As they breathe and grow, these plants purify pollutants out from the air… and they’re beautiful, too! Discover Ficus ginseng, Tillandsia andAnthurium, three plants that have what it takes to make your day!
Each of these three houseplants tackles a different indoor problem and suits a different spot in the home. Use the table to see which one answers your own situation before reading the detail below.
| Plant | What it clears from the air | Where to put it | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ficus ginseng | Ammonia from detergents, formaldehyde from agglomerated wood panels, paint and glue | Living room or any bright, well-lit room, away from draughts | Thick, ornamental trunk and shiny green foliage |
| Tillandsia | All-around purifier that absorbs moisture from the air | Anywhere indoors, dangling on a string or atop a piece of furniture | Epiphyte that grows with or without soil, nicknamed “air plant” |
| Anthurium | Volatile organic compounds and ammonia | Living room, kitchen or bathroom | Red “tongue of fire” bloom; needs light and dislikes dry air |
Whichever you pick, remember that many other houseplants share these pollution-cleaning properties.
Ficus ginseng cleans out ammonia, paint & glue
Its ornamental trunk, typical of this variety, is definitely unique. Not many plants boast a thick, juicy-looking trunk like that! As a matter of fact, “ginseng” is the Chinese name for a type of ginger root known to have lots of medicinal properties. The green foliage, shiny and lustrous, is also very appealing. All in all, Ficus ginseng has a very good impact on the local environment and on people’s health.
The air-purifying capabilities target ammonia released by detergents, formaldehyde which wafts out from agglomerated wood panels typically found in recent furniture, paint, and glue. Ideally, you’d place this easy-to-care-for plant in the living room or in any other bright, well-lit room – especially if you’ve just moved in or redesigned it! Simply try to keep it out of windy, drafty areas, and never let water collect in the saucer underneath it.
The most surprising particularity of this epiphyte plant is that it can thrive both with and without soil: a bed of lichen or moss is enough! Technically, it feeds off of the air around it. This explains why it’s so good at cleansing the air around it: it absorbs moisture from the air around it.
Whether you dangle it on a string or place it atop a piece of furniture, it’ll catch the eye with its one-of-a-kind appearance. This wild, simple and innovative plant also goes by the nickname “air plant”. Tillandsia will adapt to indoor living everywhere.
The classic red anthurium, also called “tongue of fire”, symbolizes exotic beauty. Its elegance and craving for light lead this one to stay in the living room or in the kitchen, because it clears the air from ammonia very effectively. It’ll also feel right at home in the bathroom, where the high air moisture will suit it well.
Yup, that’s right: Anthurium doesn’t like dry air!
Many other plants also have pollution-cleaning properties. In no particular order, look into other ficus trees, ivy, azalea, chlorophytum, dracaena, sansevieria, pilea, aglaonema, ferns and philodendron.
Claire Lelong-Lehoang
