The importance of indoor plants to the ecosystem in the home cannot be overstated. They not only bring peace and harmony, but also directly affect the vital characteristics of the living environment. Thanks to the processes of photosynthesis, indoor plants release oxygen and heal the atmosphere, play the role of natural moisturizers and even phytoncides. But the most important function of indoor crops is considered to be air purification. These are the most natural filters available, capable of “sucking” toxins, chemical compounds and even traces of heavy metals from the air. And among these natural cleaners, there are real stars capable of amazingly effective cope with the task. We will talk about them in this publication.
Plants that purify the air
The most natural air purifiers
Scientists have long and persistently sought to draw attention to the level of air pollution in our homes. According to recent studies, it is several times, and sometimes tens of times more polluted than even on city streets. Dozens of factors are added to the harmful substances contained in the air that we breathe in the open space, which aggravate this problem.
All paint and varnish coatings, building materials and even furniture emit toxins and poisons, not to mention plastic products, the consequences of cooking and the use of a variety of household chemicals, allergens and dust.
Formaldehyde, benzene, phenol, toluene, trichlorethylene, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, staphylococci, spores of other fungi and pathogenic microorganisms, soot microparticles, combustion products, dust mites, pollen – all these substances are present in the air of any house and apartment. And even with a very strict approach and the choice of environmentally friendly materials and decor, the task of air purification does not disappear anywhere.
If the installation of humidifiers or air conditioners with filter function, special purifiers is not always possible, appropriate or desirable, then the simplest (and, surprisingly, the most reliable) way to fight for clean air is indoor plants.
Harmless, devoid of drawbacks and do not require much effort or cost, plants cope with the task of air purification, albeit slower, but much more efficiently. Plants do not just absorb carbon dioxide and actively enrich indoor air with oxygen. They effectively fight volatile chemicals, and toxins, and organic compounds.
But do not think that to purify the air, it is enough to buy and put one plant in the room. On average, the radius of the phytoncidal, cleansing and antibacterial activity of plants covers an area of โโup to 5 m, and the effect of plants on fungi and bacteria is limited to a distance of 2,5-3 m. But the plant will perform the function of cleaning from allergens at a greater distance.
In order for indoor plants to replace any filters and be able to improve and purify the air in the house, at least one indoor plant is placed for every 10 square meters. Grouping, displaying plants in compositions and collections enhances their filtering effect and improves the microclimate. It is better to place filter plants not on windowsills or around the perimeter, but inside the interior – this way they will more fully perform the cleaning functions.
And not all plants are the same. Some crops have a more pronounced ability to absorb harmful substances, others are more active in fighting allergens, and there are plants that saturate the air with oxygen better than others.
Plants dominate in the indoor assortment, the influence of which is favorable, but they practically do not have a filtering, purifying function. But there are also real natural filters. Such cultures are different:
- anti-inflammatory and immunity-enhancing, soothing, due to the release of essential oils;
- with antiviral and antibacterial activity, due to the release of phytoncidal substances into the air;
- absorbing harmful compounds from the air, absorbing, literally, absorbing them through the leaves.
Indoor plants – live filters
Plants are still not a universal, “fail-safe” solution to the problem. They show the functions of air purification as much as possible during the period of active development, but at the dormant stage, their ability to purify the air decreases.
Young plants are better filters than old ones, and the leaves, but not the stems or flowers, act as a filter in plants. In almost every plant, the activity of absorbing harmful substances and photosynthesis changes during the day, depending on the air temperature and even illumination (for example, sansevieria produces most of all oxygen at night, and chlorophytum during the day).
Very different plants are suitable for different rooms. In small ones, they place compact classic crops like aloe or peperomia, and in large ones, you can use large woody ones – Benjamin’s ficus and even citrus fruits. Damp or dry air also plays a role.
Let’s take a closer look at indoor crops that most actively influence the composition and characteristics of the air.
For a list of the best indoor filter plants, see the next page.
