Indoor plants are an incredible addition to any space. They not only add life and beauty to a room but also cool the area and control humidity. You’ve also probably heard that some indoor plants are also excellent air purifiers. Does this mean that they can reduce dust?
Can indoor plants reduce dust? Indoor plants are capable of reducing dust in their surroundings for two reasons: One, they have a large surface area, which makes attracting dust easier. The other reason is that indoor plants produce negative ions that attract dust, allergens, mold spores, and bacteria, among other pollutants.
However, some plants are better at reducing dust than others. Therefore, if you’d like to grow indoor plants for this purpose, it’s crucial to know which plants would do a fantastic job. In this article, you will learn how indoor plants can reduce dust and the best plants for the job.
Can Indoor Plants Reduce Dust?
The air quality inside your home is often worse than the air quality outdoors, especially in extreme weather conditions. If you rarely open your windows and have your air conditioner circulating air non-stop, chances are there are many pollutants in the air.
It can be even worse if you have sofas, carpets, and other fabrics that cling to dust. Living in such an environment can cause respiratory issues like asthma. Having indoor plants that can purify the air of toxins and reduce dust will go a long way in keeping your home’s atmosphere clean and fresh.
According to Life Hacker, indoor plants improve indoor air quality by:
- Producing negative ions: Indoor plants produce negative ions that attract dust and other particles, much like a magnet or vacuum cleaner. These negative ions are not only beneficial for keeping your space dust-free. The presence of negative ions also increases productivity, psychological health, and overall well-being.
- Regulating humidity levels: Plants go through a process known as transpiration during which they release moisture into the air. As a result, they’re capable of regulating the humidity levels in a room, which is vital in dry air conditions, particularly in the winter.
How much dust should you expect indoor plants to get rid of? The Laidback Gardener says that the dust level in a typical house can drop by up to 40% with the presence of indoor plants. However, this depends on how many plants you have in the room – the more plants you have, the lower the dust level. Nonetheless, even two plants will give you a noticeable difference.
Is Dust Good for Plants?
Even though plants attract dust when they produce negative ions, it doesn’t mean this dust is good for them. When you notice dust particles on the surface of your indoor plants’ leaves, it’s advisable to dust the plants immediately.
Dust accumulation on plants can be harmful to the plants because too much dust reduces the amount of light that reaches the leaves, thereby interfering with the photosynthesis process.
“Dust Off Those Houseplants” by Emily Killinger suggests three ways of dusting your pants.
- You can use a banana peel to dust your plants. Use the inside part of the peel to wipe the dust off the leaves. The moisture in the peel will help in removing the dust.
- Alternatively, if you can move your plant, you can wash its leaves under the shower or sink, making sure not to overwater the plant itself.
- Lastly, if the dust isn’t excessive, you can use a dust cloth to wipe it away.
Which Indoor Plants Reduce Dust?
According to the Laidback Gardener, any houseplant you have will reduce dust in its surroundings. However, it is recommended to choose plants that remain actively growing in the winter. This way, you not only benefit from dust reduction but also get to control dry air, which is known to cause many respiratory problems.
Below is a list of plants known to do an excellent job at reducing dust:
1. Date Palm Tree
The date palm tree is one of the most stylish plants you can have in your home. But there’s more to this plant than its aesthetic appeal. According to Hunker, the plant does an excellent job of reducing dust and purifying the air by absorbing toxins.
Not to mention, this plant requires little maintenance. You only have to water it once a week. So if you’re not the best at taking care of plants, this may be the right fit for you.
2. Peace Lily
If you’re looking for a plant for your office, Buchanan’s Native Plants recommends the Peace Lily. According to the site, this is the number one desktop plant. It’s not only beautiful but also a great addition to any space because of its ability to purify the air.
3. Ivy
An Ivy plant would be a welcome addition to any indoor space. These plants have vibrant green colors, and they add life to any room. They’re also known to be great at purifying the air. Ivy plants not only reduce dust but also eliminate toxins like benzene and formaldehyde from the air.
4. Spider Plant
The spider plant is a stunning house plant. It features attractive narrow leaves with white stripes. The plant prefers bright light, and when set up in the right conditions, it produces shoots that bloom with white flowers and airborne plantlets, which you can root to create more plants.
But that’s not the only fantastic thing about this plant. It also does an incredible job of purifying the air and reducing dust.
5. Rubber Plant
This is among the most effective air cleaning plants. This plant not only collects dust granules, but also absorbs carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other pollutants. It’s also an excellent choice if you’re not good at taking care of plants because it requires very little maintenance.
6. Boston Fern
Ferns are known to do an excellent job of cleaning the air. However, the Boston Fern does the best job. This plant not only reduces dust but also gets rid of pollutants such as formaldehyde from the air.
However, you can’t get away with ignoring this plant’s needs for too long. It requires frequent watering and misting to remain in perfect condition. Therefore, if you’re not a fan of taking care of indoor plants, this plant may not be the right fit.
7. Dripping Lotus
This is a type of bonsai plant that works wonders for reducing dust indoors. The plant thrives in moist conditions, so you should mist its leaves now and then. Be sure to keep this plant out of the reach of children and pets because the water that comes from it can be toxic when ingested.
8. ZZ Plant
This is a plant that adds a touch of sophistication to any room thanks to its dark green, glossy leaves. It’s also a great air purifier and requires little care. It thrives in low light and doesn’t require frequent watering like some of the other plants on this list.
In Conclusion
In a world where we rely on technology to do everything for us, it’s easy to assume that running a vacuum cleaner once in a while and keeping your air conditioner running non-stop is all it takes to keep your atmosphere free of pollutants. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Dust and other pollutants get trapped into sofas, carpets, and other fabrics, and the continuous air circulation doesn’t make things better, especially if you rarely open your windows. Indoor plants can help you reduce dust and other pollutants while bringing life to your house.