If you are worried about the quality of the air that you are breathing, you are certainly not alone. With so many increased pollutants in the air and the lessening of regulations that control such issues, people are looking for a way to ensure the air they breathe is as clean as possible.
Many people also have health concerns such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, sinusitis, and asthma, making breathing more difficult and making the need for cleaner air more pressing.
The government, academic institutions, and research organizations are working every day to develop ways to protect and improve air quality. There are also technological and medical solutions that make some difference or improvements to the situation.
However, many people would like to have a natural solution instead or add to the things they already use to help freshen and improve air quality. Many people find that having indoor plants is a great option. They help increase oxygen, freshen the air, and have additional health benefits like relieving stress, improving concentration, and elevating moods.
Plants are part of the earth’s natural order, and people have always had a symbiotic relationship with them. We need plants, and they nourish us in many ways, including making oxygen. We can easily see how places full of diverse vegetation are healthier and have better and fresher air than places that lack greenery in their landscape. That is why so many city dwellers long to smell “fresh country air.”
How Plants Make Oxygen
Many people know that plants make oxygen, but most don’t know how that works. Plants make their own food to sustain themselves in a process called photosynthesis.
However, when photosynthesis happens inside the plant, waste products are left behind. In this case, the waste product for the plant is our life-sustaining oxygen. This is why people want to keep plants indoors to freshen the air and improve the level of oxygen.
The process of photosynthesis occurs in the plant’s leaves, so if you want oxygenating houseplants, you will generally be looking for a plant that has large wide leaves. In this case, then, foliage is king.
The Best Plants for Oxygen Production
If you are convinced that life will be better with a new house plant (and it will be!), then here are your best options for an oxygenating houseplant. The nine most popular house plants for producing oxygen are:
1. Snake Plant
Snake plants are well known as oxygenating houseplants. This is because they are a popular house plant for their aesthetic appeal and because they make your air cleaner. According to NASA research, snake plants clean pollutants from the air in addition to adding oxygen to it.
2. Areca Palm
You may not be as familiar with the name of this plant, but it is a palm that you commonly see in homes as a potted plant. It is truly a natural air purifier. It helps to remove harmful toxins and strengthen the nervous system. It is a great plant to keep developing children growing strong and healthy.
3. Weeping Fig
The Weeping Fig plant is a pretty and decorative plant that you will enjoy having for aesthetic purposes as much as health reasons. It is a common and popular oxygenating houseplant. This is another plant that NASA researchers have noted as one that can help scrub the air of pollutants like xylene and toluene. This is one of the best indoor plants for improving your indoor air quality.
4. Aloe Vera Plant
The Aloe Vera Plant is a very popular house plant. It is well known for its healing qualities, but it also has additional properties as a great oxygenating houseplant. This is another great house plant for both cleaning the air and adding in some extra oxygen.
5. Pothos Plant
The Pothos Plant is a beautiful foliage plant that everyone will enjoy in your home. It is fabulous as part of your overall decor, it is a good oxygenator, and it cleans formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the air in the room.
Breathe Some Fresh Air Into Your Home
Getting an oxygenating houseplant is a great way to improve your home’s indoor air quality. This can improve you and your family’s health and is a great way to breathe new life into your home and liven up a space as well.
Choosing the right houseplant for your home can be complicated, so we’ve compiled this brief guide to help you decide. Of course, any of the plants on this list would do a great job and help make your home look amazing!