The best air-purifying indoor plants for your home

It is no secret that we spend a lot of our time indoors, whether it be working in an office or grocery shopping in a mall, and especially spending time at home. Thus, many want to create a home that is happy and healthy, a breath of fresh air from the other places you travel to and from throughout your day.

Apartment living often coincides with living in a city or a well-populated area. This may mean that the air in and outside of our homes is not the purest and cleanest.

One way we can purify the air in our homes is by bringing in plants. Not only can they add visual interest and colour to your spaces, but they can also significantly improve air quality.

A well-known study conducted by NASA in 1989 identified a number of plants that are most effective in removing pollutants from the air. Though their research aimed to study the ways in which these plants were able to purify the air of any enclosed space, specifically space stations, their results have led to further insight into how certain plants can clean the air in our own living spaces.

So, head to your nearest Bunnings, nursery, or floral shop to grab some plants! Here is a list of some of the best air-purifying indoor plants that you can buy for your home.

Devil’s Ivy - Epipremnum aureum

The Devil’s Ivy, also known as the Golden Pothos, is an easy-to-grow indoor plant that does well in fighting off common household toxins. It is identifiable by its large heart-shaped leaves coloured in marbled green and bright yellow.

This plant grows well in water, pots, and even hanging baskets. Its vibrant colouring can add a fresh pop of colour to any space, with its cascading vines making for a stunning look perfect for bookcases, shelves, and benches.

As beautiful as the Devil’s Ivy may be, be sure to keep it out of reach from your dog or cat as it is toxic to pets.

Areca Palm - Dypsis lutescens

Native to Madagascar, the elegant Areca Palm is a great plant for bigger spaces. Multiple cane-like stems stretch its narrow leaflets up and out, making a great focal point for living rooms, hallways, foyers, and more.

A non-toxic plant for both cats and dogs, this plant is a powerhouse when it comes to eradicating toxins in the air including formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene.

Areca Palms are known to be undemanding and easy to grow. Look after them by watering often, allowing for the soil to dry out in between watering, and placed under filtered light. 

Spider Plant - Chlorophytum comosum

Known as one of the most adaptable and resilient indoor house plants, the Spider Plant is the perfect choice for first-time plant owners. These plants thrive in indirect sunlight and will grow under a wide variety of conditions, known to grow incredibly quickly and are easily propagated.

These graceful little plants make a statement anywhere they are placed, be it on your bedside table, bookshelf, or mantle. While it is sitting looking pretty, the Spider Plant will quietly battle toxins in the air including carbon monoxide, xylene, and formaldehyde. Additionally, these are one of the few house plants that are non-toxic to animals! 

Rubber Plant - Ficus elastica

The Rubber Plant, though easy to maintain, can grow up to 15 metres tall. They can be enjoyed as medium-sized house plants when kept in smaller pots to restrict their growth. But, when they are left to grow, these plants make for a beautiful indoor tree - a focal point for any room. Be sure to plant them where there is space for them to grow!

Characterised by their large rubbery-looking evergreen leaves, these plants are able to absorb airborne chemicals and break them down, rendering them harmless. They can absorb carbon dioxide and convert it to oxygen as well, while also eliminating any bacteria and mould spores in the air.

With these species, it is advised that you start with a younger plant to allow it to adapt to your apartment’s indoor environment, instead of bringing in a more mature plant home.

Chrysanthemum - Chrysanthemum

Not just a beautiful flower species, Chrysanthemums are known to be one of the best air-purifying indoor plants! Known to eliminate toxins such as formaldehyde, xylene, and benzene, these plants can also absorb ammonia - a colourless gas present in many household cleaning products and floor sealers.

Though one of the more difficult air-purifying plants to grow, the outcome is certainly worth it as colourful blooms make for a stunning pop of colour in your spaces. Most often seen in whites and yellows, Chrysanthemums come in almost every colour you can think of! From soft pastels to bold reds and purples, you are sure to find the perfect Chrysanthemum plant to suit your interior design.

These plants enjoy bright indirect sunlight and good airflow, so make sure you place them by a sunbathed window.

Aloe Vera - Aloe barbadensis miller

Aloe Vera plants are widely known for their anti-inflammatory properties that heal wounds and help with sunburns. Turns out that these succulents are great air-purifying plants too! Taking in carbon dioxide and producing oxygen at night makes these little plants ideal for bedrooms.

The plant’s identifiable fleshy leaves allow it to happily cope with less than regular watering. What the healing aloe plant does need, however, is sun. Allow your Aloe Vera plants to thrive in well-lit rooms and on sunny windowsills where they can soak in indirect sunlight.

Chinese Money Plant - Pilea peperomioides

Like the other plants on this list, Chinese Money Plants are renowned for their ability to purify the air of any harmful chemicals and other pollutants in the air, including benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene.

Because of their high purification rate, however, these plants are toxic to cats, dogs, and even small children when ingested. So keep in mind to keep these plants out of reach of any pets and children.

Provide your Chinese Money Plant with semi-regular watering, light feeding, and bright light and it will thrive, purifying the air in your home.

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