Plants have many powers. Some of them even have cleansing properties for our indoor air, whether by sucking up polluting particles or blocking electromagnetic waves. Here are some examples of plants to have at home to clean the air.
Having plants at home is always a good idea. In addition to bringing a decorative touch and bringing you a touch of greenery that is not insignificant for city dwellers, they have many virtues.
Indeed, plants are all useful, without exception, for renewing indoor air, via photosynthesis. They suck in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Results? You breathe better at home!
But do you know that some of them are also known for their purifying and depolluting properties?
Here is some news that should delight those who love plants, but who have trouble caring for them. Pothos, which is also called “devil’s ivy” or “scindapsus aureus” (its scientific name) is an ideal indoor plant: it is lush, easy to maintain (you can forget to water it or water it too much, it needs more to die), and very affordable.
And icing on the pot: it is sanitizing and would block the polluting substances present in our indoor air, such as benzene, a substance present in particular in rubbers, perfumes or even plastics and belonging to hydrocarbons), or formaldehyde, an allergen present in certain wall coverings, floors or even plastics.
The moonflower, a depolluting plant with a poetic name
Behind the pretty name of “moon flower” (from its scientific name spathiphyllum) hides a flowering plant that is not only just as beautiful, but which, in addition, is not idle when it comes to cleaning up the air in your home. you !
It is indeed known for its neutralizing power against undesirable substances present in our indoor air, such as ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide or xylene (hydrocarbon present in glues, varnishes or certain leathers and imitation leather).
Ferns: as indoor plants, they purify the air
Whether it’s the Boston fern or the queen of Kimberley, ferns aren’t just useful in our forests. Placed as indoor plants, their bushy side will give a real touch of green to your bathroom or entrance. Depending on the species, you can even place them in a room without a window: in general, ferns are not big sun lovers.
In terms of depolluting power, ferns will be effective against xylene or formaldehyde.
Ivy, a depolluting plant that is not a weed
We won’t go so far as to say that ivy has a bad reputation, but neither can we say that it is reputed to be one of the most noble plants. However, and particularly when used as an indoor plant, ivy will be one of our most faithful allies in the fight against air pollution.
Placed in your home, it will treat undesirables such as formaldehyde or benzene.
In addition, the advantage of this plant is that it is also indestructible: it will be very difficult for you to kill an ivy, because it resists everything, whether it is too much or not enough water, a piece dark or even a pet that digs into it.
To block electromagnetic waves, nothing better than aloe vera
Aloe vera is a plant with a thousand virtues. If you have the Africana variety, the most widespread, you can even use the leaves to get aloe gel, formidable against sunburn when applied to the skin, and an excellent stimulator of natural defenses when ingested.
But did you know that aloe vera is also excellent for cleaning your air and blocking electromagnetic waves? Whichever variety you choose (there are almost 400!), if you place it near the television, the internet router, or your desktop computer, it will help block the waves, which also pollute our interiors. . It also acts against the presence of carbon monoxide or formaldehyde in indoor air.
Hairy Chlorophytum, a sanitizing plant that reproduces on its own
Another indestructible and inexpensive plant, but which also acts against the undesirable substances present in our indoor air, is the hairy chlorophytum.
Easy to maintain, it has the particularity, after a certain time, of creating mini-cuttings itself that you can take to repot them afterwards, and have even more… Or offer some to your loved ones.
Anyway, hairy chlorophytum acts particularly well against formaldehyde.
The croton, a depolluting plant rather intended for green hands
If caring for plants has no secrets for you, then you can choose to place the very beautiful plant called croton in your home. A funny name for such a beautiful plant, native to the Pacific Islands, with green, red, orange and yellow foliage.
The croton is a little difficult to maintain because it requires a lot of light, regular but measured watering, and regular repotting. But if you take care of it, it will pay you back: in addition to being superbly decorative, it absorbs and filters the formaldehyde present in the air particularly well.
Ficus, particularly good at renewing the air
Just like aloe vera, there are many varieties of ficus: large, small, leafy, sparse, bonsai or with long trunks… There is something for all tastes and all budgets.
A common point nevertheless remains in all ficuses: they are very useful for renewing indoor air a little loaded with undesirable substances, but also for deodorizing the air… Which can be very useful if you are a smoker, or if you tinker often and use solvents, paints or varnishes.
Areca palms, useful for humidifying air that is too dry
Areca palms are incredibly decorative: they grow very easily, and produce new leaves almost monthly. As a result, they grow visibly and bring more and more greenery from year to year. They are also known to remove toxins from the air, or carbon dioxide.
But, as the areca is a variety of palm, it releases a lot of moisture into the air, like its congeners. It is therefore an ideal plant to have in an apartment, especially in winter, when the air is dried out by the use of heating.
The snake plant, a depolluting plant that will also help you sleep
The sansevieria trifasciata, which is called snake plant or sometimes “mother-in-law’s tongue” (not very nice for mother-in-law), is an interesting plant to have at home as well.
Particularly fond of humidity, it will like bathrooms, and it will take the opportunity to filter the toxins released by the plastics present in our bathroom (coming from furniture or cleaning products).
Also know that if you place it in the bedroom, it will help you sleep, because it has the particularity of rejecting oxygen at night – other plants rather reject it during the day.
To keep a healthy interior, last advice: don’t forget to ventilate your rooms often and to use ecological cleaning products.