Miracle Plants
Though plants have little impact on oxygen levels as there is already so much oxygen in the air, they do take in CO2. A group of growing plants can lower indoor CO2 levels. That’s not all. Many plants also filter out some VOC pollution (see the article on Fresh Air in this issue). 30 years ago, NASA did a study on which plants were the best air filters. They found many plants can reduce VOC levels to very low levels in a few hours. Here are some of the best plant air filters.
Dragon Tree
These trees only grow about 3 feet tall. They are easy to care for but have a distinctive look. If you have pets, keep this plant out of reach as it is poisonous.
Peace Lily
Peace lilies hold their flowers for a long time and can survive with a bit less light. This makes them a great houseplant if you don’t want anything too finicky. They are poisonous, but most dogs or cats won’t take more than one bite because they are like hot peppers to them---irritating.
Chinese Evergreen
This is a great choice for a houseplant. It has rich, green leaves and is a snap to take care of. It gives your home a lush tropical feel.
Bamboo Palm
This splashy indoor plant can look impressive. And the elegant palm fronds help clean your air. They tolerate shade, so indoor light works great. Plant them in a big pot so they have room to grow, and you can plant a few in a container for the “wow” look.
Janet Craig
The plants are often copied to make fake indoor plants. But get the real thing for maximum beauty and its air-filtering ability. They can take lower light levels and indoor dryness and don’t need a lot of attention. Their dark green color looks especially good in groups.
English Ivy
This climber will climb as far as you let it. It likes lots of light, but does not want to get too hot. This is a poisonous plant, so take care. They work great in plant hangers as they will cascade down.
Mass Cane
Mass Cane is a popular plant known for its striking style. Also called a corn plant because the leaves look similar to corn leaves, this easy-care plant grows about 5 ft tall. Avoid putting it in direct sunlight. Usually, these plants are not too expensive, so they are great ones to start with.
Rubber Plant
The rubber plant has big, shiny, dark green leaves and is easy to care for. It can get almost 10 feet tall in ideal conditions, but you can keep it smaller. Start with a smaller plant. Its white sap does contain latex, so it can be irritating to the skin. A rubber plant is a fantastic choice for a larger room.
Areca Palm
This is another palm that does well indoors, but it needs bright light. It needs more care than some other houseplants. The areca palm doesn’t get full size indoors, but it still grows to 6 feet tall. This is for the indoor gardener who wants a more rewarding plant.
Boston Fern
This fern does best in humid conditions. Both direct sunlight and total shade should be avoided. Otherwise, it is easy to care for this plant. Its soft leaves pair well with many other houseplants. Create your own interior forest with a combination of plants.
Scrubbing Roots
In addition to the leaves, the roots are essential when it comes to air filtering. Roots breathe, and with their partner microbes, they clean the air. They take in VOCs and break them down into less damaging substances, or they trap the VOCs in their leaves.
Breathing Plants
Most plants give off CO2 at night when there is no light, increasing a room’s CO2 levels, but it would take a lot of plants before it was a danger. They are not ideal for a bedroom
Night-Time Working Plants
These plants filter the air and also use up CO2 at night. Give these plants as much light as you can, a full sun window is perfect. Also, regular fertilizer helps. Lots of light and food help the plant trigger the mechanism that uses up CO2 at night. These plants are great for a bedroom. The CO2 you breathe out, they breathe in.
Snake Plant
The Snake Plant is a common, easy-to-care-for houseplant. It doesn’t need constant attention. It was called Mother-in-Law’s Tongue in an earlier generation. There are 70 different varieties, so there are lots of options.
Gerbera Daisy
This attractive flower doubles as an air filter. The joyful flowers come in many different colours. Most often, they stay pretty small. They are a little trickier to grow inside. They need light but can’t stand the heat, but with TLC, they can last a year or two.
Christmas Cactus
Another great plant for a bedroom is the Christmas cactus (or Easter cactus). The plants also breathe in CO2 at night. Many kinds of cactus use up CO2 at night because they are trying to survive the heat during the day, so they create energy at night. They are also great filters for toxins.
Aloe Vera
This plant also takes in CO2 at night. Its unique look works well in a bathroom. They are easy-care but prefer lots of light. As an added bonus, you can use the gel inside the aloe plant to soothe burns or scrapes.
Breathe Easy with House Plants
To get the benefits of plants, try putting 6-8 plants in your bedroom. A bathroom is also a good place to put a filtering plant as many cleaners and lotions contain VOCs. Live better with indoor plants.