Published on June 30, 2016
No space in your apartment or house? Not enough light? No time to water or tend to your plants? No problem!
Breathe easy with these five air purifying and low maintenance indoor plants:
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Have a home office? These plants help give you better focus at work by absorbing trace amounts of benzene, a chemical found in office supplies. They are also perfect for the animal lover as they can reduce the amount of airborne fecal matter. On top of all that, they also absorb formaldehyde which is commonly found in some household cleaning products, furniture or carpeting treatments.
This shade-loving tropical plant is also known for its air-purifying abilities, improving your indoor air quality by as much as 60%. It’s great at breaking down and neutralizing toxic gases like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde, and helps reduce the levels of mold spores that grow in the home by absorbing them through its leaves and circulating them to its roots where they are used as food. Put one in the bathroom to keep shower tiles and curtains free from mildew and to absorb harmful vapors from alcohol and acetone. Known for its easy-care, this hardy, forgiving plant will even let you know when it is thirsty — look for the telltale droop.
One of the most recommended plants for improving air quality is known as the “bedroom plant”. The optimal place to keep this relatively inexpensive and low-maintenance plant? You guessed it, the bedroom! While most plants take away oxygen at night, this one converts CO2 into oxygen. The plant also filters formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene, and benzene from the air to help you get a great nights rest.
This plant falls under the very easy to care for and very easy on the eyes category. It produces tiny red berries that are lovely to look at while also helping to remove toxins from the air that are commonly found in chemical based household cleaners. The longer you have the plant, the more toxins it will remove, so plan on keeping your Chinese Evergreen for many years to come.
This plant is more of a fast growing vine then a potted plant. Like many other vines, it tackles formaldehyde, but also targets carbon monoxide and benzene. Pothos are rated one of the best houseplants for removing all indoor air toxins. Consider placing one in your mudroom or entryway, where car exhaust fumes are heavy in formaldehyde and are most likely to sneak indoors from the garage.
Learn more
Ready to grab a few houseplants, a propagation station or even books about gardening? If you live in (or are visiting) the Greater Toronto Area, stop by the Evergreen Garden Market at our home at the Brick Works. The Garden Market is a social enterprise that supports local vendors and directs 100% of its proceeds back to Evergreen, helping to make cities greener and healthier.
