Breathe easy with air-purifying plants

It’s no surprise that the current demand for houseplants is growing. They are nice to look at and transform the place into an urban jungle, no matter whether you have a big city loft or a shared room. And more than that, they have superpowers. These plants freshen the air you’re breathing by filtering out pollutants emitted by furniture, varnish, paint, plastics, and chemical cleaning agents. Come summertime, when you open your windows, your green guardian angels protect you from pollen and car exhaust fumes. Just one plant per 10 square metres works wonders. Most of them expect next to nothing in return, so don’t worry if you’re missing a green thumb. The best air purifying plants are often uncomplicated.

For more plant-related assistance, take a look at our guides on repotting flowers and how to get rid of aphids on roses.

Its long leaves stick upwards like green flames, flecked with patterns. The snake plant not only looks stylish but it’s also known to be easy to care for. It’s also highly effective at purifying the air.  Also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, devil’s tongue, jinn’s tongue, bowstring hemp and snake tongue, the snake plant filters substances used in industrial production, like benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene. Chemicals like these find their way into your home through plastic, wall paints, printer cartridges, detergents, and adhesives. These chemicals can cause headaches, sometimes even dizziness and palpitations, eye irritation and respiratory problems. The snake plant protects you from these things. It does its job while you’re asleep by absorbing carbon dioxide at night, unlike most other species. This plant that clears the air makes an ideal roommate for your bedroom.

The most common indoor plants come from the tropics. Here, a dense canopy of leaves arches over the rainforest and the plants growing underneath have to make do with little light. These plants are therefore suitable for the darker corners of your home. The Kentia palm, for example, feels at home in darker areas and is a perfect choice. The palm is also known as the thatch palm and produces more oxygen than many other plants. It does a great job of ridding the air of pollutants and purifying your room.

Even if you are not the biggest plant expert, you’ve probably come across the spider plant once or twice. Most public buildings and doctors’ offices have at least a few of them brightening up the place. This delicate green plant has mostly white leaves and is simple without expecting too much attention. Based on how it looks, you would have no idea what powers it possesses. In the 1980s, NASA researched plants that clean the air. The result was quite surprising – the spider plant filters up to 95 per cent of pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide from the air. The enzymes in its leaves break down these toxins and make them harmless. These plants also ensure there’s sufficient humidity in your home.

Cascading out of the pot and creeping its way around, the devil's ivy adds a bit of jungle flair to your home or office. The heart-shaped green leaves and light-coloured spots also function as a room divider. You don’t need to worry about the plant consuming your time – hardly any other plant is easier to care for. If you are still at the beginning of your gardening career, the devil’s ivy is one of the best air purifying plants as it doesn’t need much care at all. It plays a leading role in clean air by being particularly effective against the carcinogenic formaldehyde and eliminating the nasty stench of nicotine.  Its cleansing superpowers make ivy one of the top ten air purifying plants.

Do you love colourful things? Then a chrysanthemum should be your plant of choice. The flowers range from subtle to flashy, from lemon yellow to hot pink. Chrysanthemums not only bring colour into your everyday life but also filter out a lot of harmful substances. This plant is an all-rounder and rids the air of almost everything from ammonia to xylene, leaving you to breathe easily. And since all these air-purifying plants don’t use any electricity, make no noise, and have super low operating costs, your conscience is clear.