Plants That Lower Indoor Pollution

22 Mar Plants That Lower Indoor Pollution

Did you know there are plants that lower indoor pollution? Do you have any plants inside your house? Right now, I’m currently obsessed with mini succulents around my home. I love the idea of bringing nature inside, not only to give your house a more stress-free, nature vibe, but certain plants can actually reduce the amount of pollution inside your home.

Have you ever heard of the statistic that inside can be MORE polluted than outside? I bet you didn’t know that was possible. With all the chemicals we use to clean our home, cooking, furniture off-gassing, circulated AC, and so many other factors, our houses can easily become polluted.

I always recommend opening up your windows when you can to let fresh air circulate throughout the house. I’m writing this as I have my window open because it’s a SUPER amazing breezy day here in Austin, TX.

How do plants reduce pollution?

Everything from leaves, roots, and soil can help reduce the amount of indoor pollution. Plants are able to take in pollution and use it for photosynthesis. Not only can certain chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, etc. be reduced, but also viruses and bacteria. There was a study that was done by NASA that researched into these findings,

Plant roots and their associated microorganisms can destroy the pathogenic viruses, bacteria, and the organic chemicals, eventually converting all of these air pollutants into new plant tissue.

Now, get ready to take a trip to Home Depot or a local plant store. I’m about to give you an amazing list of plants that can reduce that indoor pollution. *And as always, try to avoid getting plants that are treated with pesticides to avoid bringing those pollutants into your home!*

Plants That YOU NEED

1. Spider Plants – These plants are SUPER fast in reducing common VOC’s (volatile organic chemicals)
2. Bromeliad
3. Dracaena – You might want to recommend this plant to your nail salon, as it reduces the chemicals that come from nail polish remover!
4. Snake plant
5. Ferns – These plants are great at removing formaldehyde.
6. Chrysanthemums
7. Peace Lilies

Please note that some of these plants may be toxic to dogs + cats. Please research each plant or talk to a worker at a plant nursery to make sure that each plant is right for your home. 🙂