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Best Plants for Improving Indoor Air Quality in India [2024]

India was known to be the land of natural resources. But In the last few decades, the new age revolution has drastically changed environmental conditions in the country. Everything starting from air to land is severely affected. For these reasons, growing indoor plants can be a choice to remain close to nature with multiple health and environmental benefits. Considering these implications, we have brought the list of plants for improving indoor air quality in India. Our in-depth research regarding Indoor plants and its air quality improvement tips will reveal many unresolved facts. You can analyze better which plant to choose for your home after going through the detailed quality of each plant.

List of Plants to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Improving air quality is either possible by increasing the oxygen level concentration or by removing toxic chemical entities from air. Therefore, selecting plants that adhere both the properties is more ideal for indoor use. The list of some Indian plant variety that can improve air quality goes as follows:

1. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)

●     Oxygen production: High

●     Benefit: Aloe vera is the most popular indoor plant with countless health benefits in India. People taking regular skin care and hair routines are already aware of its broad advantages. Aloe vera also absorbs gases like formaldehyde and benzene from the air and converts them to non-toxic metabolites.

●     Growth factor: The plant becomes wider within a few months so choosing a pot of 14-20 inches is ideal. Place the pot in near sunlight areas, most preferably in bright and indirect light. It can handle some direct sunlight but exposure to sunlight for a longer time can cause leaf burn. Water it once a week when the soil gets completely dry. In winter, watering the plant once in a month would also work.

2. Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)

●     Oxygen production: It is the highest oxygen producing indoor plant with excellent air pollutants removing properties.

●     Benefits: Areca palm can detoxify harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, xylene and toluene released from wall paints, fuels and disinfectant used in the house. It can also improve interior design versatility for offices because of its green aesthetic beauty. It is a pet friendly plant that can cause no harm to pets.

●     Growth factor: It does not need a tropical paradise but can be grown in any type of soil. Placing the pot near sunlight helps the most for a stable growth. But, Areca trees also can grow at any corner of the home.

3. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

●     Oxygen Production: Moderate to High

●     Benefits: It can be an effective choice to enhance aesthetic greenery on the table. It can thrive in any environmental condition and requires the least effort to survive. Despite its longer size, the plant has excellent quality to absorb toxicants like formaldehyde and xylene from air.

●     Growth factor: The plant can thrive even in moderate watering conditions. But, keeping the soil moist can help to grow the plant even faster.

4. Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

●     Oxygen Production: Very high oxygen production.

●     Benefits: It can be a brilliant choice for those who are searching for a decorative plant with enormous air quality improvement property. The rate of production of oxygen for snake plants is very high because it converts carbon dioxide into oxygen even at night. Snake plants are a sign of good luck and positive energy according to mythological beliefs.

●     Growth factor: It requires low to bright indirect light for best growth. Water the plant after the soil gets completely dry. Using terracotta pots can also avoid water logging problems. 

5. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.) 

●     Oxygen Production: Moderate

●     Benefits: It is a beautiful flowering plant which brings aesthetic beauty to the house. It perfectly fits into urban living spaces and also holds air purifying qualities.

●     Growth factor: Low to moderate indirect sunlight supports the best growth. Keep the soil moist everytime to provide good growth conditions. Well draining potting mix soil with peat and perlite are best for the flower growth.

6. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) 

●     Oxygen Production: Moderate

●     Benefits: Like other plants, it detoxifies formaldehyde from the air. It doesn't need high maintenance and can be grown with lowest care. Most suitable for busy urbanites to grow an indoor plant with minimal effort. It can grow on small pots of 25-30 cm in diameter but longer pots will be more suitable for their roots.

●     Growth factor: It grows best on bright and indirect light. Rubber plants also can survive in moderate water and dry conditions for adequate growth. Allow the top inch to dry before watering it next time. Water it once every week after the water drains out.

7. Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)

●     Oxygen Production: Moderate to High

●     Benefits: It is the most adaptable plant for indoor environments. Weeping fig too holds the same quality to detoxify harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from air. It adds elegance to urban interiors because of its aesthetic green leaves. Most suitable to add beauty to home and offices.

●     Growth factor: It needs bright and indirect light. Also, avoid direct sunlight as it can scorch the leaves. Weeping fig can cause frequent leaf drops. So, it's better not to move the pot until necessary. Don't over water or water log the soil as it can damage the plant. Water it once a week for steady growth. A pot size of 12 inches is better for small plants. Shift it to a 16 inch pot if the plant becomes bigger in size.

8. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) 

●     Oxygen Production: High

●     Benefits: It is the most suitable plant to give a tropical touch to indoor spaces including both home and offices. Adding moisture and improving indoor humidity is the primary role of the plant. People residing in hot and low humid cities can add this plant to their bucket list. It can readily absorb toxicants like formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene released from wall paints, kitchen fuels or mosquito coils.

●     Growth factor: Bamboo palm can grow better in indirect sunlight with moderate water requirements. You need to keep soil moist but not soggy to increase aeration of roots. Potting mix with peat, pine bark, and perlite soil is preferred for nourishment of the plant. Bamboo palms prefer consistently moist soil which can be achieved by using an aeration pot. Ensure the pot size must have good drainage features. It can be placed in any of the indoor locations of indirect light. Watering once a week is enough for growth.

9. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) 

●     Oxygen Production: High

●     Benefits: Boston fern can create a more pleasant and healthier environment for home. Same like other plants it purifies air by removing formaldehyde and xylene from the air.

●     Growth factor: It needs indirect sunlight with moist soil for proper growth. Keep it away from direct sunlight as it can dry out the fronds. Choose a large pot with good drainage for best growth. Water the plant twice a week without creating any waterlogged problems. The plants are more suitable for cities with high humidity.

10. English Ivy (Hedera helix)

●     Oxygen Production: Moderate

●     Growth factors: English Ivy requires Indirect sunlight, moist soil and a brighter environment. The plant can survive in both near and bright sunlight. Don't keep the plant in low light condition. Watering frequency should be once per week.

●     Benefits: It gives a classic look to home if placed in hanging pots. The plant has excellent qualities of removing allergens from air. It is the most effective plant to reduce mold levels in homes. English Ivy can be a best choice for people surviving in extreme humid conditions. Like other indoor plays it detoxifies harmful compounds from the air.

FAQ:

1. What are the low-maintenance indoor plants for clean air?

 All the above mentioned plants can thrive in low watering conditions and don't need high maintenance for survival. These are among the best plants to be grown inside the house.  Nowadays, people also use auto watering pots to water the indoor plants regularly even without their presence.

2. What are NASA top 10 air purifying plants?

After going through NASA’s clean air study, we have added the list of top 10 air purifying plants. Every indoor plant added on the list holds extensive air pollutants and toxicants removing property. Keeping such plants in an indoor environment can give multiple health benefits.

3. How do Indoor plants purify air?

In urban areas, everyone is surrounded by synthetic resources. Starting from artificial dyes on walls or fuels in the kitchen. Toxic substances like benzene, formaldehyde, etc. are also liberated from home  on exposure to hot environmental conditions. Similarly, Indoor plants absorb these harmful chemicals through their leaves and roots. Microbes present in soil can break down these toxic chemicals to less harmful metabolites.

4. Where can I get these plants?

We have mentioned the scientific name of each plant to avoid your confusion to bring a different plant species of the same variety. Choosing plants of different varieties might not be appropriate for an indoor growth environment.

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Final Words-

Caring of Indoor plants matters the most in comparison to bringing them to home. The above selection of best plants for improving indoor air quality is made looking into the tropical condition of India. These indoor plants require minimal care for survival with excellent air detoxifying properties. Even working professionals who don't spend much time at home can grow it with minimal effort. These plants can also be used in offices to bring positivity to the space. Their presence reflects a commitment to caring for all forms of life, whether it's the people who work there or the plants themselves.