• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Frugal Gardening

Simple ways to save money while you garden

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Garden Frugally
  • Buy These
  • Privacy Policy
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Google+
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Which Indoor Plants Purify Air?

March 15, 2021 by Steph Coelho Leave a Comment

Indoor plants that can purify air

Let’s get one thing straight. You probably won’t improve your home’s air quality by filling it with indoor plants that can purify air. According to a National Geographic piece from 2019, houseplants won’t do much to clean your home’s air. 

Most of the advice about air-purifying houseplants comes from an old NASA study. In a 2019 article in the Atlantic, Robinson Meyer reports that the study was indeed on the up and up, but it doesn’t quite translate to the real world. Plants do have cleaning abilities, but they just can’t handle cleaning an entire room, let alone a whole house of pollutants. Cleaning the air in your entire house would necessitate becoming a plant hoarder–which, come to think of it, isn’t a terribly unappealing idea. 

It’s no surprise that this myth about indoor plants that can purify air has proliferated online. I believed it at one point! NASA did a study? It must be true! Unfortunately, that study results have taken on a life of their own. People love to talk about the air purifying qualities of plants. 

But unless you’re filling your home from floor to ceiling with plants—eliminating a clear path to walk—your pretty house plants aren’t doing much to clean the air. You’re better off investing in an air purifier if you’re worried about air quality. 

Houseplants still have a variety of benefits, though! They’re attractive and are an inexpensive way to spruce up a room. They make great gifts, and research even shows that having houseplants can help boost your mental health.  

A Brief Word About Air Quality

In-home air quality is a complicated thing. Gardeners love to spend time outdoors but did you know that keeping your windows open can contribute to poor indoor air quality? If there’s a lot of traffic nearby or the air is particularly bad outside, letting it in will only serve to tank the air quality in your home.

Other things that can contribute to poor air quality include:

  • Cooking
  • Faulty appliances
  • Fuel-burning appliances, like a gas stove or furnace
  • New construction
  • Household products like cleaning supplies and candles
  • Mold

Don’t let their lack of air-purifying abilities dissuade you from acquiring houseplants. They certainly won’t make your air worse. Here’s a video that goes through some of the easiest houseplants to take care of. Bonus: they’re also some of the easiest to find for cheap!

Filed Under: gardening myths, houseplants, indoor gardening Tagged With: air purification, air purifying plants, houseplants, indoor gardening, plants

Previous Post: « The Importance of Crop Rotation
Next Post: The Importance of Insects to your Garden Ecosystem »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
  Thank you for Signing Up
Please correct the marked field(s) below.

1,true,6,Contact Email,21,false,1,First Name,21,false,1,Last Name,2

$30 Off your first cleaning when you sign up for a plan! (new customers only) Use code: AFF30OFF at Handy – Book Now!

Popular Posts

  • Vinegar Uses In GardenVinegar Uses In Garden by Steph Coelho 1. Clay Pot Cleaning: Vinegar will remove the white salt…
  • Troubleshooting the Seed Starting Process: Using Old SeedsTroubleshooting the Seed Starting Process: Using Old Seeds by Steph Coelho I'm typing this up on a gloomy day here in…
  • Garden For FreeGarden For Free by Steph Coelho Is it possible to have a lush flower garden, produce…
  • Frugal Container GardenFrugal Container Garden by Steph Coelho Pots and planters can be an expensive item if you're…
go with the flow gardening

Go With The Flow Gardening

Spring is here! I remember at this time last year, we were at the start of this pandemic and I was so excited to start the gardening season. It was too cold to start planting, but I had a ton of stuff started in my basement, and I was slowly starting to harden things off….

Read More

reasons why seeds don't germinate

10 Top Reasons Why Seeds Don’t Germinate

There are a lot of reasons why seeds don’t germinate. Knowing what can go wrong is the first step in solving the problem. If you’re struggling to start seeds this spring, here are a few things to look out for. Why Aren’t Seeds Germinating? Here are a few common reasons why seeds don’t germinate. It’s…

Read More

spring garden clean-up

How To Do A Spring Garden Clean-Up

It’s springtime! The season that signals to every gardener that it’s time to get started is here. In my neck of the woods, it’s also the ugliest time of year. I become tempted to start my spring garden clean-up right away,  but I know that soon the buds from my maple trees will fall and…

Read More

get free seeds from the government

How To Get Free Seeds From The Government

At first glance, seeds seem like a relatively inexpensive purchase. However, when buying several varieties, the cost can really add up quickly. A frugal gardener knows that there are plenty of ways to find seeds for cheap or free. Here’s how to get free seeds from the government. Getting Free Seeds From the Government The…

Read More

Footer

Copyright © 2021 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework