Air Purifying Indoor House Plants
Indoor air quality plays a crucial role in our overall well-being, and one effective way to enhance it is by incorporating air-purifying plants into your home. These green companions not only add a touch of nature to your space but also work tirelessly to filter out impurities, bringing a breath of fresh air indoors. Discover the natural charm and purifying power of these botanical wonders as they transform your living environment into a healthier and more vibrant sanctuary.
Air-purifying plants are excellent at removing various chemicals commonly found in inside your home. Some of the chemicals that air purifying plants can effectively remove include formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene, and ammonia. These plants act as natural filters, absorbing and breaking down these harmful substances, thereby improving indoor air quality and creating a healthier living or working environment.
Are you a plant lover or are you new to house plants? Either way, these low-maintenance air-purifying plants make a wonderful addition to your living space. Check out our top ten list of popular houseplants.
Note: Please use caution in selecting plants for your home if you have pets. We've highlighted a few pet friendly varieties for your furry family members.
Snake Plant - The Best Air Purifier
The Snake Plant, known for its sleek and architectural design, is not only a stylish addition to your home but also a powerful and effective air purifier. This resilient plant is best known as an effective air purifier, removing airborne toxins, and promoting a cleaner and healthier environment in your home. With minimal care requirements and a knack for thriving in low light conditions, the Snake Plant is a perfect choice for both seasoned plant enthusiasts and beginners looking to enhance their living spaces with a touch of nature and improved air quality.
These hardy plants prefer low to medium light and dry conditions and are susceptible to root rot if overwatered. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, typically every 2-6 weeks depending on the season and humidity levels.
Aloe Vera - Not Just for Burns
Aloe Vera, most commonly known for its soothing gel and medicinal properties, also excels as an air purifying plant. This versatile succulent not only adds a touch of green to your space but also helps cleanse the air by removing harmful toxins. Easy to care for, Aloe Vera thrives in bright, indirect light and requires minimal watering, making it a perfect choice for both aesthetic appeal and great air quality improvement. Allow soil to dry out between waterings to prevent root rot.
Aloe contains chemical known to be mildly toxic to pets, so display out of reach of cats and dogs.
Ferns - Great For Plant Lovers
Ferns, with their lush foliage and graceful fronds, not only add a touch of elegance to your indoor space but also serve as natural air purifiers. These verdant beauties are highly effective at removing pollutants from the air, promoting a healthier environment.
If you love to baby your plants, ferns will be ideal for you! To care for your fern, provide it with indirect light, consistent moisture, and a humid environment such as a bathroom to mimic its natural habitat.
If you're a pet owner looking to incorporate ferns into your home, it's essential to choose varieties that are safe for your furry friends. Varieties such as Boston Ferns, Maidenhair Ferns, Rabbit's Foot Fern are generally viewed as safe for pets.
Pothos - A Classic Air Cleaning Houseplant
Pothos plants are beloved for their cascading vines and heart-shaped leaves, adding a touch of elegance and greenery to any space. Pothos thrive in various light conditions, from low light to indirect sunlight, making them versatile choices for both homes and offices. When it comes to care, allow the soil to dry out between waterings, as Pothos prefer slightly moist but not waterlogged conditions. With minimal maintenance requirements and a knack for purifying the air, Pothos plants are the perfect combination of style and simplicity. With several gorgeous varieties available, pothos plants make a versatile and aesthetic choice.
Caution: Pothos can be highly toxic to pets.
Peace Lily - Simple and Elegant
The Peace Lily, with its elegant white blooms and glossy green leaves, this popular houseplant exudes a sense of tranquility and sophistication, making it a popular choice for indoor plant decor. This plant not only adds a touch of grace to any space, but serve as an easy care houseplant. These beauties prefer indirect light and regular watering when the soil is partially dry.
Peace Lily Plants can be toxic to pets, so keep out of reach of your furry friends.
