Office Plants that Help Keep the Air Clean

Offices and workspaces can be full of pollutants, allergens, irritants, and toxins. We spend a lot of time at work, so we need the air to be clean and healthy. The air in your office most likely contains dust, toxins from plastics and paints, and possibly airborne viruses and bacteria.

One of the best ways to deal with unhealthy air in an office is to keep plants that purify the air indoors. Let’s take a look at the best office plants for minimising indoor air pollution.

Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)

Peace lilies have gorgeous green leaves that brighten up any room and go with just about any décor theme. They are easy to look after, needing watering only about once a week. Using a slow-release fertiliser through the spring months can help with growth and flowering. Peace lilies remove benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and trichloroethylene from the air.

Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosun)

Great for people who aren’t natural green thumbs or don’t have a lot of time to spend tending their plants, Spider plants are easy-care and low maintenance. They like indirect sunlight and can survive in pretty much any environment. They are known to reduce carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and formaldehyde levels in the air.

Weeping fig (Ficus benjmina)

The Weeping fig is a taller plant that likes direct sunlight, weekly watering, and being allowed to dry out between watering. They have been known to grow anywhere up to 10 feet tall, so they look great as potted plants sitting at floor level and in rooms with higher ceilings. Weeping figs remove formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene from the air.

Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum morifolium)

A stunning and colourful flowering plant that looks great in any space, chrysanthemums like good airflow, indirect sunlight, and the occasional drink of warm water. The soil should be allowed to fully dry between watering. They are trickier to grow than other indoor plants but are well worth the effort. Chrysanthemums remove toxins such as ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde and xylene from the air.

Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata v. Bostoniesis)

Boston ferns like humid environments, but not direct sunlight. They also require regular watering and moist soil. It’s easy to look after them as indoor plants by keeping them out of the direct sun and keeping them damp with a spray/mist bottle. Boston ferns are known to remove formaldehyde and xylene from the air. They look great in both large pots and hanging baskets, making them quite versatile.

ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

ZZ plants are a favourite among indoor plant enthusiasts because they look good, are easy to care for, and are highly resilient to various environmental factors. They do not require much natural light or water, making it an ideal office plant. ZZ plants were studied during NASA indoor air pollution research and were found to effectively remove large quantities of benzene, toluene, and xylene from the air. It should be noted that ZZ plant is poisonous, and can cause skin irritations if touched. They should not be kept in houses with pets or children as it is harmful if touched or consumed, so is better kept in an office environment where only adults are present.

Mother-in-law’s tongue/Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Mother-in-law’s tongue is one of those super handy plants that don’t mind if you forget to water or sunbathe it for a while! A resilient succulent plant, they prefer dry conditions and don’t like to be a given a lot of water. They can tolerate direct sunlight for a few hours a day, so are a good fit for office spaces that only catch the morning or afternoon sun. They are great for removing benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and xylene from the air.

Peppermint (Mentha balsamea Wild)

Peppermint plants are hybrids of water mint and spearmint. They are very tolerant to pot plant life so are great to keep as indoor plants, especially in the kitchen or food preparation areas. Peppermint plants help to purify and remove bad smells from the air. The pleasant scent has a relaxing and de-stressing quality and has been found to improve moods, mental awareness, and memory function.

Lavender (Lavandula spica L)

Lavender is a classic, easy growing plant that can really brighten up a workspace. It does have a scent, which some co-workers might not personally like, so lavender might be more suitable for someone with their own private office. Lavender grows great on a sun-filled windowsill and is known to have many be beneficial qualities, including air purification, alleviating stress and headaches, and encouraging better sleep.

Other indoor plants worthy of special mention include Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis), African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha), and English ivy (Hedera helix).

It’s also good to note that like any other plant, these plants in your work space are plants that require ample light levels in order for them to stay alive. They should be kept near natural light sources such as windows instead of under the fluorescent light. These can be beneficial in giving your space a great office atmosphere that enables a lot of breathing space.

Plants can definitely contribute to having cleaner, healthier air quality in your office. To keep dust and dirt particles in the air to a minimum, it’s also important that carpets, floors, and surfaces are as clean as possible. If you need help with the rest of your office cleaning, contact Crewcare today. We can provide tailored, reliable, and cost-effective services to businesses of all sizes.