8 Air-Purifying Plants You Should Get For Your Home

8 Air-Purifying Plants You Should Get For Your Home

Air pollution is a major challenge for cities around the world - and Singapore is no exception.

The highly-urbanised city is a hub for business and economic growth, but human activities - consumption and transportation, to name a few - all contribute to environmental pollution. It explains why fresh air is something we don’t get enough of these days, particularly when most of us seem to be staying longer indoors where air quality can be as equally polluted as that of the outdoors.

The good news, however, is that there’s a practical solution to clean the air at home and in the office: indoor plants.

How Do Plants Clean Indoor Air?

Indoor plants are making a resurgence as an element in Singapore home interior design as of late. But, its ability to remove toxins and pollutants in the air has already been proven as early as 1989. In a study, NASA revealed that plants are best able to neutralise toxic chemicals in the air as proven in research conducted for space stations where astronauts spend most of the time in the same ventilated air.

A great number of air-purifying plants has the ability to cleanse your home of airborne toxins, dust, and germs that can be found in a wide range of household products, chemicals, materials, and furniture. The space study remains true to this day, particularly for the urban dwellers who breathe in smog, fumes, and polluted office air on a daily basis.

Indoor Plants that Can Improve Air Quality in Your Home

While they can’t fully control the pollutants that get indoors, the following plants can - to a certain degree - improve the air quality in your homes:

1. Aloe Vera- What’s great about this succulent plant is that it’s easy to grow and care for. It emits oxygen at night while simultaneously absorbing carbon dioxide, benzene, formaldehyde from the air. All of these result in a better quality of air and a better night’s sleep.
2. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum) - The NASA tests revealed that this hardy plant can remove about 90% of formaldehyde from the air. Because the cancer-causing chemical is typically found in household products such as adhesives, grout and fillers, it’s better to place the spider plant in the kitchen and bathrooms.
3. Snake Plant (Sansevieria)- Also called the “mother-in-law’s tongue,” the snake plant is another champion in filtering out formaldehyde, which can also be found in cleaning products and personal care items. The plant thrives in low light, humid conditions so it can be an ideal bathroom plant.
4. Peace Lily(Spathiphyllum) - With its dark green leaves and elegant white flowers, the peace lily plant is beautiful in all its simplicity. But, beyond its beauty, the plant is easy to care for. It also helps filter out benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde in the air as well as increase humidity in the room by up to 5%.

NOTE: The plant is poisonous to cats and dogs. Hence, if you have pets at home, the spider plant is a safer alternative.

5. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis Exaltata) -The Boston fern or sword fern is a mass of foliage that rids the air of toxins and increases the humidity in the room. The plant is easy but can be quite tricky to look after. It requires weekly watering during the growing season and monthly watering during the colder months.
6. Rubber Plant (Ficus Elastica)- The rubber plant is a favourite amongst many residential interior designers in Singapore because it possesses a look that can complement almost any design. It is bred for toughness and can survive even in places where there’s not a lot of natural light.
7. Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamin) - This low-maintenance houseplant can be as equally effective as the plants in the list in terms of filtering pollutants in the air. Grow the weeping fig in bright, indirect light and allow its soil to dry out between waterings.
8. Golden Photos (Scindapsus) - Another formaldehyde-fighting plant, golden photos grow in a cascade of green foliage that makes it a beautiful hanging display. It requires bright, indirect light to survive and make sure to not overwater the plant to avoid root rot.

How Many Plants Do You Need?

As a rule of thumb, the more plants, the more benefits you will gain from them. But, to be more specific, you should have at least two plants for every 100 square feet.

There are many other plants that can make your indoor air quality better - dragon tree, Chinese evergreen, bamboo palm, areca palm, and more! But, these 8 are a must for providing natural air filters and increasing oxygen levels in your home. In return, it can make you and your household healthier, too!

Do you have anything to add to this list? Let us know by leaving a comment!