Now that you are spending more time at home, you may be thinking about indoor air quality. Perhaps you’re experiencing more congestion, sneezing, headaches, and other symptoms, or you simply spend more time dusting your furniture. Houseplants offer a way to improve the quality of air inside your home and enhance the aesthetics of each room. You may already know plants help remove carbon dioxide from the air, but studies have shown that houseplants also help with benzene, formaldehyde, and other airborne gas particles found in almost every Los Angeles home. Here are 15 beautiful plants you can use in every room of your home to improve indoor air quality.
1. Bamboo Palm
Also known as a reed palm, the bamboo palm has long stems filled with feathery dark green leaves. The palm grows well in areas with some shade or full sun, making it a perfect addition to any room. Bamboo palm helps to remove formaldehyde and benzene from the air.
2. Fresh Daisies
If you love the idea of having fresh flowers in your home, gerbera daisies are an ideal option. The flowers not only look wonderful but also remove benzene from the air. Gerbera daisies do best when your home is at least 75 degrees. You can mix the daisies with other flowers and still get the air purification benefits.
3. Mother-In-Law’s Tongue
Mother-In-Law’s Tongue is a common houseplant and ideal for those who are less experienced with plants and gardening. In fact, Mother-In-Law’s Tongue does well even without watering. The plant has long, stiff leaves that are variegated with dark green, light green, and white. Put it in areas with any type of lighting, and it will remove toxins from the air.
4. English Ivy
In rooms with large windows, hanging a basket of English ivy adds a lovely, charming element. The ivy has sage green leaves with white veins that flow over the edge of the planter. English ivy is known to remove chemicals from the air that stem from paint, household products, and other sources.
5. Pot Mums
Do you love adding mums to your spring garden? Now you can have the same exquisite beauty any time of year and boost indoor air quality. Pot mums have dark green leaves and multi-petaled blooms in almost every color. With a little care and good lighting, these plants bloom year-round and keep indoor air clean.
6. Spider Plants
So easy to grow! Spider plants have long thin green and white leaves that drape over the pot. The best part of spider plants is that plantlets grow on their own, and you can simply remove them from the main plant and put them in the soil. Spider plants do well in bright rooms and do best when the soil is always moist or soggy. The plants are known to remove benzene, formaldehyde, and other gases from indoor air.
7. Dragon Tree
The long thin leaves and light brown trunk of a dragon tree add elegance to any room. These are great for areas with little light, such as your home office or kitchen. The leaves vary in color, from dark green to purple. Dragon trees are known to remove toxins from the air.
8. Rubber Tree
Do you want a plant to put on the floor of your room? Check out the rubber tree plant! It has medium-length, dark green, shiny leaves, and its compact growth pattern means that it only needs a little bit of space. Rubber tree plants remove carbon dioxide from the air. The plants do best in well-drained soil. Care only involves weekly watering and adding fertilizer to encourage growth.
9. Peace Lily
Peace lilies are popular around Easter and other holidays, but you should keep them in your home all the time. The long dark green leaves and exotic white blooms add sophistication to any room. Peace lilies are known to remove formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, and other gases from the air. The plants are easy to grow. Just watch for drooping leaves and blooms to know when it’s time to water. You should note that peace lilies are somewhat toxic to pets and people, so be sure to put it where it is hard to reach and wash your hands after handling.
10. Chinese Evergreen
If you prefer houseplants with pops of color, check out the Chinese evergreen. Dark green leaves are speckled with shades of deep pink and hints of white. This is an easy plant to grow. Make sure to put it in an area with mild to moderate sunlight with plenty of room. The plant can reach up to two feet. Chinese evergreens help to remove toxins from the air. The leaves are poisonous, so these plants should not be used in homes with pets and small children.
11. Corn Plant
The variegated green and yellow leaves of the corn plant add a nice hint of color to any room. The plant can be grown as a short shrub or tree, so it fits into just about any space. Also known as mass plants, corn plants help remove formaldehyde from the air.
12. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is an amazing multi-purpose plant. It helps heal wounds, soothe sunburns, moisturize skin, and so much more. Growing aloe vera in your home also keeps the air clean by removing formaldehyde and benzene. The succulent does best in rooms that have sun but it doesn’t need direct light. Add sand or perlite to the soil for proper drainage.
13. Pothos
Make sure to add plants to your bedroom to keep the air clean and fresh. Make a small space on your nightstands for pothos, a compact plant that thrives in low-light settings. NASA performed a study on pothos and determined that the plant is good for removing several toxins from the air, such as xylene, benzene, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. The trailing leaves are great for tables, desks, and hanging baskets.
14. Parlor Palm
Another palm plant to consider for your home is the parlor palm. The individual stems erupt from the soil and spring forth long, feathery, dark green leaves. The plant grows to more than 12 inches in height, so it works best for a floor plant in your living room or den. Studies by NASA found that parlor palms are effective for removing trichloroethylene and benzene from the air.
15. Lemon Button Fern
Ferns are rarely used in Los Angeles homes, but the delicate leaves add charm to any room. Lemon button ferns have light yellow-green leaves, and the plants grow to about 12 inches in height. Place the ferns in rooms with higher humidity and bright, indirect light. As the plant grows, it will remove gases from the air.
Learn About Other Indoor Air Quality Solutions for Your Los Angeles Home
If you want to know about other ways to improve indoor air quality, the experts at JW Plumbing, Heating and Air can help. We carry a line of indoor air quality products for homes in Los Angeles and surrounding areas, as well as offer duct cleaning services. Our HVAC services include installation, repair, and maintenance of heating and cooling systems. Call us at JW Plumbing, Heating and Air for more information today.
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