Creating a home environment free from toxins and pollutants is an intimidating task, especially when you don't have the means to put costly air filters all over your house. But you don't have to break the bank to have a breath of fresh and toxin-free air. All you need is an air-purifying plant inside your home.
In a study by NASA, common indoor plants have been proven as a valuable weapon to combat the rising level of air pollution. This article will provide some basic ideas on how to choose a house plant that eliminates air pollutants and a list for you to pick from.
Staying indoors is the best way to prevent anyone from catching the dreaded COVID-19 virus. But while indoors, are we invulnerable to other toxic elements in the air we breathe?
If you don't think your walls or the upholstery on your furniture do not emit gases, you better think again. These are just two of the various items inside the house that releases volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, like formaldehyde. Most of us spend their entire day indoors, so we are exposed to five times higher levels of VOC than being outdoors.
There are multiple causes of indoor air pollution, and we aren't even aware that some common household items worsen the air quality inside our homes. Furnishings, carpets, upholstery, paint, cleaning products, pesticides, bacteria, molds, and synthetic building materials are just examples of such. If you would add poor air ventilation, the risk of respiratory illness is much higher.
In completely eradicating air toxins, you will need to install a massive amount of plants on a 140 square meter space, about 680 pieces. But that would be ridiculous and improbable. All you need is just a few specific indoor plants with special qualities that could reduce VOCs inside a room.
To begin with, purifying indoor plants can reduce a significant amount of carbon dioxide and act as a natural humidifier. They replace stale air that can lead to eyes, nose, and throat irritations, especially on people with allergies.
Generally, people feel good and have a sense of well-being around plants. This very beneficial, most applicable now that almost everyone is working at home or attending school online due to the pandemic.
The process of repotting, pruning, and watering is a great stress-buster for most people, thereby promoting better mental health. It also bolsters focus and responsibility. How to cultivate and grow a specific plant requires research and continuous nurture. You don't want these exquisite plants dying on you, right?
Jumping into the "plantita and plantito" bandwagon is not an easy as one, two, three. You don't just instantly decide that you will be a plant parent, go online, and purchase a pretty flowering Peace lily. Wait for it to arrive and try to figure it out after receiving it. Here is a guide to help you before getting yourself a gorgeous house plant.
Larger plants can provide better air purification than smaller ones, but several smaller plants can also be as effective. Identify the areas all over your house that need some foliage and take measurements. Choose the species of air-purifying indoor plants that will fit in that space.
Also, consider the size of the pot. Get to know the amount of soil needed by a fully grown plant to determine the right size. Although most would love to have their plants over their worktables or just hanging beside the window, that's okay as long as you have the right plant type.
Air pollutants continue to bombard us daily, and our homes are not an exception. Choose a type of indoor plant that could help in eliminating specific air toxins. Below are some of the frequent indoor polluters and where they come from so you have an idea of the right type of plant to purchase.
Taking time to research about the plant that you wish to have is imperative before purchase. It is better to know the best nurturing practices and the maintenance requirements beforehand, than doing it when you already have the plant.
In some cases, it might be too late. Five main factors are to be considered to promote plant health -- light, temperature, soil, water, and humidity.
A plant needs light to photosynthesize and create sugars for its functions. On most plants, four hours of direct sunlight is the best scenario but this may vary from species to species. That is why researching the plant will give you a headstart on its need.
In the Philippines, where there are only two seasons the whole year, dry and wet, an indoor plant won't be too stressed by the climate. If your room has a high temperature, the plant uses more sugar to try and keep itself cool instead of using it to grow.
Also, hot temperatures could physically burn the plant, so don't put it near a stove or a heating appliance. Again, quick internet research about the plant could help.
The best type of soil should be able to provide minerals, oxygen, moisture, and stability to the roots. Some indoor plant species may require specific mixes or a combination of gravel and potting mediums. It is very vital to have the right type of soil or material where your plant will happily flourish.
Over-watering is one of the main killers of indoor plants. Getting the right watering amount can be tough, where trial and error comes into play. But with a bit of research and patience, you will be able to have it in no time. The water demand will depend on the species of plant, the potting material, plant size, humidity, light level, and temperature around it.
Too little water, the leaves will wilt and turn crispy. Too much water, oxygen levels at the roots will decrease and start to rot. To find out if a plant needs water, stick your finger into the soil. If it's dry, water it.
