Air Purifying Plants

        When we are talking about air purifying plants let's talk first about what we want to remove from the air in our homes/offices. Traditionally we find toxins in the home such as formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene; these are commonly found in interior paints, flooring, wood-pressed furnishes, cleaning products, gas appliances. 

         Now let’s talk about selecting the right plant for your space, literally taking into account the location and space allotment is the best way to choose your air purifying plants. The room size and the size of the plants will ensure enough plants to improve your air quality. For example, NASA’s 1987 Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement recommends one plant per 100 square feet. For a home size of 1800 square feet NASA recommends 15-18 plants. However, taking into account the size of the plant changes the volume of plants per 100 square feet. A large palm six feet tall would be the solo performer in a room of 400 square feet such as an open living room dining room. Bedrooms/bathrooms usually have smaller sized plants such as Epipremnum/Pothos, two plants for a room 200 square feet and one plant for a 80 square foot bathroom. 

Aglaonema /Chinese Evergreen 

A great starter plant for all skill sets of having houseplants, indirect bright light, watering twice a week. Enjoy this plant in several color ranges from dark green, hot pink, neutral gray/silver.

Anthurium

Simple formal appearance of heart shaped glossed leaves with a bright colored single petal flower. Flowers range in color from white, orange, red, pale pinks. Low light will reduce flowers, while bright indirect light gets more flowers for visual interest. Watering twice a week.

Bromeliad

A wonderful plant for bathrooms and kitchens, what we consider wet rooms. This plant enjoys having a higher humidity to keep the luster in high gloss leaves. Easy and low maintenance is needed for the care and watering of bromeliads. Watering once a week, low light.

Calathea

These are traditionally for season plant owners, as they can be finicky with light, water, humidity. Once the best location is found for these vivid patterned leaves or the muted color with unique shaped leaves. Watering ranges from once a week to three times a week. Light is preferred to bright indirect light.

Chrysanthemum

Commonly known as a mum found during the Fall outdoor season. These beauties are a great indoor plant as well. Easy to care for, low maintenance, seasonal flower multiple times a year. It allows one to have outdoor seasonal growth and color with the benefits of improving air quality.

Dracaena

A high quality indoor plant with easy maintenance and care. Not only does the Dracaena improve air quality it also aids in adding humidity to the air. This plant does produce air vapor that is released into the air. The benefits is a great solution to dry air during winter months. 

English Ivy

Great plant for adding visual interest to any home. Available in dark green to bright white/gold variegations. English Ivy has been determined to be one of the best benzene air pollutant, NASA’s study states removing 89.8% within 24 hours.

Epipremnum/Pothos

While Epipremnum is a high quality air purifier, do consider it’s lack of ability to remove trichloroethylene (ammonia) from the air. Fantastic results for removing benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. Varieties can be simple green/gold to the drastic furled leaf or the matted silver with oversized lobes. 

Fern

Several ferns are easy care for indoor plants, as well as several work fantastic in open air terrariums. Ferns come available in a wide variety of colors, textures, and difficulties of care. Adding a great visual interest of openness and color dynamics to your home. 

Ficus

One of the best indoor trees available for every home and decor. Coming in with colors of dark green to bright greens, even grays to pinks. This low care plant can handle to challenges of everyday life. 

Gerbera Daisy

A wonderful oxygen producer indoors, with stunning brilliant colors too. These large leafed plants have an array of whites, pinks, oranges, reds, yellows, and even multi-color flowers. Adding a fun interesting flowering plant indoors can be so easy with this over producing high oxygen plant. 

Palm

With sprawling fronds of gorgeous greens, palms add a sense of tropics to your indoor spaces. Adding visual height while not feeling overwhelming dense in a space. They are available in large 8 foot tall options all the way down to table top varieties no larger than 14 inches tall.

Peperomia/Pilea

Are you wanting to add a rare visual interest in to your home? Well, by that I mean are you more on the not normal leaves, but leaves with a statement. Peperomias/Pileas are a great path to go, from circle leaves to plump bean like leaves. Giving an artform to plants is exactly what peperomias do naturally.

Philodendron

A classic indoor plant with wonderful air purifying benefits. Bring the traditional southern feel to your home by using Philodendrons. They are available in classic greens, rich burgundy, even a splash of white or pink. Easy to care for pants make air purifying an easy task with grace. 

Sansevieria

A bit of modern appearance, with a touch of striking design. Available in greens, white splash, and streaks of yellow. Sansevierias have thick foliage making them very rigid for active families, or rambunctious pets. Statement pieces with sky-scraping heights of 4 feet, or wide cylinders of up to 4 feet. Depending on your space, there is a sansevieria ready for you.

Spathiphyllum

Sometimes the Spathiphyllum is an overlooked classic plant, with broad leaves and a classic white hood flower. So much has changed with the newer varieties having white/gray freckles to bright chartreuse greens. Large varieties can reach 4 feet or petites only reach a modest 16 inches. 

Spider plants

While the name traditionally conjures less than appealing images, the spider plant is a no fear kind of plant. With very low maintenance the spider plant shows its appreciation by growing long flower shoots that turn into baby spider plants. One could leave the baby spider plants on the stem or collect them to grow several more spider plants for the home.