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home ›   tip library ›   Eco-cleaning - Houseplant as Air Filters

Can't afford an indoor air purifier but still want to lighten the load on your lungs?

The Bite

Get plants to do the dirty work. Certain types of houseplants are great home air filters. After the dust settles from Spring Cleaning Week, pick up some indoor plants to keep the air you breathe clean and clear.

The Benefits

  • It doesn’t take a forest to clean the air in your home, just one plant for every 10 square yards.
  • Plants like Philodendrons and Peace Lilies absorb airborne pollutants, but cat-owners beware—some of these plants can poison your puss.
  • Up the amount of toxins that your houseplants filter by removing the lower leaves and exposing more soil.
  • Work your plants overtime. Mixing in orchids and other night-photosynthesizing plants creates a constant filtration system.

Personally Speaking

Heather has a problem: if she goes to the supermarket and sees wilting, sad, unloved houseplants for sale, she feels a compulsion to “rescue” them. Because of this, the air in her apartment is getting pretty clean, but it’s getting a little hard to navigate around the pots.

Wanna Try?

Apr 14,2006


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Just Call Me the Angelina of African Violets
I really do have a problem.

Some people rescue puppies and kitties and even spiders. Me? I'm a sucker for all the little potted houseplants that I see at my local supermarket. God forbid I walk into the market at night, post-vino, to get milk for coffee in the morning... I see the little guys (usually African violets) all crammed onto a cart, listless and dying, and I have to save at least one. $1.99, forked over in the name of the greater good of plantkind.

I've taken in at least 10 refugee plants to date.

And it doesn't even matter to me that they are not started in a way that is sustainable or organic. Like little green crack-babies, I can't fault them the sins of their creators. So, I bring them home, and pinch off the sad leaves and repot them and tend them and love them until they start to love me back.

At the moment, 4 of said rescuees are having a party of blooms on one plant stand - lavender and purple and fuscia and white - while the rest are still new adoptees, unsure whether or not they trust me, biding their time until they bloom.

-Heather... who clearly needs to get out more often...


Biter Comments...
I do the same thing!

Posted by: Nina | April 14, 2006 at 02:32 AM

You made my whole day, by reading your system of recuing sick plants. I'm one who has problems keeping a healthy plant alive. I'm better with rescuing animals, as you know Heather.

Posted by: Linda Braley | April 14, 2006 at 04:46 AM

As much as plants may brighten your day, it is a myth that they can significantly improve your indoor air. Also, the soil is a breeding ground for microbial growth. So, the newest research recommends limiting your home to one or two non-toxic plants, like a spider plant.

Posted by: Robin | April 14, 2006 at 07:54 AM

PLEASE do not plant English ivy or encourage others to do so. It is non-native to North America; very invasive with no natural controls; and kills trees, bushes, and any other plants that it engulfs. Work with your local nurseries to identify native groundcovers which will be grow well in your local climate. Elisha.. off to fight kudzu in her woods!

Posted by: Elisha | April 14, 2006 at 08:13 AM

Robin - I see that you've linked to http://www.healthyhomereports.com/. Thanks for furthering the discussion and increasing our awareness around this issue. Spider plants are GREAT for improving air quality - they're like air purifiers without the plug. And yes, mold can be an issue if you don't watch out for it, but our researcher found a bunch of good information that points to houseplants as being pretty decent air cleaners. Check out: NASA study tests usefulness of indoor plants in clearing the air: http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h110indoorair.html From Care2, the most effective indoor air purifying plants: http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/home/392 A few more resources of interest: EPA http://www.iuoe.org/cm/iaq_iaq_in_home.asp?Item=293 Civic Garden Center http://www.civicgardencentre.org/mg/cleanair.htm Elisha - totally hear you with that. I live in Portland, OR, and the English ivy problem in the Pacific NW is huge - in the wild. But as long as the plants are contained indoors, ivy is very easy to grow and minimal care is required. NASA also recommends it as one of the plants that is most effective at purifying indoor air. Unfortunately, many natives just don't fare that well indoors. Cheers, and keep on writing! Toshio

Posted by: Toshio, Editorial Manager @ Ideal Bite | April 14, 2006 at 01:57 PM

Another minus for English ivy, even if kept under control indoors: http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants.html lists it as one of the plants that can poison your cat. (It's a long list!)

Posted by: Tina | April 14, 2006 at 02:50 PM

Please don't promote invasive plants such as English ivy for indoors or outdoors! English ivy causes extensive damage to ecosystems and should not be used. I live in the Pacific Northwest where we have extensive ivy-out campaigns. . I do understand that ivy planted in a pot indoors does not cause environmental damage, but many people (including my neighbor) take their indoor ivy and plant it outside. Ivy causes contact dermatitis in some people, and there are reports that it releases volatile compounds (when cut or pulled out) that can make humans, including me, feel ill.

Posted by: Sharon | April 15, 2006 at 03:51 PM

All that stale water left over in glasses on your counters? It's better for your plants than tap water. House plants, especially delicate ones like African violets, are sensitive to the chlorine in your tap water. If you let the water set for 24 hours or so, the chlorine evaporates from the water. I suppose that means it's in the air you and your plants, pets and family breathe, but in very small quantities and it doesn't seem harmful. Besides, you'd have it there anyway from those glasses of water sitting around. If you're concerned about it, maybe you could pour the water into a pitcher or watering can on the porch or something. And let's all remember that the chlorine is why we have safe drinking water--a luxury many people in the world don't have.

Posted by: Penny | April 13, 2007 at 08:00 AM

Penny: Don't worry about small amounts of chlorine, you already have loads of it in your body; your gastric juices for example. :)

Posted by: marylynn | April 13, 2007 at 09:50 PM

You mentioned that you put them on plant stands, I'd check out this site if your "rescued" plants use up all of your available stands. www.plantstandsbybellacor.com

Posted by: Ed | October 12, 2007 at 06:50 AM

I think the same! ( http://t44.biz/ )

Posted by: Arkadiy | April 08, 2008 at 06:00 AM

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