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Learn how house plant types like money and snake plants can be easy to take care of and help purify your air.
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In 1996, house plants were labeled as a miracle air cleaner after Bill Wolverton’s How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 Houseplants That Purify Your Home or Office was published. He was a NASA scientist trying to figure out how to remove “volatile organic compounds” (VOCs) building up in closed environments (a.k.a toxins from your household cleaners, nail polish, and drywall building up in your apartment or a space shuttle). And he wrote that plants proved to be a “promising” solution. What followed was a “hooray” for plants as the solution. But cleaning airborne toxins from your apartments is a little more complicated than placing a plant on your sunniest window sill.
Shedding Light On The Truth: VOCs are removed by some types of plants. Some experts like engineer Michael Waring state that you need ten plants per square foot of floor space to filter air. Studies show that money trees, peace lilies, and lady’s palms continuously decrease VOC concentrations. Because plants bring fresher air to your living room, we’ve decided to analyze some of the easiest plants to care for and the best eco-friendly plant delivery brands. Because greenifying your space should always be a breeze.
All brands featured are eco-friendly and strive to beautify our environment with sustainable, biodegradable, and recycled materials.
Money Plant
Pachira aquatica, also known as the money plant, is low maintenance. It prefers bright indirect light but will tolerate medium light conditions. Water when the soil is dried throughout the pot.
Peace Lily
Sspathiphyllum is commonly known as the peace lily. In bright light, it will bloom tall white flowers, but it will tolerate low indirect light. Somewhat of a drama queen this plant will let you know when it needs water. But, don’t expect it to be too often. It only needs to be watered every 1-2 weeks. *This plant is known for its air purifying capabilities and was a part of NASA’s 1989 Clean Air Study.
Lady Palm
Known as Rhapis Exelsa, these plants absorb chemicals like formaldehyde and ammonia from the air. If you’ve ever had a plant die from pests, know that these are fairly resistant to common pests like mites that harm plants in your home. It’s also low maintenance tolerating temperatures from 20 to 100 F and most types of soil as its moisture levels are maintained.
Boston Fern
Nephrolepis exaltata is the other name of this dependable house plant. Studies have shown that Boston ferns are another type of house plant that can absorb toxins like formaldehyde from the air. It is also thought to remove VOCs such as benzine can be found in fabrics. As a houseplant, it’s pretty easy to care for as long as it’s in a humid environment.
English Ivy
Like other plants on this list, English ivy also absorbs formaldehyde. It also absorbs fecal matter particles making it ideal for bathrooms. Care for it by keeping the soil moist and at least 4 hours of direct sunlight daily.
Hedgehog Aloe
Aloe humilis is a type of succulent plant that doesn’t require much care aside from a decent about of sun. Place your hedgehog aloe vera plant near a sunny window sill and it’ll be happy. It prefers bright indirect light and only needs to be watered when its soil is dry. That’s it. Keep it happy while it absorbs toxins from the air.
Shops The Wellness Feed Loves
These shops were chosen for their commitment to sustainability, viewing plants as more than disposable house decorations, giving back, and ensuring that their teams and partners are paid a living wage.
Lively Root
This biophilic design store blends the science of horticulture with the art of design to reconnect our environments to nature. Based in San Diego, they’re a nursery that will give you the tools to choose and care for plants that will thrive in any space.
“We care about our plants just as much as we care about our impact on the environment around us. That’s why we only use eco-friendly materials including the sustainable packaging your plants are shipped in.”
What they offer: Their wide array of plants, bushes, and trees can definitely make your eyes widen.
Why they stand out: They offer weekly and monthly indoor plant subscriptions to help you grow your green space.
Why Use them? If you’re an experienced horticulturist interested in special species like Tuscan blue rosemary or a margenta minature rose this is the brand for you.
Bloomscape
Bloomscape is a Michigan-based greenhouse that has perfected the art of keeping plants alive over the course of five generations. Their knowledge and experience have been passed down from their ancestors in the Netherlands to Bloomscapes founder, Justin Mast.
What they offer: Buying direct from a greenhouse means that your plants spend more time being cared for by plant experts instead of spending weeks of neglect in between transfers from warehouses, Care For House Plants trucks, and stores.
Why they stand out: Their pots are made of 80% recycled plastics harvested from the ocean and they’re Care For House Plants are shipped to you in boxes made from 100% recycled materials.
Why Use them? They offer round-the-clock customer support to ensure that all of your plant needs are met.
The Sill
The Sill is a one-stop-shop for all eco-friendly plant essentials- organic potting mixes, natural fertilizers, lava rocks, water supplies and much more. If you’re seeking cute gifts for friends they also offer cheeky pins, usable totes, and tickets to events like DIY flower crown making.
What do they offer? They focus on custom-made-to-suit-your-personal style, lifestyle, and budget plants.
Why they stand out? What’s nice is that The Sill has physical shops in New York, L.A, and San Francisco. So, you can walk in and say ‘hi’ to one of their plant experts. They also offer workshops and events on eco-friendly plants.
Why Use them? If you’re feeling adventurous for an Instagram worthy plant like a living wall-plant The Sill is your go-to.