With air pollution always on the rise in the Capital, SHAlINI SAKSENA talks to wellness experts to recommend effective home plants for healthier breathing
Chinese Evergreen
It is an easy-to-care-for plant which helps filter out a variety of air pollutants and remove toxins in the air. It needs low light and can grow in places where other plants usually don’t.
Chrysanthemum
It is a wonderful plant, known for its amazing big size flowers. It is available in many varieties as its flowers are of many colours, except blue. This colourful flower plant is best for filtering of benzene from the air which is commonly found in glue, paints, plastics and detergents. It also doesn’t need a lot of sunlight but requires at least some direct sun light.
Spider Plant
Also known as Airplane Plant, it does a great job in cleaning the air. A NASA test found that in 24 hours, it removed 95 per cent toxic substances from a sealed plexiglas chamber. It can absorb carbon monoxide quickly — a gas that can lead to headache, nausea, weakness, exhaustion, dizziness, confusion and angina.
The Spider Plant is edible and many people in Africa who have low budget for food like to eat it as it is high in vitamins and micronutrients.
It also has beta-carotene and Vitamin C, calcium, protein, magnesium and powerful anti-oxidants.
English Ivy
An amazing plant native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa which can grow everywhere. It best grows on walls and has no natural enemies so the growth is uncontrolled, sometimes even invasive. We can see it at its best when it covers the entire house, mostly in Europe. Its air filtering ability reduces air borne fecal-matter particles. It also filters out formaldehyde found in some household cleaning products like detergents. This plant can’t get invasive if grown in a small pot. It grows best on moist soil with four or more hours of direct sunlight every day.
Peace lily
It is one of the best indoor plants for cleaning up the air. It looks beautiful, is easy to care as doesn’t need direct sunlight. If too much light is thrown at it, leaves turn yellow. It is one of the best plants to reduce the effect of toxic gases like benzene, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide.
Its leaves should not be consumed as it can lead to skin irritation, stomach discomfort and some side effects.
Aloe Vera
It is a very common plant easily grown and has nearly 6,000 years of history. Aloe filters air by absorbing formaldehyde and benzene, which can be a by-product of chemical-based cleaners, paints and more. As it is a small plant, it is easy to keep inside the house and on the kitchen window sil. Apart from its air filtering ability, it is also good to use on cuts and burns as it helps in quick healing.
Snake’s on you
It is a very common plant best for filtering out formaldehyde, which is common in cleaning products, toilet paper, tissues and personal care products. It is very good to keep snake plant inside or near bathroom as it needs much sunlight and it can filter the air pollutants. It absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen at night so it is also good to keep in your bedroom.
Golden Pothos (Money Plant)
Better known as Money Plant, it is one of the best plants for filtering air pollution. A common indoor plant, it should be kept away from children as it is poisonous. It is good to keep it near your car park or garage as it is a powerful plant to tackle formaldehyde. It doesn’t require direct sunlight and not much water. Hence, it is easy to take care of.
Bamboo Palm
It is a wonderful green plant also known as Reed Palm. It is best placed inside the house and office because it tops the list of plants best for filtering out benzene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde. It grows around five-sevenfeet and prefers humidity, bright, indirect light and doesn’t need much watering.
Weeping Fig
It is a green leafy plant mostly grown inside and is best used to filter out pollutants that typically accompany carpeting furniture such as formaldehyde, benzene and trich-loroethylene. It takes time and needs attention and care when planted. The weeping fig requires indirect sunlight but once it takes its roots and adjusts to the environment, it lives longer and filters your home air amazingly well.
Expert take
City life is busy wherein you don’t get time to look around and think about ornamental plants at home. I’ve always had a love for ornamental plants and whenever I get the time, I love to spend it with plants. My property in Gurgaon, which I bought with a basement, is now a corporate office for diet clinic. But it has an open space and has many plants with natural capacity to filter air pollutants. I hope after reading this people will find interest in planting such plants at least for their best air cleaning properties.
— Rajiv Seharawat a wellness coach & CEO of Diet Clinic