Clean Air With An Indoor Garden: Home

Houseplants are often the ideal solution for anyone seeking to bring a touch of natural beauty to indoor decor. As houseplants convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, they are also important regulators of indoor air quality. The clean air indoor garden can be an assortment of common houseplants that are able to clean the air and increase oxygen supply, thereby making the air healthier for every indoor living space.

Studies conducted by NASA have shown that certain common houseplants have the ability to clean the air in their vicinity. Small openings in the leaves of plants take in air; plant cells absorb carbon dioxide and other substances from the air. Carbon dioxide is used by plants to make food, and pure oxygen and water vapor are released back into the air as a by-product of this process. Other substances including pollutants can be translocated to the roots where the plants may use them, metabolize them, or release them into the soil. The ability of plants to move air around, take in air and release oxygen is important in the process of pollutant removal.

Growing an indoor garden is morale-boosting and aesthetically pleasing at any time and having these plants is a way of providing cleaner air. If everybody has just one plant, the cumulative effect of millions of plants will enhance our mental and physical well-being.

EASY-TO-GROW HOUSEPLANTS TO IMPROVE INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Houseplants for Eastern Exposure (direct morning sun)

 

Houseplants for Southern Exposure (bright sun)

BOTANICAL NAME	COMMON NAME
Chrysanthemum sp.	chrysanthemum
Codiaeum variegatum	croton
Ficus benjamina	weeping fig
Pandanus veitchii	Veitch screw pine

Houseplants for Western Exposure (direct afternoon sun)

BOTANICAL NAME	COMMON NAME
Schefflera actinophylla	Australian umbrella tree
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens	areca palm
Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana'	corn plant
Dracaena fragrans 'Warneckei'	warneckei dracaena
Dracaena marginata	dragon tree
Dieffenbachia maculata	dumb-cane
Cissus rhombifolia	grape ivy
Chamaedorea elegans	parlor palm
Ficus elastica	rubber plant
Chlorophytum comosum	spider plant

Houseplants for Northern Exposure (bright light - no direct sun)

BOTANICAL NAME	COMMON NAME
Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis'	Boston fern
Aspidistra elatior	cast iron plant
Aglaonema commutatum	Chinese evergreen
Hedera helix	English ivy
Philodendron scandens	heart leaf philodendron
Spathiphyllum wallisii	peace lily
Epipremnum aureum	pothos
Sansevieria trifasciata	snake plant, mother-in-law's tongue
Syngonium podophyllum	syngonium