Because they perform entirely distinct types of work, air purifiers will not cause any issues with your indoor plants. Instead, the air purifiers and the indoor plants work together to make the air in the room healthier.
Air purifiers essentially “delete” air pollutants, while indoor plants produce oxygen through photosynthesis. Therefore, air purifiers with indoor plants will not affect one another (you can read “Do Air Purifiers Kill Fleas” from Iupilon’s blog if you have additional concerns).
Air-purifying plants are sometimes at odds with air purifiers (pardon the pun). And while we need to deal with air pollutants at home, you also need to take care of your plants. Surely, modern air purifiers can take care of air pollutants easily, but they can also negatively affect indoor plants.
You have to strike the balance at home, as damaging air pollutants can wreak havoc with people’s health. Various air pollutants can cause respiratory discomfort and allergies. While ionic air purifiers may be cheaper in some cases, they may not be alright for indoor plants. You won’t want to address indoor air pollutants while ignoring your plants. Instead of ionic purifiers, focus on getting machines that have HEPA filters instead. HEPA filters are effective against most contaminants, including viruses.
If you want to address polluted air quickly at home, use the best quality air filter to improve air quality while avoiding ground-level ozone contamination. There are many ways to safely remove particulate matter from the equation. Particulate matter is easier to remove from the air.
Avoid Misusing Air Purifiers
Most individuals repeatedly make the mistake of misusing an air purifier, which can be detrimental to the health of indoor plants because there is a possibility that they will not attain the desired level of quality in the indoor air even after positioning the air purifier in conjunction with indoor plants.
People get confused when they read internet myths about air purifiers and indoor plants, such as the myth that air purifiers affect indoor plants’ growth. If the growth of indoor plants is affected by air purifiers, then the air quality inside the home will suffer as a result.
The Urban Legend
But you won’t believe this urban legend when considering that air purifiers and indoor plants serve similar functions. This is because the air purification process will not create any difficulties for the indoor plants you choose to cultivate in your home.
Photosynthesis in houseplants causes them to take up carbon dioxide from the surrounding air. During this stage, the plant will transform light, carbon dioxide, and water into carbohydrates, essential to the plant’s survival but cannot be produced by itself.
After this step, oxygen is produced as a by-product and made available for us to breathe. These gases are distributed into the air by various goods, including paint, building materials, and cosmetics; therefore, they are more prevalent in the home than you may expect.
What are VOCs?
You are smelling VOCs if you smell nail-polish remover, gasoline, or the interior of a brand-new car. When this factor is deliberately considered, it is not surprising that some people still prefer nature over manufactured technology.
Even though it may appear like a decent idea to have plants clean the air, the reality is that they cannot even come close to competing with the efficiency of an air purifier. In addition, because plants remove volatile organic compounds at such a slow rate, you would need a significant number of plants to achieve the same level of effectiveness as an air purifier.
In addition, indoor plants cannot collect particulate matter and other air pollutants; if anything, they merely contribute to the overall pollen count. However, several unusual circumstances in which air purifiers could potentially harm indoor plants.
Because indoor plants will sometimes have some pathogenic difficulties, and in those cases, the problem will spread to the air circulation inside the building. The air purifier may be hindering the growth of the plants since it is re-introducing more considerable quantities of infections into the environment by capturing the diseases already there.
If the air purifier is not working correctly, this phenomenon may occur since it will fail to remove the germs in the interior air; however, this occurrence is relatively uncommon in normal circumstances. Therefore, the air purifier is the only component of this strategy that affects the plants that are kept indoors.
Does Air Purifier Help Indoor Plants?
Because they eliminate air contaminants and improve indoor air quality, air purifiers do help plants grow. This is because air pollutants can, in other circumstances, reduce the quantity of food a plant can create through photosynthesis. Unfortunately, there are several air purifier models, some of which make it more difficult for plants to grow.
Your HEPA filter would benefit significantly from including nearly any plant found worldwide because of its ability to purify the air. However, some plants are superior to others; for a plant to be suitable as a houseplant, it must possess qualities and the ability to cleanse the air and eliminate pollutants such as carbon monoxide.
It must be compact enough to be comfortably housed in a household, it must be simple to maintain, and it must be safe for both children and animals, preferably without any very sharp needles. There is no evidence that ozone generators or other forms of air purifiers that produce ozone are beneficial to the growth of plants.
Ozone and Plants
On the contrary, they are highly detrimental to plant life because they include negative ozone qualities, which are known to impact all forms of life, including plants, severely. Therefore, it should be no surprise that air purifiers work by filtering out numerous pollutants and hazardous particles from the surrounding atmosphere.
