Some well-placed greenery in your home will not only help to brighten your space, but also purify the air. Plants are helpful in making a more relaxing, restful ambience in any room, and it’s known that spending time in nature is linked to reduced stress levels and tension relief. And in a 2008 study, Dutch researchers found that hospital patients with indoor plants in their rooms reported lower stress levels than patients without them. I recently came across an article that shares 10 beautiful houseplants that are not only easy to take care of, but are also good at increasing oxygen and clearing out toxins for cleaner breathing air. These plants, listed below, can give your bedroom or office space a little bit of tranquility:
1. Aloe plant: The gel of the aloe plant has a number of healing properties; not only does it soothe skin burns and cuts, but it can also help to monitor the air quality in your home. It can help clear the air of pollutants found in chemical cleaning products, and when the amount of harmful chemicals in the air becomes too much, then its leaves will display brown spots. These plants grow best with a lot of sun.
2. English ivy: NASA scientists listed the English ivy as the number one best air-filtering houseplant, since it’s the most effective plant for absorbing formaldehyde. It’s also adaptable and incredibly easy to grow, although should be grown in moderate temperatures and medium sunlight.
3. Rubber tree: Rubber trees are good for cleaning the air, and since they thrive in cooler climates and with even the dimmest of light, they’re one of the easier plants to grow. These plants also serve as a great toxin eliminator and air purifier.
4. Peace lily: The beautiful peace lily plant is a great low-maintenance flower for you to keep at home. They do well in shade and cooler temperatures, and can reduce the levels of a number of toxins in the air.
5. Snake plant: Since they don’t need a lot of light or water to survive, snake plants are an easy choice for any corner of your home. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen during the night (most plants to so during the day), so adding one to your bedroom serves as a great clean-air boost.
6. Bamboo palm: These made NASA’s list of top clean-air plants with a purifying score of 8.4. They’re also particularly effective at clearing out benzene and trichloroethylene. They need to be well-watered and kept in shade or indirect sunlight.
7. Philodendron: As they’re easy to care for and can grow decorative vines, the philodendron is a popular plant choice for indoor areas. Much like the English ivy, they’re particularly good at absorbing formaldehyde, and can last for many years when properly cared for. All you need to grow them is moderate water and a bit of sunlight, and you should be good.
8. Spider plant: One of the most common house plants around, these are decorative, easy to grow and make the NASA list of the best air-purifying plants. They’re effective at fighting such pollutants as benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene.
9. Red-Edged Dracaena: If you need to decorate and fill up space, then the dracaena is just the plant for you, as they can grow to be ceiling-height. It also removes such toxins as xylene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde from the air.
10. Golden Pothos: Thanks to its ability to clear formaldehyde from the air, the golden pothos makes the NASA list. Try adding one to your kitchen or living room as a hanging plant, since the leaves will grow down in cascading vines. They grow easily in cool temperatures with low levels of sunlight.