Growing these plants to improve indoor air pollution is a sustainable way to transform the atmosphere of your urban home!
Constantly replacing the harmful carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and providing oxygen to us, plants are the perfect gift from nature for numerous reasons. The most important of them now is their ability to control pollution. This benefit is reserved for the big trees growing outdoors and the little indoor plants, too! So, if you live in a multi-storied apartment in the middle of the city, here are some great indoor plants to help control indoor air pollution!
Plants to Improve Indoor Air Pollution
1) English Ivy
Botanical Name: Hedera helix
Often, you might have found yourself admiring your English ivy gracefully draped around your window with its spot in filtered sunlight. But did you know that the English ivy has more than just a charming appearance? It actually filters out the trace amounts of formaldehyde that you would commonly find in indoor spaces.
2) Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia
The stress-relieving fragrance of lavender, with its vibrant purple hues, is a frequent motivator for us to grow this plant indoors. Besides the fact that you can now make lavender essential oil anytime you wish, the strong fragrance of this beautiful flowering plant keeps away pests and insects while promoting a soothing home environment.
3) Bamboo Palm
Botanical Name: Chamaedorea seifrizii
Known for its effortless elegance with its tall stalks, the low-maintenance Bamboo palm positively paints a picture of serenity indoors and stands as a symbol of luck and prosperity. But that’s not all! Not only does it transpire a fair amount of moisture in the air, a welcome addition during winter months, but it is also one of the best indoor plants to filter out benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene.
4) Lady Palm
Botanical Name: Rhapis excelsa
The top characteristics of a Lady Palm are the elegant fan-shaped fronds that dance to every breeze and the plant’s suitability for high to low light levels. Also known as broad lady palm or broadleaf lady palm, this plant can reduce the ammonia in indoor air caused by common indoor cleaning products. It also filters out xylene, toluene, benzene, nitrogen oxide, and formaldehyde.
5) Gerbera Daisy
Botanical Name: Gerbera L.
Not only does the Gerbera daisy brighten up your space with its beautiful, vibrant blooms, but this popular annual is very useful for removing toxins in indoor air, such as benzene found in everyday household items like glues, furniture wax, paints, and detergents. Best in warm temperatures of 75 degrees or higher, the gerbera daisy is renowned as the mood-lifter among all indoor plants.
6) Chinese Evergreen
Botanical Name: Aglaonema commutatum
While the Chinese Evergreen captures your attention with its patterned foliage, an amazing testament to nature’s artistry, it captivates the heart, too, with its ease of care and its ability to keep your indoor air free of toxins. However, you must note that this plant contains an irritant, a compound that can be toxic to indoor pets.
7) Aloe Vera
Botanical Name: Aloe vera
This easy-to-grow succulent is best known for its amazing skin health benefits, thanks to its fleshy leaves. But, apart from healing cuts, burns, wounds, and other skin issues, this plant filters benzene and formaldehyde from your indoor air caused by particle boards and carpets.
8) Ficus
Botanical Name: Ficus elastica
Taking in carbon dioxide and giving out oxygen is not all that the rubber tree does. With its large, glossy leaves, this plant is known to absorb and break down harmful chemicals in your indoor air. It really isn’t a mystery why rubber trees are such a staple in many homes and offices!
9) Warneck Dracaena
Botanical Name: Dracaena warneckii
While the name of this plant may be scary or confusing, we promise you have seen it around in homes and offices more often than you think! And for good reason, too, since it is great for combatting indoor air pollutants caused by paints, varnishes, detergents, and oils.
10) Mass Cane
Botanical Name: Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’
Also known as the Corn plant, the Mass Cane is quite helpful in removing formaldehyde from indoor spaces. It also effectively filters benzene, commonly found in plastics and pesticides, and toluene, mainly in paint thinner and nail polish. Mass cane is also one of the most popular varieties of Dracaenas, loved for its lovely green to yellow foliage.
11) Fittonia ‘Frankie’
Botanical Name: Fittonia argyroneura
The ‘Frankie’ variety of the nerve plant, with its variegated pink and green leaves, is perfect for dish gardens and terrariums not only because of its pretty foliage but also because it is one of the best low-maintenance houseplants that filters toluene, benzene, and trichloroethylene from indoor air.
12) Peace Lily
Botanical Name: Spathiphyllum
While you may treasure your Peace lily only for its elegant white blooms, let us give you another reason to care for this plant. This low-maintenance beauty can fight against toxic gases commonly found in households, such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. But before you go out and buy another Peace lily, note that it is mildly toxic to both pets and humans, so you must wash your hands after handling this plant.
13) Dragon Tree
Botanical Name: Dracaena marginata
The Dragon Tree, with its slender trunks and tufts of spiky leaves, is a dramatic addition to any space. Bright, indirect light is its sweet spot. Allow the soil to dry between waterings. Its sculptural beauty is matched by its ability to cleanse the air.
14) Snake Plant
Botanical Name: Dracaena trifasciata
Hardly any houseplant lover would be unfamiliar with the mighty resilient snake plant. Adaptable to various light conditions and drought-tolerant, this plant is well-known for its air-purifying qualities, getting rid of formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene, and benzene from your indoor air.
15) Spider Plant
Botanical Name: Chlorophytum comosum
Last but not least, this houseplant, with its arching green leaves, can grace every interior aesthetic, from homes to office corridors. Pet-friendly and best for hanging baskets, the easy-to-grow spider plant actively fights formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and benzene, produced from paints, furniture wax, detergents, thinners, and other household products. Keeping it in a room or in an office corridor will serve the purpose.
