NASA Has Compiled a List of the Best Air-Cleaning Plants for Your Home

[procon]

For anyone that spends the majority of their time indoors, it can often be forgotten how much of a difference some houseplants can make. Not only do they look fantastic by adding natural colour to a space, but they also have various air-filtering properties that can actually make an indoor space healthier!

This all comes from extensive research that was conducted by NASA and the Associated Contractors of America (ACLA) in the 1980s to discover which plants worked best at purifying air indoors. The result was the highly informative Clean Air study , which discovered that some plants add the incredible ability to remove various chemicals from the air, helping to reduce any negative impact they could have on humans breathing in impure air.

The Florist’s Mum and Peace Lily are among the best thanks to their ability to effectively remove parts of benzene, xylene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, toluene, and ammonia present in the air. Many other plants were effective at removing some, but not all of these chemicals.

According to NASA, it’s best to have a plant for every single 100 square feet of space, allowing for plenty of lovely (and healthy!) houseplants to find their way into your indoor space!
This handy infographic breaks down what plants work best at eliminating certain chemicals!

http://themindcircle.com/nasa-air-filtering-plants/



Many other plants are listed along with the pollutants they can filter out of the air. I love the practical applications of science in our daily living, and who doesn't enjoy plants in their home.

[Squinch]

1. Yeah! My peace lily named Fred is a champion!

We've been together for years now.

[hlthe2b]

3. My corn plant has suffered mightily in the winter time, given dry indoor air... But I've had it for

many many years, having acquired it from the person who left it in my last house when they moved out. Likewise an umbrella schefflera that I cut back from 18 feet, when it got so big I could never re-pot it.

I had read that golden pathos were good air cleaners too and can handle one heck of a lot of neglect/abuse.

[Squinch]

6. That's what I need. The ones that look pretty, and don't get mad when you forget them for a while.

[hlthe2b]

2. I have a total of five plants on the list. Some are easier to care for than others

so that is worth checking out too. Some (e.g., most ferns) are awfully messy and really need humidity.

I think the most easy plant on that list that likely grows well in the widest range of light and environmental conditions is the Chinese Evergreen--thus you tend to see a lot of them in florescent light-only office settings. There are new varieties that can be really pretty.

[procon]

5. I only have a Spider plant, she's old, but makes lots of babies that I give away.

I'd like to have more plants, but my cat is such a jerk -- a lovable jerk, but he's still a mess maker -- he likes to destroy plants. He knocks them over or lays in the pots, crushing or breaking them, and chews the leaves or rakes out the potting soil. The Spider plant lives only because it is hanging and he can't get at it.

[Dem_4_Life]

4. Thanks I am bookmarking this to add to my nursery shopping list

[Lithos]

7. Double check before you buy any

I know the Flamingo Lily is toxic to cats and dogs. I think the Palms and the Ferns are safe, but still best to check.

[procon]

10. Be safe, if a plant is toxic for furbabies then they aren't safe for human kids either. nt

[oasis]

8. Plants 🌱 I salute you.

[eppur_se_muova]

9. Key:lt blue-formaldehyde,purple-xylene,dk blue-benzene,orange-ammonia,bt green-trichloroethylene.

They didn't include one for toluene, but chances are, those that remove xylene will remove toluene.

[Kaleva]

11. Bookmarked and rec'd!

[TheBlackAdder]

12. What are the heartiest plants for those who pretty much kill every houseplant that enters the home?

I need plants that are hearty and can survive harsh conditions - me.

[WhiteTara]

14. They say it is called Devil's Plant because

they are almost indestructible.

[TheBlackAdder]

15. Thanks Is that the one in the list called Devil's Ivy, or is that another plant?

[WhiteTara]

16. It is Devil's Ivy.

[WhiteTara]

13. This is the first reason I have ever seen to have a house plant.

With a one acre garden, that just seemed like one too many. But hey, I'm quite open to change. Besides I love those Flamingo Flowers.