The air has issues—thankfully, your plants have solutions

As the AQI turns worse with each passing winter, we either need Shanghai-level solutions or turn to quick fix with indoor plants. Read below to find out!

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Discover how plants can combat air pollution by absorbing airborne toxins and volatile organic compounds through their leaves and roots.

Mumbai’s AQI may be grabbing headlines, but the air indoors has quietly joined the smog party. As thick smog blankets the city’s skyline, the current statistics reveal alarming levels of pollution ranging from ‘very poor’ to ‘unhealthy’ on the SAFAR index. While we are exposed to the toxic air outdoors, the tiny particulate matter has infiltrated the indoor spaces to pose a major risk to our health.

In times like these, keeping the indoors clean becomes quintessential for overall well-being. We spend most of our time in spaces like offices and homes, thus the need to maintain the quality of indoor air becomes imperative. While the smog persists, I spoke to select interior designers and architects to shed light on the problem of indoor air pollution and how we can tackle it.

Identifying the Source

Misbah Kapadia, the founder of Design Konstruct, highlights the importance of identifying the source of indoor toxicity as that makes it easier to combat the problem.

“While the flow of air is important indoors, it makes way for dust and dirt that easily settles onto the carpets and doormats. Other factors are moisture and humidity which act as the primary sources for the growth of mold indoors. Another point to note is that fumes from mosquito coils, repellents, and cleaning chemicals exposed to us also significantly harm our health.”

Being mindful of using chemical-free paints and polishes is extremely essential while planning indoor design, shares Reshma Chhabria, the founder at HIIH, a home decor label.

“Ensuring all air conditioners are regularly maintained, avoiding artificial air fresheners, and using natural scents and candles are some of the other ways to avoid chemicals and pollutants in the house. Additionally, using air-purifying plants around corners of the house is a great way to tackle poor air quality.”

Indoor air-purifying plants:

Top picks by Tushar Mistry, the principal architect at TMDS:

Weeping Fig: This leafy plant aids in combatting emissions from carpets, curtains, and furniture., Mistry shares that this plant needs to be placed in a bright, indirect light for some time. Keep it away from hot or cold air coming in from doorways, as this will cause leaves to fall. It's an enduring plant, so you'll be able to cherish its beauty for a long time.

Boston fern: An absolute choice for the bathroom, the Boston Fern grows well in low levels of light. So, you can place them in dark corners or shady spots where mold is likely to form.

Orchid plants: Orchids are one of the most beautiful houseplants and are good at brightening up the home décor. However, these vibrant florals are also good at absorbing moisture and keeping humidity levels down.

Top picks by Reshma Chhabria:

Money Plant: Apart from the belief that they bring prosperity, these are also great air purifiers. 

Areca Palm: Stunning for corners and space breakers, they also clean up the air and keep one healthy.

Peace Lily: Pretty to the eyes and extremely effective in absorbing toxins from the air. It generates harmony in our dwelling spaces by creating a peaceful aura.

Chinese Evergreen: This plant has over 100 varieties, and it is truly a spectacular plant in every sense. This plant is known to filter out benzene and formaldehyde from one’s surrounding area.

Top picks by Misbah Kapadia:

Snake Plant: It is one of the most effective at filtering formaldehyde. It also aids in the removal of nitrogen dioxide. It takes in carbon dioxide and releases oxygen even at night. This is an excellent bedroom plant. It is compact enough for desks and can last for days without water. 

Bamboo plants: This plant act as a natural humidifier. It removes benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde while also adding moisture to the air.

Aloe Vera: Yet another effective plant with additional functional benefits for the skin. It works by releasing oxygen and absorbing the CO2 during the night – which means the air is being cleaned while you sleep! Spider plants are also one of the easiest indoor plants to care for if they are exposed to bright, indirect sunshine.

Are these plants 100 percent effective in trapping dust?

Plants are an ideal easy way to clean the air inside the house as they are great natural purifiers. Apart from being instrumental in home décor, they are also quite useful in removing toxins such as carbon monoxide from the air. Their efficacy really depends on the level of pollutants and contaminants present in the atmosphere, meteorological status, along with wind strength and direction. It is said that large leaf surfaces result in better entrapment of dust.

Is vertical planting a viable option?

It is an effective method to enhance the aesthetics of a home. The best part is that it requires minimum cleaning. The walls should be observed for insects and the plants require regular observation and maintenance. Add window boxes or hanging pots to enhance the elegant-looking hanging planter idea. Reuse a wooden pallet by creating a wall unit for potted plants--or just lean it up against the wall. It is advisable to use succulent plants in a vertical arrangement.