Here’s a look at each plant, how you can maintain it, and the potential benefits it can provide.
Why should you keep plants inside your home? Well, there are a number of reasons:
- They keep room temperature at an optimal level.
- Plants can filter/clean the air.
- They are a good piece of decor.
In fact, keeping plants in your home is a basic idea of green interior design.
But, How Should You Select Which Plants To Keep In Your Home?
Well, which plants you want to keep in your home is your choice.
However, from a practical point of view, there are some key pieces of information you can consider when deciding which plants to keep.
- How well they filter the air.
- How easy/difficult is it to maintain them.
And, in this blog post, Tilottoma reveals the 8 air-cleaning plants you must keep in your home, based on those two points.
1 – Philodendron
The heart-shaped leaves of the Philodendron plant, with their refreshing deep green (or green-and-yellow) colour, are a welcome addition to any home. Sometimes the leaves are lobed or cut – but in any case, they are beautiful to look at.
Good at filtering – Mostly formaldehyde.
Maintenance – Keep them in moderate/indirect sunlight, and try to ensure the soil is moist.
2 – Common Ivy
The Common Ivy (also known as the European Ivy and the English Ivy) is widely considered as an ornamental plant. It can grow over walls, and is thought to keep walls (and thereby the home) cool.
Good at filtering – Fecal particles and mold from the air, which makes it a good fit for your bathroom.
Maintenance – Once grown, it does not require a lot of care to survive. Occasional watering and a check on the soil to ensure it isn’t too watery will suffice.
Design tip – It’s an excellent choice for hanging pots.
3 – Flamingo Lily
With their (mostly) deep red flowers, and intensely green leaves, Flamingo Lily plants are not known as the ‘Painter’s-palette’ for nothing. It’s also been mentioned in NASA’s Clean Air Study for being effective in cleaning certain toxins from the air.
Good at filtering – Formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and ammonia.
Maintenance – Keep it away from direct sunlight, and in a well-draining soil. It will need regular watering.
Design tip – While it does filter out a number of toxins from the air, its leaves contain calcium oxalate, which can irritate the skin. So, this plant should be kept out of the reach of pets and young children.
4 – Spider Plant
With their long, and tough green-yellow leaves, spider plants are a welcome addition to an eclectic interior design. They are also a good fit in an office, preferably in a semi-professional environment.
Good at filtering – Xylene and formeldehyde.
Maintenance – Don’t expose them to direct sunlight; water them from time to time, and they’ll be just fine.
5 – Chrysanthemums
Their huge, and brightly coloured flowers make them a welcome addition for a lot of interiors, ranging from the living room to the location for a wedding. But, did you know chrysanthemums are great air filters to boot? However, the downside is that they will require some maintenance.
Good at filtering – Xylene, ammonia, benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde.
Maintenance – You need to keep them in direct sunlight when the flowers have not bloomed, and shift them to indirect sunlight after the flowers bloom.
They require regular watering, soil that drains well, and is rich in nutrients.
6 – Snake Plant
Despite their rather menacing name (they’re also known as Saint George’s sword), these are very luxurious plants, great at filtering out the air, and helping you fall asleep.
How Do Snake Plants Help You Fall Asleep?
They emit oxygen at night, which helps you fall asleep.
Good at filtering – Benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene.
Maintenance – It only requires occasional watering.
However, they do grow very fast, and you may need to divide the plant annually.
7 – Aloe Vera
If you’re a fan of natural skin care, you must have heard of Aloe vera before. But, did you know it’s also a great air filter? Some people think it to be equal to air purifiers in some aspects. Plus, the fresh (slightly watery) green look is a perfect fit for a lot of indoors.
Good at filtering – Formaldehyde, dust, and harmful microorganisms.
Maintenance – These plants must be kept in bright light, and watered from time to time. Care should be taken to ensure that the soil has drained before it is watered.
8 – Rubber Plant
With their unique ‘rubbery’ look, rubber plants are an excellent addition to a room, if you’re simply looking for something different. They’re a good air filter, and are also said to absorb a number of toxins, and reduce them to harmless substances.
Good at filtering – Formaldehyde, a number of toxins, and parasites.
Maintenance – Keep it in indirect sunlight.
In the growing season it needs to be kept moist. In the dormant season, it may need watering only once or twice a month.
Plant tip – A good way to keep rubber plants moist is to wipe the leaves with a wet rag.
To sum up, Tilottoma’s selection of 8 air-cleaning plants good for your home are:
- Philodendron
- Common Ivy
- Flamingo Lily
- Spider plant
- Chrysanthemums
- Snake plant
- Aloe Vera
- Rubber plant
Do you agree with this list, or do you have another suggestion that you think should be on it?
Let us know what you think in a comment below!
