The Three Plants That Will Improve Your Home Air
June 4, 2010 at 5:00 am Chad Upton 64 comments
Spring is here and the garden centers are open. It’s time to get some plants, especially for inside your home.
Indoor plants are really important. There are chemicals in and on almost everything you buy. If your air is not replenished with fresh air, it can be mildly toxic. But, with the right mix of plants, your air can be cleaned and oxygenated around the clock.
With as little as these three plants, you can have this perfect mix:
- Areca palm – (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)
- Snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue – (Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’)
- Golden pothos or Devil’s ivy – (Scindapsus aures or Epipremnum aureum)
The “Areca Palm” removes CO2 and converts it into oxygen during the day. The “Snake Plant” converts CO2 into oxygen at night. The “Golden pothos” removes formaldehyde and other chemicals from your air.
Using these plants has shown significant oxygen level improvements in real world situations. Having these plants in your home can increase blood oxygen levels by 1% in 10 hours. They can reduce headaches, eye irritation, asthma and other respiratory problems.
These three plants are just a few of the many plants that are considered Air Filtering Plants. NASA has identified a number of similar plants in it’s Clean Air Study — an attempt to understand natural ways to purify air in closed spaces, on earth and beyond.
Read about the other plants or watch Kamal Meattle’s talk at TED for more info.
Broken Secrets | By: Chad Upton
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Photo: Leto A (cc)
Sources: TED, Air Filtering Plants
Entry filed under: Around The House, Be Green, Health and Beauty. Tags: air, asthma, breath, fresh, headache, health, irritation, quality, respiratory.
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Broken Secrets 
1.
Catherine | June 4, 2010 at 9:22 am
Wow, fascinating. The only problem for me is that I have a green thumb when it comes to outdoor gardens but always kill my indoor plants. I have an autoimmune disease which makes me sensitive to toxins, so I think I should look for these plants and try this.
Catherine
2.
azizmoummou | June 5, 2010 at 4:37 am
Hi:
It’s always great to bring something new…keep up the good work!!!
Look at mine on:
http://hellochichaoua.wordpress.com/
3.
James | December 31, 2013 at 7:11 am
Ello, I would say your probably over watering your house plants. If the leaves turn yellow and begin to drop off – it’s over watering or not enough sun light.
I made the that mistake with a lot of my indoor plants. At first I was watering once a week and within a month they where all looking dull. I now water them one a month MAX! or at lease when the top two inches of soil become crispy dry.
Letting the top get dry also helps prevent pests. :)
4.
Veronica Twizzler | June 4, 2010 at 9:43 am
This is good information! I never knew plants could do all of that. Although, I hate snake planets, but the other two I wouldn’t mind giving a try. It’s funny because when I was younger and in day care they had those plants all over the room, and that’s the only reason why I recognize them.
5.
wildwoodflwr | June 4, 2010 at 10:14 am
The Christmas Cactus is another plant that releases its oxygen at night. We keep one in our bedroom window.
6.
fizzy | June 4, 2010 at 10:26 am
Interesting. Although all plants emit oxygen in day time, our grandparents always told us sleep away from trees at night coz we thought all plants emit CO2 at night, so the snake plant was a real surprise to me.
There’s another tree that is used for it’s herbal properties, I do not know the name, but we used to boil several leaves of it in our living room coz it apparently cleanses the air.
7.
cynde | June 4, 2010 at 10:34 am
Spider plants are also good for CO2 removal. I read this many years ago in a newspaper about a scientific study and have had several in my home ever since. I need to find an Areca palm now, Thanks
8.
thebackroadslesstraveled | June 4, 2010 at 10:40 am
Thanks. Will take your suggestion. Hope I can keep them alive. For some reason, even tho I am a farm girl, I have a hard time keeping indoor plants healthy and alive.
9.
Carl Francis | June 4, 2010 at 11:31 am
I checked the images online and found out we have all three plants in our yard. I didn’t even know there names until now. Who knew they were that useful. Glad to know that our air is clean.
10.
thecodger | June 4, 2010 at 11:33 am
Ah, I will have to look for those plants the next time I’m at the greenhouse. Right now, I presently have an asparagus fern and a sago palm. That one’s actually not a true palm at all, but rather a prehistoric plant that resembles one. And that’s just indoors — outdoors I have a large victory garden. It’s always nice to meet another avid gardener.
