Our most popular blog post of all time describes the many benefits of indoor plants in the workplace. It makes me happy when I see people interested in this topic and educating themselves on the myriad of benefits that indoor plants provide to their human companions beyond just looking pretty.
Many of these proven benefits can be traced back to one of the original studies done by NASA in conjunction with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America in 1989, which wanted to learn the most effective “house-plants” which might help purify the air their astronauts must breathe during extended missions at the International Space Station, and eventually on trips to Mars and beyond.
NASA’s original list of top air filtering plants is still one of our key reference tools. People spend the majority of their time (90 percent!) indoors, and during hot summer days they stay inside even more because of air conditioning.
NASA’s list of the most efficient and effective plants for purifying the air.
When you add the right plants to interior spaces, toxins are reduced and the air is much healthier to breathe. We keep this in mind at Good Earth Plant Company when we provide interiorscaping designs to our business clients. Most of the plants on NASA’s list are also on our top list of plant choices, including the examples shown on our website.
The infographic at the top shows NASA’s top 18 choices for plants that clean the air. Consider adding one or more of these plants to your office or home, especially if you are exposed to air conditioning for longer stretches of time during the summer. If we can help your business or organization keep your workspaces healthier all year round, get in touch and we’d love to help you breathe easier at work. And remember, plants give off oxygen and suck up carbon dioxide!
You could be breathing these harmful substances every day in your office. Plants can help clean these toxins out of the air.
One note of caution: if you have pets at home, some of the plants can be toxic to your dogs and cats. Avoid dracaenas, dieffenbachias, pothos, aloe, jade plants and many members of the lily family. Check with your vet or refer to this list of known animal toxins. If you ever suspect your animal is ill or may have ingested a poisonous substance, contact your local veterinarian or the ASPCA 24-hour emergency poison hotline directly at 1-888-426-4435.