Humidity refers to the amount of moisture in the air, and it is one of the factors that are harder to control. In an air-conditioned room, the air inside is very dry and has low humidity.
Most indoor plants cannot survive long in this type of environment. Your research and knowledge of the indoor plant species will be a great help to understand which humidity level it likes.
Making sure that everyone in your own indoor ecosystem is living in harmony, including your house pets too. It is natural for a dog or a cat to be curious about a new addition to their environment, so oftentimes they will try to nip or bite an indoor plant to have a taste and be familiar with it. But not all plants are pet friendly.
Many air-purifying indoor plants are actually toxic to dogs such as Chinese Evergreens or a Golden Pothos. So if you need to detoxify the air and keep your adorable pets at the same time, choose a non-toxic indoor plant to keep your worries away.
In this section, we’ve rounded up the top plant options where you can choose from.
**Prices may vary depending on the website and their campaign period.**
From ₱399
Scientific Name | Spathiphyllum |
---|---|
Common Name | White Sails, Spathe flowers, Mauna Loa Peace Lily |
Toxins Eliminated | Benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and more |
Toxicity | Mildly toxic to animals and humans |
Lifespan | Up to 5 years |
Maximum Height | 4 feet |
From ₱349
Scientific Name | Aglaonema |
---|---|
Common Name | Golden Evergreen, Philippine Evergreen, Poison Dart plant |
Toxins Eliminated | Benzene, Carbon monoxide, Formaldehyde, Trichloroethylene, and more |
Toxicity | Toxic to dogs and cats |
Lifespan | Up to 2 years |
Maximum Height | 3 feet |
From ₱1,500
Scientific Name | Chamaedorea seifrizii |
---|---|
Common Name | Reed Palm, Clustered Parlor Palm, Cane Palm |
Toxins Eliminated | Benzene, Carbon monoxide, Formaldehyde, Trichloroethylene, and more |
Toxicity | Non-toxic |
Lifespan | Up to 10 years |
Maximum Height | 12 feet |
From ₱279
Scientific Name | Dracaena deremensis 'Compacta' |
---|---|
Common Name | Compacta Janet Craig, Pineapple Dracaena, Dwarf Dracaena |
Toxins Eliminated | Benzene, Carbon monoxide, Formaldehyde, Trichloroethylene, and more |
Toxicity | Mildly toxic to dogs and cats |
Lifespan | Varies on different conditions |
Maximum Height | 15 feet |
From ₱119
Scientific Name | Chlorophytum comosum |
---|---|
Common Name | Airplane plant, St. Bernard's Lily, Spider Ivy, Ribbon plant |
Toxins Eliminated | Benzene, Carbon monoxide, Formaldehyde, Trichloroethylene, and more |
Toxicity | Mildly toxic to cats |
Lifespan | Up to 20 years |
Maximum Height | 2 feet |
From ₱259
Scientific Name | Aloe vera |
---|---|
Common Name | Chinese Aloe, Indian Aloe, True Aloe, Barbados Aloe, Burn Aloe, First Aid Plant |
Toxins Eliminated | Benzene, Formaldehyde |
Toxicity | Mildly toxic to dogs and cats |
Lifespan | Up to 12 years |
Maximum Height | 3.25 feet |
From ₱280
Scientific Name | Epipremnum aureum |
---|---|
Common Name | Devil's Ivy, Devil's vine, Money plant, Ivy arum |
Toxins Eliminated | Benzene, Formaldehyde, Toluene |
Toxicity | Mildly toxic to dogs and cats |
Lifespan | Up to 10 years |
Maximum Height | 6 feet |
From ₱198
Scientific Name | Sansevieria trifasciata Laurentii |
---|---|
Common Name | Striped Mother-in-law's Tongue, Snake tongue, Saint George's sword, Devil's tongue |
Toxins Eliminated | Benzene, Formaldehyde, Trichloroethylene, Xylene, Toluene |
Toxicity | Mildly toxic to dogs and cats |
Lifespan | Up to 10 years |
Maximum Height | 4 feet |
From ₱100
Scientific Name | Nephrolepis exaltata |
---|---|
Common Name | Sword Fern |
Toxins Eliminated | Formaldehyde |
Toxicity | Non-toxic |
Lifespan | Varies on different conditions |
Maximum Height | 4 feet |
From ₱2,599
