Environment & Sustainability

The best plants for air purification in indoor growing: More than just yield

Indoor growing is not just limited to plants that increase yields - many types of plants also offer the benefit of purifying the air in your living space. In enclosed spaces, pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene and other chemical compounds can build up that can have a negative impact on health. Some plants have the amazing ability to filter these pollutants from the air and thus improve air quality. In this article, we will introduce you to the best plants that, in addition to good yields, also help purify the air in your indoor grow.

1. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

The peace lily is known for its air-purifying properties and ability to remove pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. This plant thrives in shady indoor spaces and requires little maintenance, making it ideal for indoor growers looking for a no-fuss plant with added benefits.

Benefits of the Peace Lily:

  • Filters pollutants: The peace lily is particularly effective at removing benzene and formaldehyde from the air.
  • Low light requirement: This plant thrives in dimly lit rooms and requires only indirect light.
  • Low maintenance: It requires minimal care and regular watering, without high nutrient requirements.

2. Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

The spider plant, also known as the "spider plant," is another excellent air purifying plant. It is known for filtering formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and xylene from the air while producing oxygen. This plant is easy to care for and ideal for indoor growers looking for both aesthetic and functional plants.

Advantages of the spider plant:

  • Effective air purification: The spider plant removes pollutants such as formaldehyde, xylene and toluene from the air.
  • Fast growth: This plant grows quickly and produces offshoots that can easily be grown in new pots.
  • Low maintenance: It only needs occasional watering and can cope well with less light.

3. Ivy plant (Epipremnum aureum)

The money plant is one of the most popular houseplants that not only purifies the air but is also easy to care for. It effectively filters benzene, formaldehyde and toluene from the air while improving the humidity in your room.

Advantages of the ivy plant:

  • Improves air quality: Pothos is particularly good at filtering toxic substances such as benzene and formaldehyde.
  • Adaptable: This plant thrives in a variety of lighting conditions, from bright indirect light to dimly lit areas.
  • Robust and durable: Pothos plants are very resilient and can grow well even under less than ideal conditions.

4. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)

Aloe vera is known for its medicinal uses, but it also offers excellent air purifying properties. This plant filters formaldehyde and benzene from the air and requires little maintenance. In addition, the gel from its leaves can be used to treat skin irritations.

Benefits of Aloe Vera:

  • Filters pollutants: Aloe vera effectively removes formaldehyde and benzene from the air.
  • Double function: In addition to purifying the air, the gel from aloe vera leaves can be used for skin problems or sunburn.
  • Low maintenance: Aloe vera requires little water and thrives in well-drained soil, making it ideal for growers with little time.

5. Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Snake plant, also known as "mother-in-law's tongue," is one of the best plants for air purification and is perfect for indoor growing. It removes pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and toluene from the air and can even release oxygen at night, making it ideal for bedrooms.

Benefits of bow hemp:

  • Filters multiple pollutants: This plant removes a wide range of chemical compounds, including formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene.
  • Robust and easy to care for: Snake plant requires infrequent watering and thrives in a variety of lighting conditions, from direct to low light.
  • Improves air quality even at night: The snake plant is one of the few plants that releases oxygen at night and can therefore improve the air quality in the sleeping area.

6. Rubber tree (Ficus elastica)

The rubber tree is not only an easy-care plant, but also a great air purifier. It removes pollutants such as formaldehyde from the air and its large leaves help increase humidity. The rubber tree is robust and is well suited to rooms with medium to bright indirect light.

Benefits of the rubber tree:

  • Effective removal of formaldehyde: The rubber tree filters formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds from the air.
  • Large leaves: Its large leaves are not only decorative but also increase the humidity in the room.
  • Easy to care for: The rubber tree is easy to care for and only requires regular watering and indirect light.

7. Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens)

The Areca palm is one of the best air purifying plants that also helps improve indoor humidity. It removes toxins like formaldehyde and benzene from the air and is an excellent choice for larger indoor grows as it grows relatively tall.

Benefits of the Areca Palm:

  • Effective air purification: The Areca palm removes a variety of pollutants and improves indoor air quality.
  • Increases humidity: It helps increase humidity, which is particularly beneficial in dry indoor spaces.
  • Easy to care for: The Areca palm requires regular watering but little care beyond that.

8. Indoor bamboo (Chamaedorea seifrizii)

Indoor bamboo is an easy-care plant that is great for improving air quality. It filters pollutants such as formaldehyde and benzene while increasing the humidity in your room.

Advantages of indoor bamboo:

  • Improves air quality: Indoor bamboo is effective in removing chemical compounds such as benzene and formaldehyde.
  • Low light requirement: This plant thrives even in less lit spaces, making it ideal for indoor spaces with little sunlight.
  • Increases humidity: It helps improve humidity in dry indoor spaces.

Conclusion

Plants in indoor growing not only serve to increase yields, but can also contribute significantly to improving the air quality in your living space. The plants presented in this article not only provide an aesthetic enrichment, but also filter pollutants from the air and ensure a healthier indoor climate. Whether you are looking for plants to purify the air, improve humidity or for decorative purposes - these plants fulfill several functions and fit perfectly into any indoor growing setup.