Can Plants Really Purify the Air in Your Home? (2024)

FAQs

Can Plants Really Purify the Air in Your Home? ›

In fact, it appears that many of today's experts are on the “no” side of the fence. These individuals state that although plants technically can remove airborne toxins, they can't do so at a level capable of cleaning the air of entire homes. Ultimately, it's clear that indoor plants can be good for air quality.

In their study, named “Potted plants do not improve indoor air quality: a review and analysis of reported VOC removal efficiencies,” researchers found that to achieve the same benefits seen in other research studies, you would need 10-1,000 plants per square meter of floor space in your home, office or other indoor ...

So, how many plants do you need to purify a room? You'd need 10 plants per square foot in your home to enjoy any impact on indoor air quality. Let's break that down: For a 320 square-foot room, you'd need 3,200 plants for that room alone.

Plant-based air filtration is a natural way to remove mold spores and other pollutants from the air. Certain plants have been shown to be effective at removing mold spores from the air. These plants work by releasing chemicals that trap and deactivate mold spores.

Plants do purify a tiny amount of air per day. So it is technically true that plants purify the air.

A fantastic plant for allergy or asthma sufferers, English Ivy removes 78% of airborne mold. As mold affects your breathing and breathing affects your sleep, it makes sense to keep some in your bedroom.

1. SNAKE PLANT. Snake Plant otherwise known as the Mother-In-Law's Tongue is unique for its nighttime oxygen production, and ability to purify air through the removal of benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene.

The impact of different VOCs was inconsistent across studies, as was the performance of different plant species. But they said that in 196 experiments, plants were able to clean an average of 0.062 cubic meters of air per plant per hour, which is only about 13% of the half a cubic meter we breathe at the same time.

How Many Houseplants Should I Have? NASA recommends one plant every 100 square feet - which is about 9.2 square metres.

A person would need to be in a room with about ten thousand leaves. About 300 to 500 plants would produce the right amount of oxygen, but it's much harder to estimate the amount of carbon dioxide the plants absorb, especially if every time a person breathes out, they inhibit oxygen production.

What plants are good for air quality? ›

Flowering plants such as gerbera daisy and chrysanthemums were rated superior in removing benzene from the air, while Boston fern was highly rated for removing formaldehyde. Other good performers are varieties of Dracaena and spathiphyllum (Peace Lily).

Mix a few drops of tea tree oil with water in a spray bottle and spray it in the air to help kill mold spores. Vinegar: Vinegar is an effective natural cleaner that can help kill mold spores. Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray it in the air to help kill mold spores.

Houseplants sometimes release water vapor that can cause moisture to accumulate in the walls nearby, and North Carolina allergist Richard Collins III says mold can grow around any water source.

Although it is difficult to say exactly how many plants are needed to purify indoor air, Wolverton recommends at least two good sized plants for every 100 square feet (approximately 9.3 square meters) of indoor space. The bigger the plant and leafier the plant, the better.

Plants can help boost our mood, Hall said. Hall said nature and being around house plants can help lower cortisol, the stress hormone. He has also published articles reviewing the benefits of plants, including enhanced memory retention, reduced effects of dementia and greater life satisfaction.

Some plants may release VOCs into the air. The soil may have bacteria, pesticides or other contaminants. While plants can be beneficial, the evidence does not show that they are an effective tool to reduce air pollution.

The impact of different VOCs was inconsistent across studies, as was the performance of different plant species. But they said that in 196 experiments, plants were able to clean an average of 0.062 cubic meters of air per plant per hour, which is only about 13% of the half a cubic meter we breathe at the same time.

“Studies have shown that indoor plants can improve focus, decrease depressive moods and lessen symptoms of anxiety,” says Garvey. “When your mind and body are relaxed, it can improve your blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels.”

After analyzing decades of research, a Drexel environmental engineering professor is debunking the myth that potted plants can help purify indoor air.

Adding plants to interior spaces can increase oxygen levels.At night, photosynthesis ceases, and plants typically respire like humans, absorbing oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. A few plants –orchids, succulents and epiphytic bromeliads –do just the opposite, taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.