Freshen Up Your Space: The Science Behind Air-Purifying Indoor Plants
With their unique and often underrated benefits, air-purifying indoor plants are a fascinating addition to any indoor space!
While high-tech solutions like air filters are popular, the natural air-cleaning abilities of air-purifying plants bring fresh, uplifting energy to your living space.
With their low maintenance and adaptable nature, these plants thrive indoors and effectively remove toxins and chemicals from our breathing space.
In this blog, we will learn the science behind these houseplants, the benefits of growing them indoors, the best places to keep them, and the best air-purifying plants in Australia that you must buy for your home or office.
What is the science behind air-purifying plants?
We already know that indoor air-purifying plants can remarkably keep our indoor air clean. But how do they do this?
It's a phenomenon called Phytoremediation!
Phytoremediation, a natural and eco-friendly process, is where plants absorb and degrade contaminants from their soil, water, and air through their stems, roots, and leaves. It's a beautiful example of nature's ability to purify the environment.
It is very often observed in large-scale outdoor soil purification. However, indoor plants are also known to exhibit these qualities in their potted environments.
The microbial activity in the soil of these plants absorbs and breaks down harmful chemicals, helping to degrade these contaminants.
Air-purifying plants effectively absorb specific airborne toxins through their roots and leaves. These include volatile compounds like benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene, commonly found in indoor spaces.
Indoor plants release water vapour through their leaves. This process helps direct the toxins in the air towards the leaves, where they are then absorbed.
Benefits of air-purifying indoor plants
Growing these houseplants inside has many advantages.
- As previously noted, indoor plants that filter the air are remarkably effective at absorbing various chemicals and air pollutants, including formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide. By significantly enhancing indoor air quality, this procedure makes it safer for people to breathe healthy oxygen.
- Generally speaking, interior environments have higher CO levels than the outdoors. However, plants can help lower this hazardous indoor pollution.
- Because they release water vapour into the air, they are known to raise interior humidity levels.
- They lessen the deterioration of indoor air quality, which is frequently brought on by man-made factors such as burning fossil fuels, bushfires, car emissions, fumes from home combustion appliances and paints, and air spray odours.
- Additionally, they have been shown to lower noise levels by up to five decibels, lessening your home's tension.
- Not only are indoor plants lovely, but they can also significantly improve your state of mind. Their vivid green presence helps reduce tension and anxiety by fostering a peaceful and relaxing ambience in your living areas.
- They give any dull room in your house depth and vitality.
- Significant health advantages can be obtained from indoor plants, which lower airborne chemical concentrations that might cause lung cancer, respiratory allergies, stroke, and other heart disorders.
Where can one place these indoor purifying plants?
The following houseplants can be appropriately integrated indoors to get the most benefit:
1. The Living Room
The living room is usually the largest and most used room in the house. Air-filtering plants, such as Rubber Tree or Peace Lilies, should be positioned adjacent to windows to receive partial sunshine.
2. The Bedroom
Because they are more active at night, houseplants like snake plants and Aloe Vera are great additions to bedrooms. Putting them on nightstands or shelves near beds can help you sleep better because they enhance the air quality.
3. The Kitchen
Kitchens may contain numerous contaminants from cleaning and cooking. Spider plants can help remove formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and other air pollutants from these spaces. They can be placed on shelves, windowsills, or counters next to your kitchen.
4. Bathroom
Because the bathroom is humid, Peace Lilies and Boston Fern, which prefer humid surroundings, are ideal when placed here. They are also known to extract mould spores from the air. Place them on window sills or shelves where they will get filtered light and be able to absorb moisture.
5. Desk at Home
Indoor air pollution from electrical gadgets can be reduced with the help of indoor plants like English Ivy and Golden Cane Palm. When placed on your desk or next to your electronic devices, these plants will purify the air, reduce stress, and increase productivity.
6. Entrances or Hallways
Placed in halls or entryways, large air-purifying plants like Dracaena or Rubber Plant guarantee that the air is purified as it circulates the house.
Placing them near windows, in high-traffic areas, and where pollution concentration is likely to be high can optimize this effect.
Frequently asked Questions
Q1. Which air contaminants are eliminated by these plants?
It is well-recognized that air-purifying plants may eliminate typical indoor contaminants like carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, xylene, and trichloroethylene. Paints, furniture, and household cleaning supplies frequently contain these compounds.
Q2. How does photosynthesis contribute to air purification?
Plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) and expel oxygen (O2) during photosynthesis. This process absorbs additional hazardous components from the air, increasing the amount of oxygen indoors while aiding in the air's general purification.
Q3. How many plants are necessary to raise the room's air quality?
According to experts, approximately one plant per 100 square feet can significantly enhance air quality. But the more plants you have, the more effective they are at cleaning the air.
Q4. Which plants are the greatest at cleaning the air inside homes?
The greatest plants for air purification are the golden cane palm, Boston Fern, Peace Lily, English Ivy, Spider Plant, Snake Plant (Sansevieria), and Aloe Vera.
Q5. Do plants that filter the air require extra maintenance to function correctly?
Most air-purifying plants only need minimal maintenance to be healthy, such as regular fertilization, enough sunlight, and appropriate watering.
Q6. Is it true that plants can eliminate pollutants from the air just as well as air purifiers?
Although they contribute to air purification, plants are less quick than mechanical air filters. However, when combined with adequate ventilation, air-purifying plants help to enhance interior air quality over the long run.
We hope these insights were helpful.
Adding greenery and air-purifying plants is always a healthy and natural way to improve the indoor air quality of your homes and offices, especially when you want to adopt more sustainable practices.
Whether your goal is to lower toxins, boost humidity, or enjoy the soothing effects of houseplants, choosing eco-friendly options is always a better idea.
Whether you're just beginning your plant adventure or are expanding your collection, check PlantArk's online marketplace to see the availability of different species of plants and seeds in Australia
