Even if you switch to 100% natural products throughout your entire house, there is still going to be bullshit in the air. An easy way to help is with air purifying plants. They do the hard work for you and look good doing it. Plus, your house will be brag-worthy when someone walks in and sees green leaves and colorful flowers instead of useless abstract statues and side tables with no other purpose than to put mail, purses, and whatever else was in your hand when you got home.

NASA’s 1989 Clean Air Study lists the best purifying plants, which is awesome. Unfortunately, not all plants are equal. Kids and pets get into everything and not all plants on that list are safe for little mouths…or hands. I have a few different pets as well as kids, so I had to do a bit more research. Here is my compiled list of air-purifying indoor plants that are safe for everyone in the home.

*General tips:

Pests: common pests like aphids, spider mites, white flies, and mealybugs are drawn to sick plants so if your plant looks unhappy, pay extra close attention. As soon as you notice these things, give your plant a sponge bath with water and regular dish soap.

Watering: Plants draw in water to the roots in the early morning so that’s the best time to water. When the sun is out, water is sucked from the roots through the stems and leaves and evaporated while the plant also “breathes.” Watering when its already hot is more likely to just evaporate instead of getting to the roots. Watering in the cool evening or night will still go to the roots, but they’ll be sitting in the water longer (since the sun isn’t going to dry it off in a few) so they’re more likely to attract pests and mold.

Sun: every plant has different needs and preferences so try to give your plant what it wants. **Low light does not mean no light so if zero sun reaches the spot you want, get artificial lights. **

Sustainability: Plants are the most sustainable option when it comes to air purifying; not to mention if you have an edible plant. Growing your food cuts out pollution from the process of growing, selling, storing, and transporting on top of the eco benefit of the plant just existing, and the health benefit of homegrown food.

Purifier: It’s recommended to have 2-3 plants per 100 feet to pack a punch.

Humidity: If a plant likes high humidity, you can increase it by misting the leaves or placing it in a shallow dish of water with pebbles. The pebbles will keep the feet (roots) out of the water while the water provides more moisture in the air. Plus, it looks nice.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)

They look like a fern with little green-hanging clusters. They’ll flower but only when they’re making babies. Lucky for you, they make a lot of them and are super easy to propagate.

They filter:

• carbon monoxide.
• benzene.
• styrene.
• formaldehyde.
• xylene.
• toluene.

Bonus Benefits:

They decrease anxiety, stress, depression, agitation and improve cognitive thinking. When they were put in hospital rooms, post-surgical patients needed fewer pain meds and left the hospital sooner. They’re also edible! The leaves taste mild so add them to a salad, omelet, or even an accent to a dish.

Safety:

They’re safe for humans and dogs but are a mild hallucinogen in cats and might cause bubble guts. Even then, their day will be eventful, but they’ll be fine. It’s probably better to stick to catnip if you’re trying to get your feline high.

Care:

They love indirect sunlight, but they’ll put up with some shade. The biggest issue you’ll run into is overwatering so let the top inch of soil dry out before giving more. Pests aren’t usually an issue since they don’t attract bugs.

Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea Seifrizii)

First of all, it’s a palm, not a bamboo. They have long green whispy palm leaves that grow straight up in a beautifully dramatic way while adding moisture to the air.

They filter:

• Formaldehyde
• Benzene
• Chloroform
• Carbon monoxide

Bonus Benefits:

They add humidity to the air.

Safety:

They’re nontoxic to pretty much everyone; humans, dogs, cats, horses…not judging if you have a horse in your house.

Care:

They like low to medium light making them perfect for indoors. They tend to grow taller in medium light but will get hurt in direct or bright sunlight or near drafts. I’d put them away from windows and doors. Leave those spots for the prima donna plants that need to be front and center. Watering is going to be your biggest issue. They’re tropical so they like high humidity but if they are too wet then they’ll attract pests like aphids and dust mites.

Barberton Daisy (Gebera Jamesonii)

These flowers have dark green leaves and bright petals in almost every color. The usuals you’ll see are pink, orange and yellow. They’ll flower from late spring all the way to fall, and since they’re perennials, they will come back every year.

They filter:

• Benzene
• Formaldehyde
• Trichloroethylene

Safety:

Unlike other daisy species, they are non-toxic to humans, cats, dogs, and horses.

Care:

These love direct sunlight but hate warmth (I know). If you have a spot in your house that has bright light but runs a little cooler, let them live there. They need a decent amount of water so keep an eye out and water when the first inch of soil feels dry. They are prone to aphids, spider mites, and powdery mildew.

Pineapple Plant (Ananas Comosus)

Yes, it’s a tree but when you grow it indoors it will (only) get to 3-4 feet. So, I mean a decent size, but it won’t overtake the room. Give it a 5-gallon pot and enjoy. The leaves are long splayed out ranging from green to red and a small pineapple will grow upright in the center. Pineapple plants only produce fruit once, but they have a lot of offshoots. You can plant the offshoots and once your mama plant fruits, you can rotate them through.

They filter:

• Carbon dioxide

Bonus Benefits:

Pineapple plants produce a lot of oxygen! Some people keep one next to the bed to reduce snoring. The little pineapples are edible; a lot smaller than what you buy at the store but taste so much better. Plus, you can’t knock on food that you grow in your own house. Pineapples have been the symbol of hospitality since the 1700s. That’s why there’s been a ridiculous amount of kitchen décor and welcome mats with pineapples on them (before beach themes were trendy.)

Safety:

This is not toxic to humans, cats, dogs, and other mammals.