Different air purifiers are available, although they all work toward the same objective. The primary distinction is the technique each employs to purify the air.
There are many different kinds of contaminants in the air, each of which can be removed by a specific air purifier. So in terms of the development of plants, this is a piece of information that is very crucial to know.
Smoke, gases, and other VOCs are plants’ most hazardous air pollutants because they reduce the carbon dioxide your household plants can take in. The lower a plant’s ability to take in carbon dioxide, the less food it will produce through photosynthesis, reducing the plant’s growth rate.
One of the plants’ most prevalent and destructive air pollutants is ozone, especially ground-level ozone. Without getting into too much detail, let’s say that when ozone gets inside a leaf, it causes damage to the tissue and lowers the plant’s chance of surviving.
This common problem affects trees, plants, and everything in between. Although smog caused by cars and factories is the type of air pollution most typically thought of, there is a rising concern for the air quality inside homes and other buildings.
As a result of the considerable respiratory and health problems that can be caused by common household toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and trichloroethylene, many people look into purchasing air purification technology such as HEPA filters and other types of air cleaners. The human race has long harbored the notion that plants benefit our health. Although we were aware that plants create oxygen, it wasn’t until NASA got involved that we realized plant life genuinely cleans the air.
Plants take in air through pores on the surface of their leaves and then use the air they have taken in to help them in the process of photosynthesis, which is the transformation of light into the fuel plants use. During the process of photosynthesis, plants make use of CO2, commonly known as carbon dioxide. However, while plants are taking in CO2, they are also taking in other gases, including poisons, that are bad for our health.
Can Air Kill Plants?
Yes, air conditioners and air purifiers have the potential to damage plants if no further steps are taken to ensure that the surrounding atmosphere is conducive to healthy plant growth. Plants need the right amounts of light, heat, and humidity to reach their full potential. Air conditioners reduce the temperature of a room and remove moisture to mitigate the effects of heat and humidity. Therefore, you should adjust and provide additional assistance to your vegetation.
Purifiers and air conditioners do not directly impact the light, but they are designed to remove excess humidity + heat from the air inside a building. Therefore, if you want plants, it appears as though you would need to turn off the air conditioner and build your indoor rainforest.
However, you will need to tweak and provide extra care for your plants. If you want an environment that is comfortable for you and your houseplants regarding air conditioning, follow these guidelines.
The presence of a cold environment is already stressful for plants; however, the direct blowing of cold air from AC vents makes the situation far worse. The flowing air is drying, which deprives the plants of the moisture they require to survive. Furthermore, the blasts of cold air can cause the plant’s cells to freeze, which prevents the nutrients and water from traveling freely within the plant.
Some plants can thrive in drier conditions, while others are more susceptible to the decreased humidity caused by air conditioning. Lower relative humidity in your home makes it more comfortable and gives the impression of being cooler. Conversely, a higher humidity level can make one feel as though they are suffocating and, if unchecked, can lead to the formation of mold and mildew. But despite this, your plants still require moisture, mainly if it is being extracted from the air around them.
The first line of protection is to remove plants from all vents, although this can be problematic for plants that need a great deal of sunlight. A house can be cooled most effectively by installing cooling ventilation work along outside separators, with vents often placed in front of windows. If your plants require consistent light, you should invest in a shield or diverter that will direct the wind current away from the plant life while still allowing it to cool your home.
Because of the wind, the air is drying out, which deprives the plants of the moisture they need to survive. In addition, the effects of cold air can cause chilling in the plant cells, which prevents nutrients and water from moving freely throughout the plant. This can happen when the plant is exposed to cold air. Have you noticed that the leaves on your houseplants are turning yellow or withering, mainly if they are located near vents? These symptoms indicate the plant is famished due to cold damage and hindered cell growth.
Because of this, you must understand the mechanism by which air fresheners harm plants. Even though using an air freshener indoors can give any space a much-needed boost of freshness, many of these manufactured products contain chemicals that are harmful to the indoor plants you keep in your home. If the conditions are severe enough, the houseplant can perish.
Are Indoor Plants Better Than Air Purifiers?
Many have debated whether or not indoor plants can effectively compete with air purifiers in terms of cleansing the air in your home. It is a widely held assumption that having houseplants in the home will enhance the quality of the air inside; however, which is more effective at cleaning the air within the home: purifiers or houseplants?
The answer is no. At the very least, not in any way that could be considered an achievable number of houseplants, and most definitely not in any way that could be considered an average number of plants. However, the concept that houseplants can successfully purify the air inside a building is primarily fiction.