The Codger
http://thecodger.wordpress.com/
11.
Club Dine In! | June 4, 2010 at 11:40 am
Thanks for sharing and reminding me I need to get some plants in this apartment! Hopefully, it will help with the hacking cough I’ve had for weeks due to “allergies”.
12.
zookyshirts | June 4, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Thanks for sharing great advice to have indoor plants. Not only do plants add beauty to the indoor environment, it’s great knowing that they’re helping to clean the air. Great to know that others are doing this!
13. The Three Plants That Will Improve Your Home Air (via Broken Secrets) « Cheap Like Me | June 4, 2010 at 12:26 pm
[…] Spring is here and the garden centers are open. It's time to get some plants, especially for inside your home. Indoor plants are really important. There are chemicals in and on almost everything you buy. If your air is not replenished with fresh air, it can be mildly toxic. But, with the right mix of plants, your air can be cleaned and oxygenated around the clock. With as little as these three plants, you can have this perfect mix: Areca palm – ( … Read More […]
14.
Weam al Dakheel | June 4, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Interesting post:) Apply health sources in your daily life with what nature navigates you to do, it is the best way to keep up your healthy shape.
CO2 is just as poisoner as it sounds C O 2!
Would love to have your visits to my blog:) weamaldakheel.wordpress.com
15.
Sash | June 4, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Will this work on the Gulf?
16.
occamsays | June 4, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Great for people. Be careful if you have pets. The Golden Pothos and Snake Plant are toxic to dogs and cats. The Areca Palm is non-toxic. I always check with the ASPCA site when I’m plant shopping http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/ Just an FYI :-)
17.
Ikah | June 5, 2010 at 11:20 pm
Thanks for looking out for the fuzzy friends. <3
18.
Joeie | August 5, 2011 at 2:00 pm
The pucrshaes I make are entirely based on these articles.
19.
gerald95 | June 4, 2010 at 1:45 pm
nice pic of the water
20. Plants that clean your office or studio air « GrowYourWellnessBiz.com | June 4, 2010 at 4:02 pm
[…] I just read a posting on the Broken Secrets Blog and it reminded me that a wonderful way to enhance the appearance and health of your wellness […]
21.
letterstotheheartofwonders | June 4, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Thats absolutely amazing!
22.
Beverly | June 4, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Saw a special on TV a while ago on NASA and they talked about plants used in the shuttle, to help the astronauts live better up in space. Glad to see this topic again.
23.
Vodka and Ground Beef | June 4, 2010 at 5:49 pm
I just love that the snake plant is called the “mother-in-law’s tongue.” Hi larious!
24.
thebackroadslesstraveled | June 5, 2010 at 8:21 am
Great & hilarious observation. How true, how true.
25.
youngcleanlegit | June 4, 2010 at 9:14 pm
Good post! I’m a big fan of the Jade plant myself.
26.
notesfromrumbleycottage | June 4, 2010 at 11:06 pm
I just did an article on the subject citing the NASA study. I am wondering if it will help my son who has bad allergies. Can plants survive three boys and a Labrador?
27.
The Three Plants That Will Improve Your Home Air (via Broken Secrets) « …And in all these things | June 4, 2010 at 11:35 pm
[…] Spring is here and the garden centers are open. It's time to get some plants, especially for inside your home. Indoor plants are really important. There are chemicals in and on almost everything you buy. If your air is not replenished with fresh air, it can be mildly toxic. But, with the right mix of plants, your air can be cleaned and oxygenated around the clock. With as little as these three plants, you can have this perfect mix: Areca palm – ( … Read More […]
28.
maryeugene7 | June 5, 2010 at 12:45 am
sooo wonderfull hope u can visit my blog..
entitled life goes on!! thankz
29.
Club Dine In! | June 5, 2010 at 3:28 am
I was so inspired by your post that I bought a Eucalyptus plant. Its odor/aroma is strong, but I think it’s already made such a difference!
30.
cavita | June 5, 2010 at 3:38 am
felt glad to ead about it…. on the world’s environment day…
well… the whole world should better know about it rather than increasing their residental areas….let the plants be grown!!!