Care:

First of all, the mama plant will not need to be repotted. Ever. That makes maintenance so much easier.  They’re tropical so they love sunny cozy places. If you have a big window in the living room, it’s the perfect place for it to amaze houseguests. If you like to run the AC during hot weather, move it outside when it’s warm and bring it back inside when it’s not. Since it likes to be warmer than other plants, up the watering schedule. Keep the soil moist but avoid soggy toes; don’t overwater. Because of its big pot needs, consider putting your pot on a plant roller. It’s like a little tray with wheels that make your plant easily moveable (for an adult) and they come in “wheel locking” and aesthetically pleasing designs.

Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae)

These turn heads. The bright rosette yet (nonpainful) poky leaves create an interesting look. They only flower once in their entire lives but last anywhere from months to a year. The leaves are beautiful with lots of different patterns like spots, stripes, swirls, bands, and more. They have little “cups” near the base that collect water and the flowers are multicolored ranging in pinks, purples, oranges, yellows, and in-betweens.

They filter:

• POVs (toxic gases from common household things like cleaners, microwaves, printers, photocopiers, dry-cleaned clothes, and more) including:
• Dichloromethane
• Trichloromethane
• Acetone

Bonus Benefits:

They release oxygen and one plant reduces 80% of these toxins in the air. Studies showed bromeliad was the only plant to filter out dichloromethane and trichloromethane, being completely ignored by other plants.

Safety:

They are nontoxic to pets and kids.

Care:

The epitome of easy: They like shallow pots and thrive in minimal soil, so you can mix orchid soil with bark or moss and make it look extra pretty and happy. It’ll even cling and grow to seemingly random organic things like moss, logs, and even coconut shells with no soil whatsoever. They like indirect sunlight—sometimes. They have personality so you have to get to know your plant. The ones with more stiff leaves tend to prefer more sunlight, the softer leaves tend to like less. Either way, keep it indirect because direct light will burn the leaves. The cups on the leaves catch water and absorb it through there so it’s an abnormal plant in that you water the cups, not the growing medium. If you have it in soil, you can still put a little water in the soil if it looks bone dry. If there’s no soil, mist the leaves on occasion. The mama plant only lives for a few years so don’t panic and think you’re doing something wrong. Luckily, it has babies, so you’ll have a life cycle of generations to enjoy. They can get pests like aphids or mealybugs, but they aren’t prone to them.

Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes Phyllostachya)

Living up to the name, these little plants have colored polka-dot leaves. The most common are pink and green, but you can also see red, purple, white, and other deep colors. They have little pink or lilac flowers that bloom sporadically.

They filter:

• Carbon dioxide

Bonus Benefits:

These plants produce oxygen, increase creativity, and reduce stress, fatigue, and sickness.

Safety:

They are non-toxic to humans, cats, dogs, horses, and wild animals. Again, no judgement.

Care:

They like bright indirect sunlight and medium humidity. Keep the soil moist; they’ll suffer if you let the soil dry out. The usual risks with these are mealybugs, whiteflies, aphids, and powdery mildew.

Holiday Plants (Schlumbergera Truncate, Schlumbergera Bridgesii, and Rhipsalidopsis Gaertneri)

Holiday is an umbrella term for three main varieties: Thanksgiving plant, Christmas plant, and Easter plant. Hence…Holiday. All three are different plants but still purify the air. The flowers on all of them are bright red, orange, and yellow and you can force them to flower all year by putting them in darkness for some time to “trick” them. The main visual difference are the flowers.

They filter:

• Carbon dioxide

Bonus benefits:

They produce oxygen.

Safety:

They’re nontoxic to kids and pets.

Care:

They’re a succulent so they like the desert. Let the soil dry out before watering and give it more light. Temperature can range, normal home temperature is fine without having to mess with much or adjust humidity.

African Violet (Saintpaulia Ionantha)

They are small with dark green fuzzy leaves and bright purple flowers. They usually bloom a few times a year, but you can get them to bloom all year if you baby the fuck out of it.

They filter:

• Benzene
• Formaldehyde

Safety:

They are nontoxic to humans and pets.

Care:

They like indirect light and warm temperatures. They make the perfect plant for a bathroom or kitchen window and are known for being great beginner plants. The leaves will turn brown if water touches them so a good way to water is through a dish at the bottom. That allows water to draw up through the roots. Just make sure they’re not sitting in water too long or their feet will get soggy, leading to root rot.

Choosing the rigvht plant means choosing the right plant for you. If you have a black thumb, choosing the plants that love drama might not be the right option, but the stubborn ones may! Look at the lighting in your house and even the available space to keep said plant. It may be trial and error and that’s ok. Just remember, farmers and growers kill the most plants – not the ones that never try.

References:

• The Best Air-Purifying Plants (healthline.com)
• 26 Best Air Purifying Plants For The Home (countryliving.com)
• 8 Easy-Care Flowering Houseplants (thespruce.com)
• Indoor Flowering Plants for Beginners – Indoor Blooming Plants (housebeautiful.com)
• Are Spider Plants Poisonous or Toxic to Humans and Pets? – Petal Republic
• Bamboo Palms: Care and Growing Guide (thespruce.com)
• Your Complete Guide to Caring for a Bamboo Palm in Your Home | PLANTZ
• Gerbera Daisies: Plant Care & Growing Guide (thespruce.com)
• Pineapple: How to Grow and Care for Pineapple Plants Indoors (thespruce.com)
• Polka Dot Plant: Care & Growing Guide (thespruce.com)
• The Ultimate Holiday Cactus Plant Care Guide | Planterina
• How to Grow and Care for African Violets (thespruce.com)
• Christmas Cactus vs Thanksgiving Cactus | Garden Gate (gardengatemagazine.com)