7 Air-Purifying Indoor Plants That Will Help You Breathe Better

Very well-known for its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, not a lot of people are aware that Aloe Vera also helps in purifying the air. It helps in the removal of around 90% of the formaldehyde in the air and also eliminates harmful microorganisms. The best part is, it's quite easy to grow and hard to kill. Feel free to pick up Aloe Vera at your local nursery or at platforms such as Ugaoo, Nursery Live, or Plants Guru. 

Best planter: Aloe Vera roots will grow as much as you let them. Since they eventually become a heavy plant, it's best to house them in a large, deep planter like this one

Bamboo palms are quite well-known for the height they achieve plus their ability to remove formaldehyde, benzene, carbon monoxide, xylene, and chloroform from the air. Bamboo palms can grow up to four to 12-feet tall and are also not very difficult to maintain. You only need to keep the soil moist.

Best planter: Avoid terracotta or mud, and the pot doesn't have to be too deep, as the root systems are quite shallow. Wide pots will be ideal, and a wicker/cane aesthetic is perfect with bamboo palms. Check out this option by the Daisy Life. It's a set of 2, so you can place it on either side of a door/entry. 

Snake plant is one of the most difficult plants to kill so, it's alright if you don't water it every day. The leaves of the plant absorb toxins from the air and produce pure oxygen. It removes xylene, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air. The good thing is that because it's so popular you can pick it up at any local nursery (and it grows through propagation too, if you're patient) and any online store. And there are different varieties too!

Best Planter:  Since the plant itself features various colours and textures, let the planter be basic and simple much like this one by Color Palatte.

The Peace Lily is one of the very few indoor plants that also blooms (majorly in summer) and also emits fresh fragrance. Peace Lily helps in removing benzene, ammonia, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene in the air. This plant prefers to be kept in shaded areas and make sure to keep the soil moist (although, do not over-water). 

PS: The leaves of this plant are harmful for kids and pets.

Best Planter: The Peace Lily is known to get big and bushy, even if the pot it's housed in isn't large as their root systems pretty much take up the entire space in the pot. So this metal planter by Elemntl will do nicely. 

Weeping Fig is a low-maintenance plant that does not require to be watered regularly. It helps in the removal of formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene from the air. Although, if you plan to keep it in your balcony, make sure to keep it away from direct sunlight and shift it indoors during excess hot or cold conditions.

Best Planter: If you want it to grow to be the bush (or mini tree) that it is, plant it in a large pot like this one by Harla. The size and thickness of the pot make it ideal for the strong roots of the Weeping Fig. It is a bit pricey, but it's large, made of ceramic, and provides plenty of space for the plant to grow.

Although a little high-maintenance, the Boston Fern is known to remove formaldehyde in levels much greater than the others. Looks lush, and certainly brings in the tropical vibe, make sure to check the soil frequently to see if it needs water. Plus, the plant demands to be kept in a cool location with high humidity. Oh, but apart from this, the plant also helps in lowering down stress levels. 

Best Planter: This set of two brass planters by Amaya Decor will show your ferns front and centre (maybe you can do your own "Between Two Ferns" when your friends come over). Since it comes with a stand, you can easily check moisture levels, and the metal planters won't wick away moisture like terracotta/mud/clay pots will.

The Rubber Tree is known to be a powerful absorber of Carbon dioxide at home, has light humidifying properties (so lesser floating dust), and just adds a great tropical vibe to home. They're pretty low maintenance (you don't have to water them regularly), are fine in the shade, and don't need constant pruning. You can pick up a rubber tree at Ugaoo, Nurserylive, or Ferns N Petals.

Best Planter: The Rubber Tree grows well in pretty much any environment. This planter by Kopou will give it the space to grow, and complement the foliage nicely. Feel free to keep another small, basic planter inside this if you want the rubber tree to remain small, or a larger one if you want it to actually grow to tree size (up to 10 feet).