Everyone does better in a clean environment — it can relieve stress, improve focus, and, according to a study at Indiana University, have a positive impact on our physical health. Yet all too often, our very efforts to maintain visual tidiness introduces unseen, unhealthy elements.
Cleaning products, new carpets, stain-resistant upholstery, paint, and other common household items emit harmful chemicals that foul up the air we breathe. To prevent these from compromising our health, we need to get them out of the air.
Air purifiers filter out all sorts of contaminants, but any appliance, they require maintenance. If you don’t keep the filter clean, they can end up harboring mold and making your air even worse. Besides that, they are a bit noisy, none too pretty, and they require electricity to run. Is there a simpler solution?
It has long been known that plants help improve air quality. As they photosynthesize, whether outside or indoors, plants sequester CO2 and release oxygen. They can also absorb certain pollutants. Among indoor plants, few surpass the snake plant in this task.
What is a snake plant?
Snake plants include 70-some species of flowering succulents native to Africa. They were formerly classified as Sansevieria, and many still refer to them by that genus name, although more recent studies have placed them in the genus Dracaena. Other common names include mother-in-law’s tongue, devil’s tongue, and bow string hemp.
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In Africa, the long, tough leaves of snake plants have been used for centuries to produce durable, sustainable, natural fiber.
Snake plants naturally thrive in arid and semi-arid environments. They can tolerate intense sunlight as well as canopy shade. These qualities, along with their eye-catching foliage, make them a top candidate for a houseplant. NASA research on its air-purification abilities make the plant even more appealing.
In 1989, NASA conducted a study on houseplants and their impact on air quality in a closed chamber. It was discovered that snake plants significantly reduced several common, chemical air-pollutants:
Subsequent testing has verified that snake plants are indeed effective air-purifiers. A 2019 study demonstrated that 10 plants in a 100 square foot room removed an impressive of 87 percent of toxins present within 24 hours.
What makes snake plants unique?
Truth be told, lots of plants absorb toxins through pores called stomata on the surface of their leaves during photosynthesis. Soil bacteria surrounding the plant’s roots metabolize toxins as well. The chemicals are then broken down to become harmless organic matter.
The snake plant isn’t the only one that excels at this; but unlike most plants, which close their stomata at night to conserve moisture, the snake plant uses a specialized photosynthetic pathway called crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), which allows for open stomata at night to collect carbon dioxide (CO₂), which it stores for later use in photosynthesis during the day.
Because snake plant is active at night, it is commonly recommended for bedrooms — to improve sleeping environments. The plant’s thick, waxy leaves are capable of trapping particulates like dust and allergens as well.
Some snake plants can grow to be quite tall (up to six feet!), with dozens of long, broad leaves. As you can probably guess, more surface area means more filtering action.
What can you realistically expect from snake plants?
Since the NASA study, snake plants have been promoted on social media as an effective air-purifier for the home. This may or may not be true, depending on your circumstances.
Few homes have small, sealed chambers that would mimic the conditions of a lab. In fact, most living spaces and offices today are equipped with modern ventilation systems that keep the air pretty clean, reducing the need for — and diluting the impact of — the plants.
If your air does not circulate, and you wanted to absorb off-gassing from synthetic carpeting and new furniture in a large room with snake plants alone, you might need dozens of them. Aesthetically, it could be stunning, but do you have that much space to spare?
To freshen the air in a stuffy office, bedroom, or small apartment, however, a few snake plants could make a real difference.
How to make the most of your snake plants
To keep your snake plant in top air-purifying condition, care for it like you would other succulents.
Incorporate other, complementary approaches to cleaner air.
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