PlantDummy

There are a lot of plants out there, most of them convert Co2 into o2. However some do it better than others, as well as filter out potentially harmful chemicals that can build up in the air

Aloe Vera:

This was a tough one, but I think that I have to choose the Aloe Vera plant because of its overall usefulness, pricing, and because it is easy to grow. 

Aloe Vera generally isn’t that expensive. You are able to  eat them if you prepare them properly (make sure your Aloe Vera plant is actually an Aloe Vera and not another type of Aloe). Another amazing thing that you are probably aware of is that you can even soothe your skin with Aloe Vera.

Aloe Vera plants tend to start off smaller, so having a couple of them may be more beneficial as far as removing toxic chemicals from the air. They help with replacing Co2 and help remove benzene from the air.

Devils Ivy – AKA Golden Pothos:

Not to be confused with the Devils Lettuce, these plants are beautiful. They can grow huge up to 8 feet long! You don’t have to worry about it getting too big and taking over your house either, you can trim the vines when they get out of hand.

Devil’s Ivy isn’t too terrible to care for either, many types of conditions are okay for them to live in. It helps purify the air of some chemicals such as Carbon monoxide benzene, formaldehyde, toluene and a few more.

This is a plant that if you have pets you need to be careful, as it is toxic to them. So definitely keep it out of reach of them.

Boston Fern:

I love ferns, they look beautiful on stands, hanging, or in the corner. Heck they look good almost anywhere you put them. Ferns in general are pretty great at reducing pollutants in the air.

According to the NASA research study in 1989 found that Ferns were one of the best at getting rid of those harmful chemicals. I would assume that there may be some people who are skeptical of the study and the effectiveness in the room. However, I personally don’t think it would hurt by having some in your room, and would like to think that it at least has some basis in helping with air quality. I can’t say for certain, but I know I love ferns and they make me happier.

NASA also had another mention of fern which is the Queen fern, and ferns in general have quite a bit of surface area. I would assume that a lot of them would be alright and have some similar qualities, but I can’t confirm or deny that part. I just love ferns and want to justify you getting some.

Dracaena reflexa:

This is a beautiful plant, you have probably seen the many different types of Dracaena’s before. However NASA mentions that the Dacaena Reflexa is one of the better ones for removing harmful things from the air. Keep them out of reach of pets, especially cats who like to nibble on plants because they can be toxic.

A fun fact is that the Dracaena is part of the pineapple family!

Rubber Plant:

The rubber plant or rubber tree, or even rubber fig plant… regardless of what you name it does it’s job. I love this plant, because of the thick beautiful leaves that drape around it. Not to mention that it does a heck of a job helping with the air quality. This is because of its large surface area from the leaves, which love to take in carbon dioxide and make quality oxygen for us to breathe in.

Be careful if you have pets because this plant can be toxic to animals.

Spider Plants:

Spider plants I feel will always have a special place in most situations in the home. They just look too good not to. In the case of air purifying, they also do a pretty good job. They give you fresh oxygen, while helping to get rid of harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene.

They are hard to kill, cheap to own, and look good. So that is why the Spider plant makes a return on as one of my favorites. I still think that ferns are more so a favorite, but spider plants are making their way up the ladder!

As a general note:

I do want people to be cautious of what plants they have in their homes and always do your own research before putting a plant into your home. There are places available to you to search for different types of plants to see if it may be potentially harmful to your type of pet.

References and Citations:

Wolverson, C. B., Johnson, A., & Bounds, K. (1989, September 15). NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS). Retrieved December 20, 2020, from https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19930073077

Riley, E. (2018, September 18). The best air-purifying plants. Retrieved February 06, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/health/air-purifying-plants#:~:text=Golden%20pothos%20(Epipremnum%20aureum),purifiers%20for%20removing%20common%20toxins.

Smyth, D. (2020, November 25). Information about rubber plants & cleaning the air. Retrieved February 06, 2021, from https://homeguides.sfgate.com/information-rubber-plants-cleaning-air-83674.html