31. The Three Plants That Will Improve Your Home Air (via Broken Secrets) « 毅华≠Eva | June 5, 2010 at 6:18 am
[…] Spring is here and the garden centers are open. It's time to get some plants, especially for inside your home. Indoor plants are really important. There are chemicals in and on almost everything you buy. If your air is not replenished with fresh air, it can be mildly toxic. But, with the right mix of plants, your air can be cleaned and oxygenated around the clock. With as little as these three plants, you can have this perfect mix: Areca palm – ( … Read More […]
32.
fdaray | June 5, 2010 at 8:05 am
Plants supply oxygen to us anywhere.
33.
fdaray | June 5, 2010 at 8:09 am
Teach the child to plant trees while still young. Once this is formed into a habit, they will plant trees wherever they are.
34.
fdaray | June 5, 2010 at 8:13 am
The trees give color for our eyes- green.
35.
thorsaurus | June 5, 2010 at 10:03 am
Thank you, good info.
36.
wellnessspot | June 5, 2010 at 10:17 am
Great information! Inspires me to grow some more indoor plants. Feel free to stop by and check out my blog anytime. :)
37.
Laura Bruzzese | June 5, 2010 at 10:32 am
I like your blog and this post–what I great idea! Thanks for sharing.
38.
Kathy | June 5, 2010 at 11:16 am
Thank you for sharing this. I don’t have a green thumb, indoors or out, however I’ve been able to keep a fern variety alive for over a year now, so maybe I’m actually ready to make a commitment to these plants as they seem to be pretty tolerant of inconsistent care. Namaste.
39.
http://twitter.com/geotravel | June 5, 2010 at 11:23 am
Great blog. If you like flowers you gotta visit Vancouver, British Columbia…really any place that susports nature will do. This is where you will find wonderfully clean and healthy air. I wish our towns and cities would plant more high quality trees and plants indigenous to the region in which planted. Thanks for the great info!
40.
یک مخابراتی | June 5, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Thanks for sharing your useful information with us
41.
scarsarestories | June 5, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Great info, time to take another trip to my favourite store for plants here in Vancouver – Figaro’s Garden. I could spend thousands of dollars there!
I created a wonderful greenspace on my little concrete porch that has brought much joy into my life. Check it out at my newly hosted blog – http://www.practiceofmadness.com – for other cheap and beautiful ideas to bring some flora into your home.
Cheers!
scars
42.
Plants that can clean your homes air « The W.O.N.D.E.R. Technique ® | June 5, 2010 at 4:36 pm
[…] I just read a posting on the Broken Secrets Blog and it reminded me that a wonderful way to enhance the appearance and health of your home or office […]
43. ‘Clean Air’ Plants for homes in Jakarta (and other polluted cities) « OffShoreJoe.com – The fun, frustrations & adventure of working overseas | June 5, 2010 at 9:02 pm
[…] Check out the post: https://brokensecrets.com/2010/06/04/the-three-plants-you-should-have-inside-your-home/ […]
44.
aliceinwaiting | June 5, 2010 at 9:49 pm
I’m excited to read this; I’ve been wanting to get a plant for my apartment. However, I do not think I’d have room for three unless I de-junked my room or put one in the living room. Thanks for pointing these out. I love the thought of humans and nature working together to keep each other live. Funny, though, how some humans can so easily betray, though. It reminds me of that M. Night Shyamalan move The Happening, which was nothing but a one and a half hour environmental awareness service announcement, but good nonetheless.
45.
alandmei | June 5, 2010 at 11:38 pm
Thanks for posting, love the devil’s ivy my mom got for me- it’s helped a lot and grows so fast too!
46.
The Three Plants That Will Improve Your Home Air (via Broken Secrets) « VallieMichele's Blog | June 6, 2010 at 1:03 am
[…] June 5, 2010 by valliemichele Leave a Comment Spring is here and the garden centers are open. It's time to get some plants, especially for inside your home. Indoor plants are really important. There are chemicals in and on almost everything you buy. If your air is not replenished with fresh air, it can be mildly toxic. But, with the right mix of plants, your air can be cleaned and oxygenated around the clock. With as little as these three plants, you can have this perfect mix: Areca palm – ( … Read More […]
47.
