistently moist, well-draining soil.
Areca palms are considered one of the best indoor plants for clean air due to their ability to remove formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from indoor environments. They are also popular for their attractive, feathery fronds.
Areca palms prefer bright, indirect light and consistently moist, well-draining soil.
Place areca palms in living rooms, bedrooms, or offices, where their air-purifying properties can be maximized.
Areca palms are non-toxic and pet-friendly, making them an excellent choice for households with children and pets.
5. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)
- Pros: Air-purifying, medicinal properties, low maintenance.
- Cons: Toxic to pets when ingested.
Aloe vera is well-known for its air-purifying and medicinal properties. It effectively removes formaldehyde and benzene from the air.
Place aloe vera in bright, indirect light and water it sparingly, allowing the soil to dry between waterings.
Aloe vera plants are best placed in sunny windows or on kitchen countertops for easy access to the gel inside the leaves, which has soothing properties for minor burns and cuts.
Keep in mind that aloe vera can be toxic to pets when ingested, so it’s important to keep it out of reach of children and pets.
6. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastic)
- Pros: Removes toxins, visually appealing, low maintenance.
- Cons: Toxic to pets and may cause mild skin irritation in humans.
Rubber plants are not only popular for their large, glossy leaves but also for their ability to remove toxins such as formaldehyde from indoor air.
To care for rubber plants, place them in bright, indirect light and water them moderately, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
Rubber plants are ideal for living rooms, offices, or any area with ample natural light.
It’s worth noting that according to ASPCA, rubber plants are toxic to pets. They may also cause mild skin irritation in humans. Keep them out of reach of children and pets.
7. Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
- Pros: Excellent air purification, low maintenance, releases oxygen at night.
- Cons: Toxic to pets and may cause mild skin irritation in humans.
Snake plants are one of the best indoor plants for clean air and are particularly effective at removing formaldehyde and benzene. They are popular due to their low maintenance and ability to tolerate various lighting conditions. Snake plants also release oxygen at night, making them an excellent addition to bedrooms.
To care for snake plants, provide minimal watering, and allow the soil to dry between waterings to avoid root rot.
Snake plants are ideal for bedrooms, living rooms, or offices.
It is important to note that snake plants are toxic to pets and may cause mild skin irritation in humans. Keep them out of reach of children and pets.
8. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)
- Pros: Elegant appearance, effective air purification, helps maintain optimal humidity.
- Cons: Toxic to cats and dogs, may cause mild skin irritation in humans.
Peace lilies are favored for their elegant appearance and ability to remove harmful substances such as formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene from the air. They can also help to maintain optimal humidity levels indoors.
To care for peace lilies, place them in medium to low indirect light and keep the soil consistently moist but avoid overwatering.
Peace lilies are best placed in living rooms, bedrooms, or bathrooms for optimal air purification.
However, peace lilies are toxic to cats and dogs and may cause mild skin irritation in humans. It is recommended to place them out of reach of children and pets.
9. Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
- Pros: Low maintenance, attractive leaves, effective air purification.
- Cons: Toxic to pets and may cause skin irritation in humans.
Golden pothos is popular for its low maintenance and attractive, heart-shaped leaves. It is effective in removing toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene from the air.
To care for golden pothos, place it in low to medium indirect light and water it moderately, allowing the soil to dry between waterings.
Golden pothos can be placed in hanging baskets, on shelves, or trained to climb structures.
However, golden pothos is toxic to pets and may cause skin irritation in humans. Keep it out of reach of children and pets.
10. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
- Pros: Air-purifying abilities, aesthetic appeal, versatile placement options.
- Cons: Toxic to pets, can cause skin irritation in humans, may become invasive if not properly contained.
English ivy is known for its air-purifying abilities, particularly in reducing airborne mold and bacteria. This climbing plant is also popular for its aesthetic appeal.
For optimal care, place English ivy in indirect sunlight and water it moderately, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
English ivy can be placed on shelves, in hanging baskets, or trained to climb trellises or walls.
However, English ivy is toxic to pets and can cause skin irritation in humans. Keep it out of reach of children and pets.
In the End
In conclusion, incorporating the best indoor plants for clean air can significantly improve the air quality in your home while adding natural beauty to your living space.
Keep in mind the care requirements, toxicity, and recommended placements for each plant to ensure a healthy and safe environment for you and your loved ones.
