Top 10 Indoor Plants for Air Purification
## Top 10 Air-Purifying House Plants According to NASA's 1989 Study
NASA's groundbreaking 1989 study identified several plants as effective at purifying indoor air. Here are the top 10 plants from that list, along with some additional information on current scientific consensus:
1. **Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)** - **Purification:** Effective against formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. - **Care:** Water moderately; allow soil to dry between waterings. Prefers bright indirect light.[1]
2. **Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)** - **Purification:** Known for removing airborne pollutants like benzene and formaldehyde. - **Care:** Prefers well-draining soil and moderate watering. Can thrive in low to bright indirect light.[1][3]
3. **Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)** - **Purification:** Excellent for removing trichloroethylene and other pollutants. - **Care:** Requires moderate watering and indirect light. Can be sensitive to overwatering.[1]
4. **Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)** - **Purification:** Effective at removing airborne pollutants. - **Care:** Prefers bright indirect light and moderate watering. Prune regularly to maintain shape.[1][5]
5. **Devil's Ivy or Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)** - **Purification:** Removes formaldehyde, toluene, and benzene. - **Care:** Water every 7-10 days; tolerates low light but grows well in bright indirect light.[3]
6. **Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)** - **Purification:** Effective against formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene. Emits oxygen at night. - **Care:** Water every 2-3 weeks; thrives in low to bright indirect light.[3]
7. **Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii)** - **Purification:** Removes ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. - **Care:** Prefers well-draining soil and moderate watering. Can tolerate low light.[1]
8. **Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii)** - **Purification:** Known for general air purification. - **Care:** Requires moderate watering and indirect light. Soil should be moist but not waterlogged.[1]
9. **Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)** - **Purification:** Effective air purifier, especially for formaldehyde and xylene. - **Care:** Prefers bright indirect light and consistent moisture. Mist regularly to maintain humidity.[1]
10. **Florist's Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum x grandiflorum)** - **Purification:** Removes benzene and other pollutants. - **Care:** Requires full sun to partial shade and moderate watering. Prune regularly for full blooms.[1]
### Current Scientific Consensus
While NASA's study is foundational, current research continues to emphasize the benefits of these plants, including their ability to purify air and improve indoor environments. However, the effectiveness can vary based on the specific pollutants and environmental conditions.
### General Care Instructions
- **Watering:** Most plants prefer well-draining soil and moderate watering, with some variation depending on humidity and light conditions. - **Lighting:** Most plants thrive in bright indirect light, but some like the snake plant can tolerate low light. - **Humidity:** Mist plants like ferns regularly to maintain humidity. - **Pruning:** Regular pruning helps maintain shape and promotes healthy growth.
Overall, these plants are recommended for their air-purifying properties and ease of care, making them suitable for indoor environments.
- The anthurium has a height of 60cm and a spread of 40cm. - The article has been checked for horticultural accuracy by Oliver Parsons. - Dracaena absorbs a wide range of pollutants. - Spider plant removes formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from the atmosphere and reproduces readily, making it affordable to grow a spider plant in every room of your house. - Rubber plant (Ficus elastica) has air purifying properties, including the removal of formaldehyde, and grows well in moist but well-drained compost out of direct sunlight.
[1] RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Plant Finder - [Link](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/31909/Spider-Plant) [2] RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Plant Finder - [Link](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/31910/Chinese-Evergreen) [3] RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Plant Finder - [Link](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/31904/Devil-s-Ivy) [4] RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Plant Finder - [Link](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/31903/Snake-Plant) [5] RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Plant Finder - [Link](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/31906/Peace-Lily)
- The spider plant, known for its air-purifying properties, is suitable for improving indoor environments and can be incorporated well into a home-and-garden lifestyle.
- By adding some home-and-garden elements like plants such as the snake plant, which emits oxygen at night, to your living spaces, you can enhance your lifestyle and contribute to a healthier environment.
