Everyone knows that plants deliver much needed oxygen, converting carbon dioxide into it. People often spruce up their office spaces with small, medium, and large plants. Many people use plants as a way to connect with nature and bring a little living inside with them. Many other people also struggle with keeping those plants alive. Regardless of whether or not you have a green thumb, you may not be aware that plants can actually help improve air quality in your home or office.
Which are the best?
1. Aloe
Aloe (aloe vera) plants are a desktop favorite of many people — including frequently burned workers like glassblowers and lampworkers — due to their lovely shape and healing qualities. Not only can this plant help sooth burns, but it’s also an excellent air purifier. Aloe is known to remove formaldehyde from poor air conditions.
2. Spider plant
Sometimes known as an air plant, spider plants are hard-to-kill and great for your indoor air quality. They’re also super easy to replicate. This plant can remove formaldehyde and xylene from poor air quality.
3. Chrysanthemums
NASA found in their research that mums remove ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and xylene from the air. They are easy to grow and can be planted outside. Plus, they have gorgeous blooms in an array of colors. You mostly see these in the fall around autumnal landscaping. Bring one inside to live on your desk!
4. Peace Lily
Peace lilies are a beautiful addition to any house. These plants remove ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air. These are great for mitigating VOCs from harsh chemicals — say in a spot that gets cleaned often. Their beautiful blossoms happen in the summer and they are generally easy to care for.
5. Boston Fern
Boston Ferns are awesome for their ability to purify the air of benzene and xylene — both of which are byproducts from exhaust, so these plants might be great to put in spots that are close to an attached garage or someplace that suffers from gasoline exhaust fumes. They are slightly finnicky, so make sure to read up on these ferns and how to care for them to keep yours looking beautiful.
