October 10, 2024, 10:48 am | Read time: 4 minutes

Houseplants enhance the appearance of living spaces and, thanks to their air-purifying effect, ensure a better indoor climate. myHOMEBOOK provides tips for choosing the right plants.

How air-purifying plants improve the indoor climate

Oxygen production

Plants need to carry out photosynthesis to grow and thrive. In this process, carbon dioxide and water are converted into oxygen and glucose with the help of solar energy. The glucose nourishes the plant while it releases most of the oxygen into its environment, thus enriching the air we breathe.

Filtering pollutants

Although the effect is limited, certain representatives of indoor plants, in particular, can filter out substances that are toxic to humans, such as formaldehyde or xylene, from the air. These substances evaporate from carpets or furniture, especially shortly after purchase.

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Which air-purifying plants for which rooms?

1. Green lily

The green lily not only provides lots of fresh oxygen but also plenty of new growth. It produces mini green lilies on long shoots, which already have roots and grow quickly as offshoots. The green lily is also easy to care for: It only needs a little water and fertilizer, and should it ever suffer a lack of water, it clearly indicates this by drooping leaves. The green lily is completely non-toxic, so it is particularly suitable for children’s rooms or where animals frequently spend time.

2. Bow hemp

Sansevieria, as the hemp plant is also called, is known for being particularly easy to care for and long-lasting. This popular houseplant, with its long, flat leaves, requires very little water. It also rarely needs to be fertilized and quickly grows into a stately plant in a bright location. In contrast to many other houseplants, hemp also produces oxygen at night. This makes this air-purifying plant the perfect roommate in the bedroom, and it won’t hold it against you if you “forget” it for two or three weeks.

3. Monstera

The Monstera is also known as the window leaf and has become one of the most popular houseplants in recent years. This is no wonder, given that it quickly grows into a particularly large houseplant with broad leaves, keeping with its name. The water requirement of the Monstera is comparatively high, as it originates from the rainforest and, therefore, needs regular watering. In return, it humidifies the air in the room by releasing moisture from its leaves. This can be recognized shortly after watering by drops at the ends of the leaves. This makes the plant a good air-purifying plant for the living room, as the dry heating air can put a strain on the skin and respiratory tract, especially in the fall and winter.

4. Birch fig

In the 1980s, the birch fig, also known as Ficus benajmina or Benjamin for short, was one of the most fashionable plants. Hardly any living room could do without a birch fig. Nowadays, the houseplant has more of a reputation as a dusty office plant. But whether in the living room or the office, the Ficus benjamina has an air-purifying effect in both rooms and provides the indoor climate with additional oxygen. In addition to the pure green varieties, there are also many cultivars with brightly patterned leaves that add variety to the plant collection. In addition, the birch fig is also a good plant for hydroponics, keeping fungus gnats and other soil-dwelling pests at bay.

5. Ivy

Ivy also produces more oxygen at night than it consumes, making it another suitable air-purifying plant for the bedroom. As a climbing plant, it can even cling to wardrobes or bunk beds. Once you have an ivy plant, you can grow strong offshoots in just a few steps and weeks to green other parts of your home.