There’s no doubt about it- plants provide a certain natural aesthetic that could make any room instantly look wonderful. And the benefits don’t stop with their beauty, NASA found that they purify the air in their environments.
While not all plants provide this benefit, there are a large number of those that do. The NASA Clean Air study observed that certain plants were able to absorb carbon dioxide and release additional oxygen while eliminating large amounts of formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and other toxins.
These plants are beautiful and bring better air quality, but as another bonus, I’ve included some that are easy to care for, for those that don’t have a green thumb. Here are 13 air purifying plants for indoors.
1. English Ivy
English Ivy is easy to grow and is especially wonderful for purifying the air in your home. Some even speculate it can remove mold from the air. This plant loves water and a little direct sunlight each day. Other than that, it’s a pretty low-maintenance plant.
2. Snake Plant
The snake plant is a personal favorite of mine because it thrives on neglect. It requires low amounts of indirect sunlight, a small watering when the soil becomes bone dry and that’s about it. As a bonus, it produces offsets (babies.)
3. Spider Plants
Spider plant also requires low light, so it’s a pretty low-maintenance plant as well. It does hang off the side of the pot, so you may want to clip it down. Thankfully, you can use the clippings to grow more plants! It has a unique look that is very apt for its name with spidery-looking leaves.
4. Aloe
Aloe loves sunlight, so it’s best to keep this on a windowsill. Aloe is a succulent that produces the well-known gel that is used in sunburn cream, medicines, health beverages, and more. So you can use the leaves for many things, especially first aid.
5. Tillandsia
Tillandsia is a really neat plant because it’s an air plant. Because of this, it doesn’t require soil but does (contrary to the name) require water. But, the watering is easy- just a misting once a week or a dip in a bowl of water for an hour once every two weeks. Since they don’t require soil, people place them on crystals, pieces of wood, seashells, and cool glass bottles. They do like a little sun (indirect.)
6. Peace Lily
Peace Lily is great for removing formaldehyde from the air, and since they droop when they need water, they are easy to read. They require very little light, so you can put them in an office or restroom. As a bonus, they produce pretty white flowers when they are happy.
7. Rubber Tree
Rubber trees are named very aptly, as they look like a fake plant they are so pretty. You can grow them in succulent soil which drains fast and water them regularly. They do like a little sun, but they can take indirect light.
8. Lemon Button Fern
Lemon button ferns are adorable little ferns that clean the air. They grow about a foot and love indirect light and lots of humidity. Since they can handle a little drought- they don’t need a ton of water.
9. Pathos
Pathos is also known as the Devil’s Ivy, but the name doesn’t fit them. They are beautiful, green, round ivy-looking plants that dangle over the side of their vase. And much like many others, I’ve named, this plant is low maintenance. Mostly, it wants to be watered and a little sun.
10. Pineapple Plant
The pineapple plant is pretty cool looking, with tropical-looking leaves and a pineapple-looking bloom on it. They love warmth and sunshine, so they are best kept in a window or on a screened-in porch.
11. Bamboo Palm
Bamboo palm is great if you don’t have good lighting, and as a bonus – it’s cool to look at. It needs lots of water during its growing seasons, but you have to let the soil get fully dry first.
12. Money Tree
Unfortunately, it doesn’t grow money. But, it’s pretty. It’s great for people who have breathing problems. Additionally, it’s another easy, low-maintenance plant that likes indirect light and water.
13. Zebra Plant
Zebra plant is a succulent that looks striped, hence the name. It requires fast-draining soil and very little water. It doesn’t need much sun, and it looks waxy, almost fake it’s so cute.