Houseplants for more than Aesthetic

Who doesn’t love getting another house plant? They are fun to collect and super aesthetic! But did you know they can also be beneficial to your health? Adding houseplants to your home helps purify the air through photosynthesis and phytoremediation. During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide and water are absorbed and oxygen is released from the plant. During phytoremediation, the plants absorb other compounds like formaldehyde, benzene, gases, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A NASA study was conducted to research the level of toxin removal that plants can achieve in an indoor, sealed space. The Scientist who conducted the study, Bill Wolverton, found that for every 100 square feet, 2 good-sized house plants are needed to improve the air quality by 75%. We can apply this same spatial ratio within our indoor spaces. If you know your area is heavily polluted, increasing the number of houseplants to a ratio higher than this ratio would be beneficial. Another note is that the bigger the plant and the higher the number of leaves, the more surface area for purification. 

Air Purifying Houseplants

While all houseplants have air-purifying properties, some purify better than others. Here are a few of them: 

• Ficus
• Snake Plant

• Chinese Evergreen
• Peace Lily
• English Ivy
• Bamboo Palm
• Chrysanthemum 
• Aloe Vera
• Philodendron
• Spider Plant

Conclusion & Other Resources

In conclusion, I guess you can never have too many houseplants! As always, I encourage you to further your research on which type os plants will work for you in your home. 

Written By: Jessica