Bird of Paradise - A Stylish Flowering Plant
Bird of Paradise plants are striking and exotic additions to any indoor space, known for their large, banana-like leaves and vibrant, bird-shaped flowers. Even when they're not in flower, these tropical beauties bring a touch of the jungle into your home, adding a bold and dramatic flair to your decor. Bird of Paradise or 'Bops' as they're commonly known, thrive in bright, indirect light and require regular watering, allowing the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. With their unique style and relatively low maintenance needs, Bird of Paradise plants make a statement piece in any room.
Use caution around pets as Bird of Paradise plants can make dogs and cats sick.
Airplants - A Fun and Funky Air Purifier
Air plants, also known as Tillandsia, are low-maintenance plants that don't require soil to grow. To care for them, simply mist daily, or soak them weekly. Airplants can be placed on any surface with access to provide bright, indirect light. They can even be attached to organic surfaces! Enjoy their quirky appearance, move them around and let them aid in purifying the air!
While air plants are generally safe around pets, it's essential to prevent ingestion as a precaution.
Zamioculcas Zamiifolia - Or ZZ for Short!
ZZ plants, known for their glossy, dark green, and waxy leaves, are prized for their modern and minimalistic style that adds a touch of sophistication to any space. These plants have a unique architectural form, with upright growth that suits contemporary or urban interior decor perfectly. These plants thrive in low to bright, indirect light and require infrequent watering, allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings. With their air-purifying qualities and resilience to neglect, ZZs are an excellent choice for busy individuals looking to bring a stylish and low-maintenance plant into their homes or offices.
Caution: ZZ plants contain highly toxic sap hazardous to pets and humans, so use caution in homes with pets and children.
The Pet-Friendly Spider Plant
Spider plants, known for their elegant, trailing leaves, are a popular choice for indoor plant enthusiasts. These low-maintenance beauties thrive in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil. When it comes to pet safety, spider plants are non-toxic to cats and dogs, making them a worry-free addition to your home. However, curious pets may be tempted to nibble on the plant, which could lead to mild digestive discomfort. To prevent this, consider hanging your spider plant out of reach or placing it in a spot where pets can't access it easily.
Spider plants prefer bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight as it can scorch their leaves. A good spot near a window with sheer curtains works well. Keep the soil evenly moist during the growing season (spring and summer) and allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings in the dormant season (fall and winter).
Succulents - The Cutest Houseplant
Succulents are nature's little gems, known for their diverse shapes, colors, and textures that bring a touch of charm and character to any setting. These water-storing plants come in a wide array of varieties, from the classic rosette-shaped Echeverias to the spiky Haworthia and the aforementioned Aloe Vera, making them versatile for various aesthetic preferences. Succulents thrive in bright light and require well-draining soil to prevent root rot. Known to 'thrive on neglect' their low watering needs make them perfect for busy individuals or those new to plant care.
If you're a pet owner, it's essential to choose succulents that are safe for your furry friends. Echeveria, the most popular succulents known for their rosette shapes, are safe for pets. Always be sure to check with your local plant shop to be 100% sure of the variety.
Incorporate Clean Air Plants into Your Home
Incorporating air-cleaning plants into your living or workspaces offers a dual benefit of enhancing indoor aesthetics while promoting cleaner, fresher air. From the vibrant Spider Plant to the elegant Peace Lily, these green companions not only beautify our surroundings but also contribute to a healthier indoor environment by filtering out harmful toxins. By harnessing the natural air-purifying abilities of plants, we can create spaces that not only look inviting but also support our well-being. So, why not invite some leafy friends into your space and breathe easier knowing that nature is working its magic to cleanse the air around you.
Shop Plants - Locally!
Explore our compilation of plant shops, greenhouses, and garden centers in the Halton area, abundant with botanical offerings for plant enthusiasts!
Terra Greenhouses (Multiple locations throughout Halton)
Milton - 12800 Britannia Rd. Milton
Burlington - 2273 #5 Hwy. Burlington
Waterdown - #8 Fifth Concession E. Waterdown
Jade Gardens and Greenhouses - 5532 Trafalgar Road Milton
Crawford's Garden Centre - 8689 #5 Sideroad Milton
Business is Blooming - 385 Main Street East, Milton
Mississauga Greenhouses - 3225 Winston Churchill Boulevard, Mississauga