It’s great to have indoor plants because they bring color and life to any room. But even better if your plants are purifying the air at the same time! These are 5 low maintenance air purifying plants, so you’re breathing clean air and don’t have to worry too much about plant maintenance!
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What makes a plant air purifying?
Most plants do this by nature – they convert carbon dioxide to breathable oxygen. That’s why we need forests, to keep us breathing! However, some plants do better than others with this task, and also take out some of the other toxins in the air. These are the plants that are classified as air purifying. (There are some pots that help with that too developed by NASA!)
*note that having one of these plants in your home will not completely purify the air, but it can help some!
Here are 5 low maintenance air purifying plants:
Spider Plant
Spider plants, or Chlorophytum comosum is a really low maintenance air purifying plant. It is a plant that produces a lot of oxygen, and is non-toxic so you can keep it around pets! This plant does not like much sunlight, so it can sit in an area of the room that gets no direct sunlight, but is still a room lit by the sun.
Due to the plant’s nature, it makes for a great hanging plant or a shelf where it has the freedom to drape down and grow. The spider plant likes a moist soil best, but since it’s not getting direct sunlight will not have to be watered as often as other plants.
There are a few different types of spider plants to grow, read about the 5 most common spider plant varieties!
This plant is also extremely easy to repropagate, by just cutting off the little plants from the stems and putting them in a bit of water until roots form!
Boston Fern
The Boston Fern, Sword Fern, or Nephrolepis exaltata is another great air purifying plant to have in any room. This is another plant, like the spider plant, that can beautifully live as a hanging plant, if you don’t have any counter space.
This is another plant that doesn’t like direct sunlight, and prefers a cooler part of the room to live in. A Boston fern is a little pickier about water and humidity, so it’s more recommended if you live in a high humidity area. This plant likes the soil to stay damp, so water it regularly.
A great part about the boston fern is it will tell you if it needs more care. If the leaves are yellowing, it needs more humidity. Try to have it either in a room where there’s a humidifier running, or mist the leaves with water every once in a while!
Along with this being an easy care air purifying plant, it is also animal friendly, being non-toxic.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is slightly different than the other plants on this list, because it’s also a succulent! Not only is aloe a low maintenance air purifying plant, it also has many uses.
It’s very low maintenance because this plant thrives in the desert. So it does not need much water; over watering is the quickest way to kill your aloe plant. This plant can also live in part sun or full sun light, so leave this plant near a window! (Make sure if you’re moving it to a sunnier spot to slowly acclimate it, or else the aloe plant can get burnt).
Aloe only needs to be watered occasionally, when the soil feels dry. Not only will this plant help purify the air, it can also help with healing of minor burns and cuts. This can be done by cutting off one of the leaves, washing it, and cut in half! Make sure you’re only using a mature plant, as if you use a young one (like in the image above), it might die with too many cuttings being taken.
You may also be interested in: how to cut an aloe vera plant without killing it
Peace Lily
A peace lily, or Spathiphyllum wallisii, is a very beautiful plant. It’s a low maintenance air purifying plant, sure to add beauty to any room. One thing that makes a peace lily a low maintenance plant is that it does not require sunlight, preferring to be in a shaded part of the room, away from any heating vents.
The peace lily is another plant that likes to stay partly humid, so it’s a good idea to occasionally mist the leaves. As a common cause of death of the peace lily is overwatering. Check to see if the soil is still moist, if it is on damp on the surface, do not water it!
This is not a plant to own if you have pets, as they are mildly toxic.
You might also be interested in: 7 Beautiful Houseplants with White Flowers
Snake Plant
A snake plant, or Sansevieria, is a statement plant. Not only does this amazing plant purify the air, it can also grow up to 12 feet tall! (The one in the image has a height of 54 inches) Start this plant when it’s small in a container that’s only slightly bigger than it is, and increase the pot size once it’s filled out the diameter.
This snake plant can start on a counter, but as it grows over the years, it can become a great statement in any room.
This plant is really low maintenance as well, as it is happy to be in low-light, no direct sunlight areas, doesn’t need much water, and likes room temperature. This plant does not bloom very often, but if it does, it can be a sign of distress. Check if it needs watering, maybe give it some fertilizer, or see if it’s getting too much sunlight.
There are a bunch of different snake plant varieties you can grow! Read here for 5 of the most common ones.
Have you decided which of these plants to start with in your home? Or, you can have all of them, each in a different part of your livnig space! The more plants you have in your home, the better chance of air purifying. Looking for other hanging plants? Here are some great hanging succulents!
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