Houseplants accent the décor of any room in your home, and soften the edges around the interior of an office. Plants add texture, color, and fragrance to a room, but studies show that working with plants can reduce stress and lower blood pressure…and more!

Relaxation.

A soothing atmosphere at home and work is not a luxury, it is a health issue. Studies find that people reported feeling less stress when in a room where plants were present. That translates into lower blood pressure and heart rate, fewer headaches and the elimination of other stress-induced symptoms. What’s more, foliage plants muffle background noise inside buildings, making for a quieter work environment.

Comfort.

When inside, plants help control humidity by releasing moisture through the process of transpiration. This can help to match humidity levels that are recommended for the human comfort range of 30 to 60 percent. This is important, especially in winter when the air inside most homes and offices tends to be particularly dry.

Health.

Did you know that the air inside your office or home can be up to 10 times more polluted than the air outside? And did you know that research shows that plant-filled rooms contain 50 to 60 percent fewer airborne molds and bacteria than those without plants? That is because plants act as natural air filters that reduce harmful pollutants.

Top 10 Clean-Air Plants

Chosen for ease of growth and maintenance, resistance to pests, efficiency at removing chemical vapors, and transpiration rates, Homestead Gardens recommends the following TOP 10 Plants for purifying the air you breathe and elevating your quality of life:

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum ‘cosmosum’) was the first plant proven to remove indoor air pollutants over 25 years ago. Because of its amazing ability to absorb indoor air pollutants, Spider Plants now accompany astronauts into space where it helps remove formaldehyde from inside the space shuttle. Bright diffused light is ideal and the soil should dry out between waterings. The thick roots of this plant are fast growers, meaning it should be repotted frequently in a soil that drains well.

Bamboo Palm An interior decorator’s dream plant, the Cane or Bamboo palm has graceful stalks and beautiful dark green, feathery leaves. It’s as adaptable as it is gorgeous; bamboo palms thrive in almost any room in the house. Our Bamboo palms are grown in low light conditions so that when they are placed indoors they instantly adapt.

English Ivy (Hedera Helix) is easy to grow and is effective at cleansing benzene, formaldehyde, xylene and toluene from the air. This hearty, climbing vine is great in a hanging basket or as a topiary. It does best with bright light.

Dracaena “Janet Craig” is one of the best plants for removing trichloreoethylene. These plants can tolerate neglect and dimly lit environments. This plant does best in indirect, medium sunlight. It will tolerate dimly lit areas, but growth will be slow.

Corn Plant (Dracaena Massangeana) has long leaves stemming from a wooden cane like stalk. The variegated leaves resemble corn foliage thus the name. The foliage using contains a yellow or crème center with dark green borders. This slow-growing dracaena eventually reaches 9 feet tall or more, making it an impressive addition to any indoor garden.

Pothos are rated one of the best houseplants for removing all indoor air toxins. Pothos does not like wet feet and the soil should not stay too moist. Best in indirect, medium light but it will also tolerate very low light. Pothos is effective at removing formaldehyde-based toxins which are found in carpeting, plywood and particle board, foam insulation and furniture.

Ficus Alii this houseplant’s ability to help purify the air, ease of growth and resistance to insects make it an excellent choice for the home or office. Best in bright, indirect to medium light.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) this houseplant’s ability to remove air pollutants and its excellent performance in all categories make it a most valuable houseplant. The Peace Lily is an excellent choice for low light conditions and thrives in wet conditions. This plant blooms reliably indoors. With its broad, dark green leaves, it is superior at removing trichloroethylene toxins from the air. These toxins can be found in paints, varnishes, adhesives, dyes and dry cleaning.

Boston Fern is the best for removing air pollutants, especially formaldehyde, and for adding humidity to the indoor environment. Best in medium to bright, indirect, light.

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) is extremely tolerant of low light conditions. This plant is slow growing and requires frequent feeding, but infrequent repotting.  Aglaonema’s large, spear-shaped leaves make it a desirable, decorative indoor plant. However, this plant is desirable for more than its beauty – Aglaonema will help filter out a variety of air pollutants and begin to remove more toxins as time and exposure continues.