Air-Purifying House Plants for the Home

House Plant Therapy

Improve your well being by decorating your home with healing plants. Green plants can help set the mood for a more pleasing and relaxed atmosphere. Flowering plants offer color, bring cheer, and spark creativity. Aside from sprucing up the decor of your home or office house some plants serve as natural air purifiers and oxygen generators. 

An old wives tale I was told once by a co-worker years ago was to never say thank you when given a plant as a gift or else the plant will shrivel up and die. Don't say thank if you believe this, but do be grateful for the therapeutic and air-filtering qualities of your house plants.

Typical types of toxins that need clearing include:

formaldehyde: found in wood products (plywood, particle board), glues, fabrics (furniture, carpeting), paint, insulation, cleaning products, and more. 

benzene: found in plastics, synthetic fibers, nylon, dyes, lubricants, rubber, pesticides, and more.

trichloroethylene: found in paint removers, carpet cleansers, adhesives, and more.

Choose a few green healers from this list of air purifying plants: 

• Philodendron
• Peace Lily
• Aloe Vera
• Snake Plant (aka Mother-in-Law's Tongue)
• Spider Plant
• Boston Fern
• Chrysanthemums
• Weeping Fig
• English Ivy
• Gerbera Daisy
• Bamboo Palm
• Asparagus Fern
• Rubber Plant
• Lucky Bamboo

English Ivy as an Air-Purifying House Plant

English Ivy
Hedera helix 

Filters: benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene
Reduces: carbon monoxide

Spider Plant as an Air-Purifying House Plant

Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum

Filters: formaldehyde, benzene, xylene
Reduces: Carbon Monoxide

Tips for Growing Spider Plants

Boston Fern as an Air-Purifying House Plant

Boston Fern
Nephrolepis exaltata

Filters: formaldehyde

Tips for Growing Boston Fern

Snake Plant as an Air-Purifying House Plant

Snake Plant (aka Mother-in-Law's Tongue)
Sansevieria trifasciata

Filters:  formaldehyde and benzene
Reduces: carbon dioxide

Peace Lily as an Air-Purifying House Plant

Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum  

Filters: benzene, acetone

Tips for Growing Peace Lilies

Bamboo Palm as an Air-Purifying House Plant

Bamboo Palm
Chamaedorea seifrizil

Filters: formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene

Gerbera Daisy as an Air-Purifying House Plant

Gerbera Daisy
Gerbera jamesonii

Filters: trichloroethylene

Growing Tips for Gerber Daises

Aloe Vera as an Air-Purifying House Plant

Aloe Plant
Aloe vera

Filters: formaldehyde and benzene

Philodendron as an Air-Purifying House Plant

Heart-Shaped Philodendron
Philodendron oxycardium

Filters: formaldehyde

Chrysanthemums as Air-Purifying House Plants

Chrysanthemums
Chrysantheium morifolium 

Filters: trichloroethylene and benzene

Weeping Fig as an Air-Purifying House Plant

Weeping Fig
Ficus benjamina

Filters: formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene

Rubber Tree as an Air-Purifying House Plant

Rubber Tree 
Ficus elastica

Filters: carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and more

Care instructions for caring for Ficus elastica indoors

Lucky Bamboo as an Air-Purifying House Plant

Lucky Bamboo
Dracaena sanderiana

Filters: benzene, formaldehyde,and trichloroethylene

Asparagus Fern as an Air-Purifying House Plant

Asparagus Fern (aka Lace Fern)
Asparagus plumosus

Antibacterial properties, guards against bacteria and air-borne viruses.

How to Care for Your Asparagus House Plant

Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen.