Breathe Easy: Discover the Health Benefits of Houseplants

Have you ever felt the need to open a window to freshen up the air in your home? Stagnant indoor air can allow pollutants to accumulate, which may lead to breathing in more toxins than you'd like. While natural ventilation and air purifiers are the most effective ways to improve air quality, houseplants can also play a small but meaningful role in enhancing your indoor environment.

A famous Clean Air study by NASA found that certain indoor plants can absorb chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and ammonia—substances linked to issues like headaches and eye irritation. Though the study was conducted in controlled settings, the findings highlight the potential of houseplants to complement other air-cleaning strategies.

How Plants Help Indoors

• Photosynthesis: Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, which can improve air freshness.
• Humidity Regulation: Plants release moisture through transpiration, which can increase indoor humidity and make the air feel more comfortable.
• Psychological Benefits: Houseplants reduce stress, improve mood, and boost productivity, indirectly contributing to a healthier indoor environment.

8 Indoor Plants to Help Freshen the Air

If you’re looking for a simple and enjoyable way to enhance the freshness of your home, office, or any indoor space, here are eight beautiful and low-maintenance houseplants inspired by NASA’s research that can contribute to cleaner, healthier air while brightening your surroundings. Selection varies by location.

Garden Mum

In the NASA study, this plant was an air-purifying star, removing ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and xylene from indoor air. Popular and inexpensive, they can be planted outside after they're finished blooming.

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Spider Plant

Spider plants are one of the easiest houseplants to grow, making them a great choice for beginners or forgetful owners. They are fans of bright, indirect sunlight; spider plants will send out shoots with flowers that eventually grow into baby spider plants.

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Dracaena

There are more than 40 different kinds of Dracaena plants, making it easy to find one that’s a perfect fit for your home or office. They're common foliage plants with long, wide leaves that are often variegated with lines of white, cream, or red. Just a warning: this plant is toxic to cats and dogs.

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Ficus

Though the ficus is a tree native to southeast Asia, when it grows indoors, it's a surprising plant that ends up being anywhere from two and 10 feet tall. Grow this low-maintenance houseplant in bright, indirect light and allow the soil to dry out between watering.

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Peace Lily

Peace lily plants are relatively small compared to many of the plants on this list, but they still pack strong air-cleaning abilities. Easy to grow, these indoor plants will flower for much of the summer. Just be aware that these flowers contribute some pollen and floral scents to the air, so you may want to avoid having a room full of them.

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Boston Fern

These plants prefer to clean the air from a cool location with high humidity and indirect light. They're relatively easy to grow, but they do need to stay moist. Check the Boston Fern’s soil daily to see if it needs water, and give it a good soak once per month.

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Snake Plant

Snake Plants (Sansevieria) are one of the hardest houseplants to kill. Although they do need to be watered occasionally, Snake Plants generally prefer drier conditions and some sun. 

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Bamboo Palm

This plant is great at filtering formaldehyde. Their palms thrive in full sun or bright light. Part of the reason they can filter so much air is that they can grow quite large, as tall as four to 12 feet high, making them stunning indoor additions.

Houseplants can enhance your home's air quality and create a healthier living space! Visit a SummerWinds Nursery near you, to find the perfect houseplants to freshen up your home, boost your mood, reduce stress and more!

At SummerWinds Nursery, We Guarantee Success!