Plants are known to absorb carbon dioxide, undergo photosynthesis, and then produce oxygen back into the air. The underlying premise was that plants might be able to take in other gases that cause air pollution, such as volatile organic compounds, in addition to carbon dioxide (VOCs). Absolutely, in the most literal sense. However, though houseplants do remove VOCs from the air, they are not nearly as efficient as true air purifiers due to the slow rate at which they do so.
When deciding which is better for purifying the air in your home, an air purifier or houseplants, you need to consider the unique benefits each provides. The level of attention and effort put into each option is the primary differentiator. Most air purifiers must be turned on and left alone to do their job. On the other hand, plants call for specialized care, which may involve attending to them multiple times daily. It’s okay if some people don’t have the time or interest to care for plants; plenty of others do. Remember to locate the most effective air purifier for residential or commercial properties.
Beginners who are interested in keeping houseplants should select a plant that is hardy and takes little attention. Learning and practicing proper care for plants can be challenging. If you’re just getting started, an aloe plant is an excellent option for you to consider. Plants are an exceptional choice if you’re looking for an all-natural approach to cleaning up typical pollutants in the home.
A few essential aspects must be considered when determining which approach is most suitable to meet your requirements. First, the ideal solution is to utilize a combination of air purifiers and indoor plants to clean the air in your home. This will provide a natural solution that is sustainable over the long run while also allowing for a high delivery rate of clean air.
Beginners who are interested in keeping houseplants should select a plant that is hardy and takes little attention. Learning and practicing proper care for plants can be challenging. If you’re just getting started, an aloe plant is an excellent option for you to consider. Bamboo plants could provide the solution you’re looking for if you want the leaves on your ornamental plants to be large and green. Are you looking for waxy leaves? Baby spider plants can liven up any room.
If you are serious about getting rid of airborne contaminants, your best bet is to invest in an air purifier. Some typical houseplants can contribute to the reduction of air pollution found within a home. However, the health benefits supplied by air purifiers cannot be matched by the benefits gained by having houseplants in the home.
How Do Plants Act Air Purifiers?
Indoor plants make a room look nicer; they also help keep the air wet, clean it, and release oxygen, which is the air we need to inhale. In addition, a splash of color may be brought into any room with the help of houseplants, thanks to their vast, glossy leaves or exotic blossoms.
Remarkably, plants can eliminate these contaminants from the air we breathe. In addition, they take in the viruses and carbon dioxide we exhale. When plants take in gases through their leaves, the gas either becomes trapped within the plant or travels down into the roots. Before the toxins can be converted into food, they must first be broken down and neutralized by the microorganism that lives in the soil.
Through their leaves, plants can take in various gases. Photosynthesis is the mechanism these organisms use to convert carbon dioxide and light into usable forms of energy. A lovely way to purify the air in your home is to decorate it with various houseplants that appeal to the eye. People who own houseplants report feeling more comfortable and at ease, while the aesthetic value of houseplants is increased throughout the home.
Plants can exude minute quantities of metabolites and the compounds that derive from them into the atmosphere. Some examples of these compounds are polyphenols and alkaloids. This process is known as the plant’s use of allelochemicals, and it is regarded as one of the plant’s ways of interacting with the environment around it. It was discovered that these chemicals possess antibacterial properties and can interact with airborne microbes in the vicinity of the plant.
Living in a contemporary building that is also energy efficient can have unforeseen consequences at times. One of these unwanted impacts is a reduction in the flow of air. Because there is insufficient airflow, pollutants in the indoor air might accumulate and lead to health problems such as asthma and sick-building syndrome.
An increase in plant count can also affect humidity and foster mold growth. You can avoid this by controlling the water to flow into a pan or a tray, emptying any surplus water regularly, and utilizing planters that provide sub-irrigation. Mold can also be removed from the top layer of soil by covering it with Spanish moss or aquarium gravel.
Laboratory research was used in the study, which concluded that a common houseplant might be able to filter out a selection of harmful chemicals. The plant was placed inside a small chamber and exposed to gaseous chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as part of a standard experiment. Different densities and amounts of time were used in the experiments. For example, one study demonstrated that regular household ivies could eliminate two-thirds of the formaldehyde to which they were exposed in just one day.
Plants remove VOCs, but they do so slowly that they cannot compete with the air exchange processes already in buildings. They determined how well a plant cleaned a space by standardizing the results of each research with CADR. This allowed them to compare how well a plant cleaned a room to tried and true tactics such as operating a mechanical air purifier or opening windows.