The Three Plants That Will Improve Your Home Air (via Broken Secrets) « Yolkstar2010's Blog | June 6, 2010 at 5:51 am
[…] Spring is here and the garden centers are open. It's time to get some plants, especially for inside your home. Indoor plants are really important. There are chemicals in and on almost everything you buy. If your air is not replenished with fresh air, it can be mildly toxic. But, with the right mix of plants, your air can be cleaned and oxygenated around the clock. With as little as these three plants, you can have this perfect mix: Areca palm – ( … Read More […]
48.
Spiritual Life of An Atheist: The Incredibly Improbable and Wondrous Occurrence of Life « The Spiritual Life of An Atheist | June 6, 2010 at 8:43 am
[…] see Chad Upton, “The Three Plants You Should Have Inside Your Home,” at https://brokensecrets.com/2010/06/04/the-three-plants-you-should-have-inside-your-home/, for tips on using plants to provide clean air in your home. Leave a […]
49.
SAJohnson | June 6, 2010 at 9:09 am
What a great tip! I never would have thought of this, even though it’s only logical. And a very practical tangent which I have included in my post this week. http://sannejohnson.wordpress.com/2010/06/06/spiritual-life-of-an-atheist-the-incredibly-improbable-and-wondrous-occurrence-of-life/
50.
dezolutions2010 | June 6, 2010 at 11:05 am
Thats a great post! I have been trying for years not to kill my house plants. I LOVE Devils ivy…. when they get all bunched together and hung from the ceiling, it looks gorgeous. I had no idea they had more benefits than aesthetics! I’ll be sprucing up the house for sure!
I also keep a blog about lots of goals I plan to tackle this year… including… my adventures of keeping a plant alive in my plant cemetery.
http://dezolutions.wordpress.com/category/09-keep-plant-alive/
51.
The Three Plants That Will Improve Your Home Air (via Broken Secrets) « Second Langage's Blog | June 6, 2010 at 11:11 am
[…] Spring is here and the garden centers are open. It's time to get some plants, especially for inside your home. Indoor plants are really important. There are chemicals in and on almost everything you buy. If your air is not replenished with fresh air, it can be mildly toxic. But, with the right mix of plants, your air can be cleaned and oxygenated around the clock. With as little as these three plants, you can have this perfect mix: Areca palm – ( … Read More […]
52.
dennisfinocchiaro | June 6, 2010 at 11:53 am
So interesting! I’m heading to the greenhouse tomorrow to see what I can find. Thanks!
http://www.denwrites.com
53.
Shreryl Traum | June 6, 2010 at 12:14 pm
This is fantastic information! I am an asthma sufferer and our office just completed a remodeling project. I have an air filter running constantly in my office, but it doesn’t seem to be enough. I can’t wait to go out and find these plants, and I plan to take care of them like they are my partners in a more free-breathing life. Thank you for this great post!
54. The Three Plants That Will Improve Your Home Air (via Broken Secrets) | Condowindow's Blog | June 6, 2010 at 1:14 pm
[…] The Three Plants That Will Improve Your Home Air (via Broken Secrets) Posted on June 6, 2010 by condowindow Spring is here and the garden centers are open. It's time to get some plants, especially for inside your home. Indoor plants are really important. There are chemicals in and on almost everything you buy. If your air is not replenished with fresh air, it can be mildly toxic. But, with the right mix of plants, your air can be cleaned and oxygenated around the clock. With as little as these three plants, you can have this perfect mix: Areca palm – ( … Read More […]
55. The Three Plants That Will Improve Your Home Air. | Condowindow's Blog | June 6, 2010 at 1:14 pm
[…] The Three Plants That Will Improve Your Home Air. Posted on June 6, 2010 by condowindow Spring is here and the garden centers are open. It's time to get some plants, especially for inside your home. Indoor plants are really important. There are chemicals in and on almost everything you buy. If your air is not replenished with fresh air, it can be mildly toxic. But, with the right mix of plants, your air can be cleaned and oxygenated around the clock. With as little as these three plants, you can have this perfect mix: Areca palm – ( … Read More […]