Scientific Name | Ficus elastica |
---|---|
Common Name | Rubber tree, Rubber bush |
Toxins Eliminated | Formaldehyde |
Toxicity | Mildly toxic to dogs and cats |
Lifespan | Varies on different conditions |
Maximum Height | Up to 10 feet |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Peace Lily Plant | Chinese Evergreen | Bamboo Palm | Dracaena Compacta | Spider Plant | Aloe Vera Plant | Golden Pothos | Snake Plant | Boston Fern | Burgundy Rubber plant |
Features | A Beautiful Flowering Plant for Any Indoor Space | The Best Indoor Plant for Beginners | Got Pets? Here's a Non-Toxic Plant Variety | The Corner-Piece Plant to Adorn Your House | The Most Resilient Air Purifier Plant | Get This "Oxygen Bomb" Inside Your Home | The Low-Maintenance Plant Choice for Offices | A Medium-Sized Perennial Plant to Purify Your Home | A Hardy Fern That Adapts to Any Condition | Adds a Touch of Color Inside your Home |
Price Starts at | ₱399 | ₱349 | ₱1,500 | ₱279 | ₱119 | ₱259 | ₱280 | ₱198 | ₱100 | ₱2,599 |
Scientific Name | Spathiphyllum | Aglaonema | Chamaedorea seifrizii | Dracaena deremensis 'Compacta' | Chlorophytum comosum | Aloe vera | Epipremnum aureum | Sansevieria trifasciata Laurentii | Nephrolepis exaltata | Ficus elastica |
Common Name | White Sails, Spathe flowers, Mauna Loa Peace Lily | Golden Evergreen, Philippine Evergreen, Poison Dart plant | Reed Palm, Clustered Parlor Palm, Cane Palm | Compacta Janet Craig, Pineapple Dracaena, Dwarf Dracaena | Airplane plant, St. Bernard's Lily, Spider Ivy, Ribbon plant | Chinese Aloe, Indian Aloe, True Aloe, Barbados Aloe, Burn Aloe, First Aid Plant | Devil's Ivy, Devil's vine, Money plant, Ivy arum | Striped Mother-in-law's Tongue, Snake tongue, Saint George's sword, Devil's tongue | Sword Fern | Rubber tree, Rubber bush |
Toxins Eliminated | Benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and more | Benzene, Carbon monoxide, Formaldehyde, Trichloroethylene, and more | Benzene, Carbon monoxide, Formaldehyde, Trichloroethylene, and more | Benzene, Carbon monoxide, Formaldehyde, Trichloroethylene, and more | Benzene, Carbon monoxide, Formaldehyde, Trichloroethylene, and more | Benzene, Formaldehyde | Benzene, Formaldehyde, Toluene | Benzene, Formaldehyde, Trichloroethylene, Xylene, Toluene | Formaldehyde | Formaldehyde |
Toxicity | Mildly toxic to animals and humans | Toxic to dogs and cats | Non-toxic | Mildly toxic to dogs and cats | Mildly toxic to cats | Mildly toxic to dogs and cats | Mildly toxic to dogs and cats | Mildly toxic to dogs and cats | Non-toxic | Mildly toxic to dogs and cats |
Lifespan | Up to 5 years | Up to 2 years | Up to 10 years | Varies on different conditions | Up to 20 years | Up to 12 years | Up to 10 years | Up to 10 years | Varies on different conditions | Varies on different conditions |
Maximum Height | 4 feet | 3 feet | 12 feet | 15 feet | 2 feet | 3.25 feet | 6 feet | 4 feet | 4 feet | Up to 10 feet |
Link |
Below are step-by-step instructions by ProPlants on how to repot your indoor plants. Give your plants a shot at survival and a breath of new life with its new home. Happy gardening!
What you’ll need:
Instructions:
There's an indoor plant suitable for any corner of your house or office. Whether it be a hanging plant, an office desk plant, or some succulents, you can find them all on the links provided below.
Indoor air quality should not be taken for granted since most of us spend our time inside our homes because of the pandemic. It is high time that we improve our air indoors by having what mother nature has granted us, air-purifying plants. It is proven to be beneficial to our state of physical and mental well-being.
The best thing about it? It is way cheaper than any air filtration system.
Author: Chafi Lacson
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