A NASA study explains how to purify air with house plants

How do houseplants clean the air? A 1989 NASA study explains exactly how plants remove toxins from air by trapping them in their leaves, soil, and roots, and which houseplants clean air the best.

The study was designed to test air purification systems for the space station.

If you're interested in learning more about the NASA study or the plants involved, check out the original papers on the subject:

And if you want to buy the last plant? It's scientific name is Sansevieria laurentii, but common names are both snake plant and mother in law's tongue.

FOLLOW QUARTZ:

[AlexPizzini]

The audio is clear, the guy is not stating fact about cleaning up smoke. He suggests that there MIGHT be a possitive corelation. Then you throw it on the screen like it's fact. That is a shit move.

[GracieJDiamonds]

Should they redo the research on this topic? As it only is based on an old research by one institution. And removing smoke only seems hypothetical and not really result based, its just “supposedly” or “probably” so.

[Evee]

It should be notes that this 1989 study used plants in combination with a fan and activated carbon in order to accelerate the removal of toxins from the air. The fan pulled air through the soil, root system and activated carbon -- the figures were not derived from plants alone.

[deaconsmom]

You should buy snake plants because snake plants are just plain amazing. They're gorgeous, they come in a bunch of different colors and patterns, they love neglect, they're easy to find, and they look great anywhere you place them in your home. If they have health benefits, that's great. I find that mine make me very happy every time I look at them.

[stardustcheng]

I mean it's probably not wrong, but please refrain from using hearsay as proof.

[Silvertarian]

My grandmother always had tons of house plants, never understood why. Now I'm 25 and I'm like I NEED PLANTS lol

[airygreentechgmbh]

Important to know: If you want to get the whole air purifying benefit of these plants, you have to ventilate their root system. Most of them are from the deserts and have themselves specialized in turning pollutants like Formaldehyde, Benzene or Toluene into useful nutrients without any residue. By bringing these pollutants directly to the root system (using the soil as a filter), they can absorb them much (up to 8 times) better.

[emilioalvarado-alanis]

Look, if he were to state that for a fact these plants clean the air efficiently, he would disappear in a heartbeat. Realize that the ones in power don’t want people cleaning their air, so he must choose his words carefully. I can’t believe you guys can’t see that. Everyone will believe what they want, but he doesn’t want to get in trouble

[addisontaylor]

The English ivy you have pictured looks way more like pothos, just saying. The animation is misleading

[Matthew-cdiv]

Fungus gnats *hears the word house plants* : were listening

[steviepd]

The NASA professor said "I don't really know"!!! END OF STORY!

[kntwl]

I love the Snake Tongue Plant, I have 1 in every room of my house. Only need to water them ever 1-3 months. Every month during the summer.

[HiltTilt]

8 thus far. Christmas Cactus, Poinncetta, Green onions, and 2 Aloe Vera plants thriving. Recently started some Basil, and sprouted 2 Lemon trees from seeds. These 3 are doing really good but still seedlings.

[jaridkeen]

Great now my House Plant will want to smoke Weed with me now

[socratease]

Truth is NASA study was in sealed room. Regular rooms have lot of air exchange with exterior. Filtering rate of plant is far lower than that air exchange: you won’t have noticeable impact. However, they do make people feel happier and that matters

[cielcam]

In my country, Sansiviera or Snake Plant is often referred as "Mother in Law's Tongue".. Lidah Mertua..

[reindrop]

i planted 2 shoots of sanseverias in to my garden like 5 years ago, they are now my fences today.

[anlsezer]

I think they did a pretty solid thing with providing the source of hypothesis rather than saying "this does that and it's amazing". Thanks for the nice approach!

[toripetry]

i currently have 180 succulents in my house. i’m LIVING

[kaoticmind]

Is this a joke? Lol. Listen to what that guy says. He's obviously trying to say that the person asking the question is speculating a little much lol.